Learning Collaborative

Every school will face mental health crises. The question is whether you'll be prepared to save lives and support your community through difficult times.

Overview

We’re accepting applications until September 14th, 2026 for our second cohort. 

Cohort 2 will launch on October 13th, 2026!

What is the Learning Collaborative?

The Learning Collaborative is a team-based 7-session virtual program designed to help school divisions develop comprehensive suicide prevention plans that align with VDOE guidelines for suicide prevention. Using hands-on, scenario-based learning, your team will work alongside other Virginia school divisions to identify, develop, and refine policies and protocols for prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Timeline: Monthly sessions from October, 2026 through April, 2027.

This is a recording of a meeting held before we started the first cohort. The application dates (mentioned after 34:00) are different, but it will give you a helpful overview of what's involved. Watching is STRONGLY encouraged for any division prior to applying.

What You'll Accomplish

By participating in the Learning Collaborative, your team will:

  • Develop a comprehensive suicide prevention plan tailored to your needs
  • Create policies and protocols for prevention, intervention, and postvention
  • Build division-specific resources including templates and procedures
  • Gain practical skills through scenario-based learning
  • Collaborate with other divisions to share strategies and solve challenges
  • Identify next steps for continued growth and policy implementation

Session Overview

  1. Introduction: Find your “why” and describe the framework of Comprehensive Suicide Prevention
  2. Prevention: Understand core components of prevention and identify areas of growth
  3. Prevention → Intervention: Build procedures for identifying, connecting, and assessing students at risk
  4. Intervention → Crisis Support: Develop processes to identify and effectively respond to priority levels; build procedures that promote flow of communication
  5. Re-entry & Documentation: Create systems for student support and record-keeping
  6. Postvention: Plan crisis response and immediate support procedures
  7. Postvention → Prevention: Develop longer-term practices that enhance prevention measures

Who Should Participate?

The Learning Collaborative is designed for divisions ready to build or strengthen their comprehensive suicide prevention plans. This program requires division-level commitment working towards policy change and the ability to implement protocol changes.

Team Composition

To participate, we are requesting each division create a team of 4-10 individuals. We strongly recommend a team consist of a minimum of 2 Division-level staff and 2 School-level staff.

Recommended roles include: 

  • Mental Health Professional
  • School Administrator
  • Central Office Staff
  • School Resource Officer/Law Enforcement
  • Teacher/Instruction Specialist
  • A Second Health Professional

You may consider including a Community Representative (e.g., CSB, community mental health provider, etc.) 

Team members should consist of individuals who can influence policy, process, and communications, as well as someone who is willing to be the point person.  

Application

Apply to join Cohort 2

We’re currently forming a cohort for the 2026-2027 school year. Our cohorts consist of 8-15 division teams. Please review this page (the one you're reading now) in full before applying.

Apply Today

Questions?

Please reach out! We’re here to help you determine the best path forward for your division’s suicide prevention efforts.

Email: info@supportivetogether.org
Phone: (540) 568-8901