The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) was awarded a $734,999 Project Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance (CFDA 93.243) program. The 5-year grant, awarded on September 30, 2024, will support a comprehensive youth suicide prevention initiative in Pennsylvania.
The project, titled "KEEP EMPOWERING YOUTH - PARTNERS, PROVIDERS, LIVED EXPERIENCE (KEY-PPLE)," aims to promote statewide and county-level infrastructure development, cultivate community partnerships, and develop and disseminate trauma-informed and culturally relevant suicide prevention resources. Key activities include engaging youth and families with lived experience, building workforce capacity for evidence-based treatment, and supporting a pilot program to divert youth from psychiatric hospitalization. The project is expected to reach over 263,000 individuals across Pennsylvania.