ALCOAST 269/22 - JULY 2022 SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR TRAINERS (T4T)

‏R 222041Z JUL 22 MID200080050039U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 269/22
SSIC 5400
SUBJ: SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR TRAINERS (T4T)
1. This ALCOAST announces that the United States Coast Guard (USCG)
is partnering with the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
(CSTS) and Uniformed Services University to implement a Living
Works Education (LWE) Training for Trainers (T4T) project. This
project will facilitate the roll-out of evidence-based suicide
prevention and intervention skill training in the Coast Guard and
assess training fidelity. The programs to be trained are
safeTALK and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
Both military and civilian members are eligible to become trainers.
2. safeTALK is a two-day course that will prepare participants
to recognize persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them
to interventions. Participants will then learn how to present the
curriculum to become a trainer. ASIST is a five-day workshop
that teaches how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs,
providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan
to keep someone alive. The workshop then teaches the participants
how to present the curriculum to become a trainer.
3. LWE will conduct two separate, 20-person safeTALK T4Ts
resulting in up to 40 total safeTALK provisional trainers. LWE
will also conduct two separate, 24-person ASIST T4Ts resulting in
up to 48 total ASIST provisional trainers.
4. Upon the completion of safeTALK or ASIST T4Ts, each provisional
trainer will be assigned to a training team and facilitate three
courses for certification requirements. Additionally, trainers will
participate in facilitated, mandatory course evaluations. The total
time commitment following the initial training course is
approximately three (3) four-hour training sessions (12 hours total)
for safeTALK and three (3) two-day training sessions
(48 hours total) for ASIST.
5. T4T will be held at Base Alameda, CA, September 12 - 16,
2022 (ASIST) and September 19 - 20, 2022 (safeTALK). T4T will also
be held at Base Portsmouth, VA, September 8 - 9, 2022 (safeTALK)
and September 12 - 16, 2022 (ASIST).
6. All participants are required to obtain approval from their
Command and 1st line supervisors to participate in the training.
The Command and 1st line supervisors must sign a nomination
letter to ensure each participant has the character, and skills
necessary to represent the USCG, as well as the time to complete
training requirements. The participant must complete and submit
the training application. Both documents must be submitted together.
The above listed training periods and locations will be the primary
work requirements and in-person duty locations for the participants
for the duration of the training. The training will be free of
charge for the participants, however, commands will be responsible
for funding any travel expenses for the attendees to attend the
training in accordance with Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Commands
are encouraged to nominate and select more than one participant from
their unit to attend one or both trainings. Command endorsements for
the training must be submitted electronically to
SuicidePrevention@uscg.mil and must be received no later than
August 10, 2022. The template for the command nomination and
training application are available for download at:
(Copy and paste URL below into browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant
-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/
Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/Suicide-Prevention-Program/

7. POCs: CDR LaMar Henderson, Suicide Prevention Program Manager
at LaMar.B.Henderson@uscg.mil, or CDR Sarah Garrett, Deputy Chief,
Work Life Division, HSWL SC at Sarah.A.Garrett@uscg.mil.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life
(CG-11), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.