Contact Receives Excellus BlueCross BlueShield's Community Health Award
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Contact with a $3,500 Community Health Award grant to support the Suicide-Safer Community Project. The funds will support Contact's efforts to increase community awareness of suicide and its warning signs.

The Suicide-Safer Community Project provides suicide prevention information and resources through educational materials, media messaging and QPR Gatekeeper Training. The aim is to increase suicide prevention knowledge and skills to assist those in crisis within the community, thus reducing stigma and ensuring that those who need support will receive it before they reach a suicidal crisis.

Through a competitive application process, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards support programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population. Awards focus on improving the health status of the community, reducing the incidence of specific diseases, promoting health education and enhancing overall wellness and are made based on scope of need, goals of the program, number of people expected to benefit from the program and positive impact on the community’s health status.

In the more than 80 years that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been serving residents of upstate New York, the company has supported hundreds of programs that are aimed at improving the health status of area residents.
Vibrant Emotional Health Provides Contact with 988 State Planning Grant
Grant Monies Will Be Used to Prepare New York State for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 Dialing Code, Effective July 2022
Contact is pleased to announce it has received the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 State Planning Grant through Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline). Through the grant, Contact will participate in the development of strategic plans for New York in preparation for the projected infrastructure needs, volume growth, and access to the Lifeline’s new 988 number. Vibrant has awarded grants to 49 states and territories.

In July 2022, 988 will become the national three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, replacing the current phone number of 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Americans needing support should continue to call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) until then.

In partnership with NYS Office of Mental Health, Contact will develop clear roadmaps to address coordination, capacity, funding, and communications surrounding the launch of 988. Contact will collaborate with state leadership, suicide prevention experts, people with lived experience, and others to create a 988-implementation plan and support the Lifeline’s operational, clinical, and performance standards that allow access to care.
Crisis Services Highlights
Free QPR Gatekeeper Training!
Are you or someone you know feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Worried? Join us for QPR Gatekeeper Training! QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Discover how to recognize warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to offer hope, how to get help and most importantly - how to save a life.

QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper training course in as little as one hour and is currently being facilitated virtually by request only. There is no cost associated with this workshop.

Please visit ContactSyracuse.org/QPR for more information. Or, download the QPR flyer below.
Something Big is Coming Your Way!
We are thrilled to announce that a new 211 CNY website is coming your way! In the coming weeks, be on the look out for a newly
re-designed site. Some of the great new features include:

  • An easy-to-use, searchable information and referral resource directory.
  • Streamlined navigation to make it as simple as possible to find information you are looking for.
  • An "In the News" section to highlight local community and business updates and events.
  • A "Community Initiatives" feature that offers specialized resources to address specific needs and situations.

Check back soon!
School Services Highlights
PAX Good Behavior Game Helps Build Supportive Environments in SCSD Schools
Syracuse City School District resumed in-person learning to five days a week beginning April 12th. Teachers, Administration, and Support staff will benefit from the coaching of PAX Partners more than ever. PAX Partners provide coaching and modeling to over 200 educators as they build nurturing classroom environments.

PAX Partners developed a plan for each school site so teachers are ready to support their students in learning important self-regulation and executive functioning skills. PAX Partners are also providing PAX Tools workshops to parents and caregivers so they can support their children using the very same skills that are being taught in the classroom.
*Photo taken pre-COVID, during the summer camp program in 2019.
Youth Prevention Services Resumes in the Liverpool Central School District
On April 5th, the Liverpool Central School District (LCSD) students resumed in-person learning to five days a week. The LCSD 21st CCLC program is growing as enrollment increases and students can share on-site experiences.

During the week of March 29th, we held a virtual spring break program where students enjoyed an interactive Disney-themed extravaganza. Students were able to practice their skills in art, STEM and cooking, alongside their social, emotional learning supports. They also enjoyed fun adventures through a series of Disney movies.

Coming Summer 2021! We are excited to offer the summer camp program once again to students in the 21st CCLC program. Summer Camp will be held at two locations within the LCSD, Chestnut Hill Elementary and Donlin Drive Elementary. Stay tuned for more information!
Contact In The News...
Peyton Lantz and Colin Delaney share their experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic. (WSTM)
'School Suffering' Town Hall on Mental Health, Education Crisis during COVID
By: Megan Coleman and Michael Benny, CNY Central, 04/08/21
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Over the last four months, CNY Central has done a deep dive into the mental health of our children during the pandemic. One thing is clear from our extensive reporting on this issue: many students are struggling.

In an NBC3 Special presentation in February, we began to investigate the pandemic's toll on kids in our community. What we found was eye-opening. Children are drowning in stress and anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts. Two months after our initial report, experts say kids are still suffering. Many school districts are working tirelessly to meet their needs and provide support. Two weeks ago, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the county would invest an additional $5.5 million to increase mental health support in schools and create on-site school-based mental health clinics.

When schools shut down abruptly last March, bedrooms quickly became classrooms. Parents turned into assistant teachers and students started to suffer.

To continue reading or watch this 1-hour segment in its entirety, please click here.
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Contact Community Services | 6311 Court Street Rd | East Syracuse, NY 13057
315.251.1400 Business Office | 315.251.0600 Crisis Hotline