School communities play a critical role in supporting young people during some of the most difficult moments they may face. When a suicide loss or other tragic event occurs, schools are often at the center of helping students, staff, and families navigate grief and begin the healing process.
Recently, Forefront team members Samantha Pacampara and Michelle Flores had the opportunity to present at the Washington State School Counselor Association (WSCA) Conference, sharing practical strategies with school counselors and education leaders from across the state.
Their session, “Postvention in Practice: Supporting Grief and Healing in School Communities,” focused on how schools can prepare for and respond to loss in ways that support healing and strengthen community resilience.
Building Systems that Support Grief and Healing
During the session, Samantha and Michelle discussed what effective postvention looks like in real school settings. Postvention refers to the coordinated actions taken after a suicide or traumatic loss to support those affected, reduce risk, and help communities recover.
Schools often want to respond in thoughtful and supportive ways but may not always have clear guidance or systems in place. The presentation explored how schools can build plans and structures ahead of time, so they are better prepared to respond when a crisis occurs.
This includes:
Creating clear communication strategies
Supporting both students and staff through grief
Coordinating with mental health professionals and community partners
Developing systems that reduce risk while promoting healing
By strengthening these systems, schools can provide consistent support while helping their communities process loss in healthy ways.
Partnership Is Essential
One of the key themes of the session was the importance of collaboration.
Students and families are at the center of this work, but schools cannot do it alone. Supporting young people requires strong partnerships between counselors, educators, mental health providers, families, and community organizations.
Across Washington, many school counselors and education leaders are already doing incredible work to support student mental health. The WSCA conference created an opportunity for professionals to share their experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from one another.
Forefront is grateful to be part of these conversations and to work alongside partners who are committed to strengthening the systems that support young people.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Support for Washington Schools
Forefront continues to partner with schools across Washington to strengthen suicide prevention and postvention practices.
Through training, technical assistance, and collaborative programs, Forefront helps schools build the knowledge and systems needed to support students both before and after a crisis.
Schools interested in strengthening their suicide prevention and school mental health efforts are encouraged to connect with the Forefront team. Forefront is currently recruiting for the next cohort of participating schools, and the program is free for a limited time for Washington high schools.
Recruitment is open for the next cohort of JED High School delivered by Forefront Suicide Prevention, a free, fully funded program that helps schools strengthen student mental health and suicide prevention systems.
Participating schools receive:
- A customized, data‑informed action plan tailored to their school community
- Hands‑on guidance from trusted, Washington‑based school mental health experts
- Support with suicide prevention crisis planning and policy development
- Access to LEARN prevention curricula and school‑based resources
- Discounts on Forefront’s ESA suicide prevention trainings
- Connection to a statewide network of schools committed to student well‑being
- Schools may choose a one‑year or three‑year option, depending on capacity and goals. All costs are fully covered, but cohort space is limited. Schools can begin participation in September 2026 or January 2027.
Apply now to secure your school’s spot and build a stronger, more connected approach to student mental health.
👉 Learn more and complete the interest form:
https://jedfoundation.org/jed-high-school-delivered-by-forefront-suicide-prevention/
📧 Questions? Contact Michelle Flores at miflores@uw.edu or Sam Pacampara at samkpac@uw.edu for more information.
Together, schools and communities can create safer, more supportive environments where every student has the support they need to thrive.