The Jed Foundation Intermountain West Learning Series

Grounded in JED’s Comprehensive Approach, this webinar series supports leaders in clarifying priorities and strengthening system-level alignment across district, school, and community efforts. Each session includes practical tools, real-world examples, and discussion designed to support leaders navigating complexity in today’s district environments. Whatever stage your district is at in its mental health and suicide prevention efforts, this series is a chance to build on what’s already working and take the next step toward a stronger, more sustainable system of support.

Who should attend: School district leaders, administrators, and school mental health professionals in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Register Here

Session 1: Suicide Prevention in Intermountain West School Districts

Thursday, November 5th, 2026, at 12 – 1 p.m. MT
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Michael

Intermountain West school districts face real barriers to suicide prevention: limited provider access, staffing shortages, and privacy concerns unique to small, tightly connected communities. This session explores how these communities can leverage current resources and implement new strategies to support suicide prevention efforts. Dr. Kurt Michael, JED’s Vice President of Prevention and Crisis Response Consulting, brings a research background in rural school mental health program implementation, as well as a firsthand view of what’s taking root in districts facing the same realities as yours.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify prevention strategies your district can implement when resources and staffing are constrained.
• Learn practical, evidence-based approaches to lethal means safety, tailored to the realities of rural and small-community school settings.
• Learn strategies for sustaining prevention efforts through staff and leadership turnover.

Session 2: Navigating State Legislative Actions: Implications for Student Mental Health

Wednesday, January 13th, 2027, at 12 – 1 p.m. MT

Legislation in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming doesn’t always come with a clear playbook for districts, and figuring out what a new law actually requires can be challenging. This session will be a nonpartisan, on-the-ground translation of policy and legislative activity across the three states, along with insight into how districts are putting it into practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the current legislative landscape and what it means for your district.
• Learn how neighboring states have handled similar legislation changes.
• Learn how to set up an internal district system for tracking policy changes.

Session 3: Supporting Indigenous Youth Mental Health: A Panel Discussion

Wednesday, February 17th, 2027, at 12 – 1 p.m. MT

Indigenous youth in the Intermountain West face some of the highest suicide risk of any population in the region, shaped partially by historical trauma and lack of access to culturally responsive care. This session explores the unique needs of Indigenous youth and how districts can embed culturally responsive practices to strengthen their mental health and well-being.

Key Takeaways:

• Build a shared understanding of the mental health needs and challenges of Indigenous youth, and the impacts of historical trauma on their help-seeking behavior.
• Understand what culturally responsive practice can look like across your district’s work.
• Identify the strengths, resilience, and cultural assets of Indigenous youth and families, and learn concrete strategies your district can implement to build on those strengths.

Session 4: Postvention in Intermountain West School Districts

Wednesday, March 17th, 2027, at 12 – 1 p.m. MT
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Michael

How districts respond in the hours, days, and weeks after a suicide loss matters. This session covers postvention best practices grounded in JED’s Comprehensive Approach to suicide prevention, including supporting students and staff, safe messaging, and preventing contagion. Dr. Kurt Michael, an expert in postvention across the country and especially in the Intermountain West, will lead this session, drawing on his direct experience supporting Intermountain West school communities through crisis response.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the core components of an effective postvention response in a school setting.
• Learn safe messaging practices for communicating with students, staff, and families after a loss.
• Identify the district roles, protocols, and community partnerships that need to be in place before a crisis occurs.

Session 5: A Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention

Wednesday, April 14, 2027, at 12 – 1 p.m. MT

Every Intermountain West district has real strengths to build on, including staff, support systems, and relationships that promote student well-being. This final learning series session looks at the bigger picture: what a comprehensive, district-wide approach to suicide prevention actually involves, and how it connects to the work already happening in your district.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the core components of JED’s Comprehensive Approach, and how they connect to your district’s existing efforts.
• Learn how a comprehensive approach can elevate your district’s school mental health system.
• Understand implementation strategies such as timeline, resources, and staff capacity that impact your district’s mental health system.

 

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Reed
Senior Director, District Programs
The Jed Foundation
[email protected]