Second Wind Fund of Douglas County

How the Second Wind Fund Works

If a counselor in a school served by the Second Wind Fund is concerned about a student, the following process occurs:
A school counselor or administrator deems a student at least moderately “at-risk” for suicide. If the student’s family does not have financial means (including adequate insurance) to pay for professional therapy, the counselor contacts Second Wind Fund.


After ensuring that the student is a suicide risk, lacks financial means to pay for therapy, and in most cases is not on Medicaid, Second Wind Fund assigns the student a referral number. If the student is on Medicaid, he or she is first referred to the county mental health association.

Once given a Second Wind Fund referral number, the school counselor writes the referral number on a program referral form and signs the form, authorizing therapy for the student.


The referred student is given the referral form and a list of private therapists who have agreed to see Second Wind Fund clients.


All therapists in the Second Wind Fund program are private therapists licensed by the State of Colorado, maintain malpractice insurance, have experience with teens at-risk for suicide, and have agreed to see Second Wind Fund clients at a reduced hourly rate.


The Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines Foundation will pay for a student to visit a program therapist 8 - 12 times at the reduced hourly rate. Specialized claim forms allow the therapists to bill The Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines Second Wind Fund directly.

State officials and private therapists note that, to the best of their knowledge, the program’s structure is unique. We continue to get requests to expand the program.
 

Program History

During the 2001-2002 school year, four students at Green Mountain High School (GMHS) in Jefferson County, Colorado, committed suicide in a nine-month time frame. The community in general, but especially the high school community, were profoundly affected.

The Second Wind Fund was initiated by Green Mountain Presbyterian Church (GMPC) in September 2002 following these four suicides. On September 8, 2002, GMPC held a small walk/run in association with its annual church summer picnic. A few members planned the event over a short period of time, and the event was not publicized except for a few neighborhood flyers. Most of the 66 people that participated were GMPC members, or their friends. Still, due to the generosity of GMPC participants and those who gave them pledges, enough money was raised to be of help to GMHS students. We just didn't know how it would be used at that point!

After GMPC members met with high school counselors to determine how to best use the funds, Second Wind was made available to GMHS and its feeder schools in December 2002. After a few referrals were made, Second Wind began receiving calls from other schools requesting use of the fund. Due to the additional need for the fund, Second Wind was extended to Lakewood, Bear Creek, and Alameda High School students, as well as their feeder schools, in April and May 2003.

After a presentation by Jeff Lamontagne to the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines, it was decided that the club should take responsibility for replicating the program in Douglas County.

There has never been a referral to the Second Wind Fund who has gone on to commit suicide!

Visit the Second Wind Fund Jefferson County Page

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