TXT4LIFE

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

TXT4LIFE is a suicide prevention effort that provides texting as an option for youth to connect with a trained counselor to get help. TXT4LIFE builds on existing multi-agency collaborations, to strengthen suicide prevention efforts, which serve 22,000 students (grades 7-12) living in the Northeastern Minnesota region. This region includes seven counties (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis) and four Tribes (Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Red Lake). Coordinators also do extensive outreach, marketing, and education in the community, along with training of key students and adults. TXT4LIFE was funded by a SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith grant and has been successful because of the broad public and private partnerships established statewide. In May 2013, a bill was successfully passed through MN State Legislature to fund the expansion of the program statewide, and the process has begun in select regions. TXT4LIFE staff are working with Wilder Research to develop an application for the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, and the Best Practices Registry. To learn more, watch “TXT4LIFE: Local Government Innovation Award Video” or visit www.txt4life.org.