This daylong workshop is designed for anyone who has contact with people who might be suicidal including parents, youth workers, crisis staff, mental health professionals, etc. 

The workshop will cover the fundamentals of suicide risk assessment including risk for various groups including children and adolescents, substance abusers and people with mental illness as well as how to interview for suicide risk. 

Dr. David Mays, M.D. Ph. D. will be the presenter.  The workshop will be held at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility at 1425 Paul Kirkwold Drive, Arden Hills, MN  55112.  This workshop is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Metro Children's Crisis Services. 

Click here for the Suicide Risk Assessment Workshop flyer and registration form. 

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Check out our Tip Sheets with facts and statistics about Suburban Ramsey County kids as well as simple things parents and other caring adults can do to make a difference in the lives of kids.  Please share these widely with people you think would be interested. 

Creating Caring Relationships with Children and Young People

Worried about Under-age Drinking?

Nurturing "Sparks" in Children and Young People

Worried about Marijuana Use? 

Free and Fun Things to Do with Kids

How are the Children? is encouraging all formal and informal Suburban Ramsey county groups and organizations to join us in a community building movement to show that “Kids Matter” in our communities.  Everyone—including cities, schools, faith communities, youth groups, after-school programs, child care providers, businesses, employers, libraries, community groups, etc.—is invited to join together to be part of a bigger Kids Matter movement. 

Signing on is free and simple.  To be a part of this bigger movement to show “Kids Matter”, you just need to agree to the following commitments:

We are asking people in all of the settings where children and young people spend their time to think about ways they can be intentional about welcoming, supporting, encouraging and valuing kids. 

There are lots of things you can do to celebrate kids. 

A great way to support and value children and young people is to intentionally create ways to welcome all children to your program, organization, or business. 

Raising kids is a group effort and everyone—parents, youth group leaders, teachers, neighbors, coaches, youth workers, after-school program staff, everyone —has a stake in the health and success of our kids.  Community programs and organizations are only as good as the caring people involved in providing programs and services to children and young people.  Programs don’t change lives—people do! 

Our goal is to have all kids connected to at least five caring adults at home, at school, and in the community.  Research shows that even one caring adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life and that kids do even better when they have at least three non-parent adults they can turn to for help and support. 

We have gathered Kids Matter tips and tools with lots of ideas and ways you can simply and intentionally create an environment where all children and young people feel welcome, respected, cared for, useful, and celebrated. 

For detailed tips and strategies, click on one of the topics below:

Kids do best when all of the settings where they spend time—home, school, recreation programs, faith communities, neighborhoods, libraries, friend’s homes, etc.—are intentionally supporting and valuing them.  Just as our Kids Matter resources focus on how individuals can build caring, consistent relationships with children and young people, we are also encouraging programs and organizations to intentionally take action to show that Kids Matter. 

Create a Welcoming Environment for Kids

If you are looking for simple ideas of things you can do, today and in the future, please check out our tips and strategies which focus on welcoming and celebrating kids, being intentional, providing opportunities including intergenerational opportunities, and supporting parents. 

Invisible Mentoring

Parenting doesn’t have to be a “do-it-yourself” proposition.  In the “Building Strong Families” study, parents told the Search Institute that these things would help them as parents:  being affirmed for their parenting; having opportunities to talk with other parents; and having other trusted adults spend more with their children. 

If you are interested in encouraging trusted adults to be involved in your child's life, consider trying some of these suggestions: