Current Projects

Education is our constant goal. One way we are able to accomplish this goal is by acquiring books on at-risk issues and positive life skills through donations or discounts. We then donate these resources to schools, professionals, libraries, and families in need of such materials.

Our outreach program helps families with an attempted or completed suicide to prevent further loss, as well as other critical areas. The 177 families helped to date have been guided to get further counseling and given resource information to prevent further trauma and loss. We are continuing our work to educate on depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders through the media and by promoting Dr. Quinnett's QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention. The program is offered in small classroom settings or online. For more information regarding QPR log onto www.qprinstitute.com . In addition, SMILE is working to raise awareness regarding depression in supporting the NDSD (National Depression Screening Day), which is held in October. Look for regional testing sites and more information at NDSD’s web site www.mentalhealthscreening.org

One of the first on-line suicide prevention training programs in the United States is now offered by Eastern Washington University’s School of Social Work and Human Services, in partnership with the QPR Institute, an internationally-recognized leader in the field. College credit courses and continuing education courses are available on intervention and assessment of person at risk for suicide. For more information to please visit http://suicideprevention.ewu.edu or call 1-800-331-9959.

The following are the upcoming events/projects that need your support:

1. Dr. Forni Returned in March of 2008. The "Civility: Commitment to Kindness" Project: We sponsored Dr. P. M. Forni from Johns Hopkins University to come to Spokane, Washington December 6-11, 2004 to make sixteen presentations as part of our work to decrease bullying and dehumanization. Dr. Forni co-founded the "Civility Project" at Johns Hopkins University and also wrote the book "Choosing Civility", which covers 25 major points, including their impact on society. From the sixteen presentations two DVDs were made; one made for young people/general audience and the other for professionals. Dr. Forni is working with us to continue education in this area. (Cost for Dr. Forni's visit and the educational piece: $20,000; cost to get this into each school is $100.00 per school to include DVDs, book, and printed materials). The two DVDs may be purchased for $25.00 including shipping and handling. From Dr. Forni’s presentations in March, 2008 to grade school students another DVD for that age group has been created. Please use the contact information below.

2. SMILE's yearly educational conference "Early Prevention, Future Success" will be held October 21, 2008, with Dr. Jon McClellan covering difficult areas of bipolar disorder/misconceptions/treatment, and therapist Chris Crutcher presenting on abused children and how to reach them.

3. CD-ROM "Starting Blocks" Project: This project covers 112 topics including building resiliency and at-risk issues from conception to 25 years of age. The CD is in two languages (English and Spanish), and is culturally sensitive. The CD has been distributed to families free of charge through doctors’ offices, health districts, schools and other appropriate sites. We gained the release from the AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) to use their “Facts for Families”. Zoltan Szabo’s art and David Benoit’s music add aesthetically to the CD. (Project Cost $30,000.00)

4. Each year we fund a guest presenter in the arts or other critical areas to teach over 500 students at the Libby Professional Center. Jim Valley (with Paul Revere and the Raiders in the mid-60’s) will teach students to put their poems to music.

last updated: July 30, 2008