2019 Awareness Day Final Report 2019_ADay_FinaReport_FINAL_pages | Page 11

SUICIDE PREVENTION
IN CHILD WELFARE
“We reviewed the data showing the hopelessness of boys—a
decrease in graduation rates, college attendance rates,
and employment, and an increase in suicides. We are
strengthening our fatherhood initiatives and beginning with
boys at a much younger age to encourage their purpose
and prevent tragedies that are caused by many of our
young boys, such as school shootings. We are encouraging
interoperability and the sharing of information so we can all
work together.”
— LYNN JOHNSON
Assistant Secretary
Administration for Children and Families, HHS
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families
(ACF) is committed to promoting the economic
and social well-being of children, families,
individuals, and communities so that everyone
can be resilient, safe, healthy, and economically
secure. ACF offices cover an array of issues
related to children and families, such as child
welfare, child care, family assistance, Head Start,
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and
emergency preparedness and response.
At the Awareness Day event, ACF Assistant
Secretary Lynn Johnson shared what ACF is doing
to prevent suicide.
Johnson also shared that ACF grantees have
found ways to incorporate suicide prevention into
their work with children, youth, and families.
“It’s especially critical that adults who have
young people in their lives—whether in their
own homes, at work, in their faith organizations,
or elsewhere—know that they can make a
difference in a young person’s life, and perhaps
even save a life,” she said. “Having one caring
adult in a child’s life has proven to serve as a
buffer against stress and is able to reduce the
potential for problems such as suicidal ideation.”
SUICIDE PREVENTION: STRATEGIES THAT WORK
11