April 2024

Building a Hopeful Future, Together.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming, affiliates, and stakeholders are using a community building metaphor to reinforce the message that "each day is an opportunity to building the foundation for our future."

Children and families are the building blocks of our society. We all have a stake in preparing children to grow up to be healthy and thriving members of our community. Each day is an opportunity to establish a firm foundation. Each day presents a new opportunity to promote a young person’s physical, emotional, and social development. 

Please join Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming on April 9, 2024, at 3:00 pm to plant pinwheels on the lawn of the Wyoming State Capitol for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Then, on April 11, 2024, at 2:30 pm, invite your networks to Governor Gordon's Proclamation Signing Ceremony for Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Ceremonial Conference Room at the Wyoming State Capitol. 

If you would like to show your support and help spread awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit the Wyoming Children's Trust Fund website for additional ways to get involved this month.

April Events

Saturday, April 13, 2024

1000 E. University Ave.

College of Education Gym

Laramie, WY

For more information, please contact Margaret Hudson (mhudson@uwyo.edu)

University of Wyoming

Out of the Darkness Walk

The Out of the Darkness Campus Walks are the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's (AFSP) signature student fundraising series, designed to engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, a leading cause of death. Funds raised from the Out of the Darkness Campus Walks are used to finance research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Help us save lives and bring hope.

Please visit University of Wyoming Out of the Darkness Campus Walk 2024 (visitlaramie.org) or the event website: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Talk Saves Lives

An Introduction to Suicide Prevention Webinar

Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe.

**A Zoom link will be sent 1-2 days prior to the presentation date.**

Monday, April 15, 2024

Register here: Register - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (attendease.com)

Tuesday, April 23 & Wednesday, April 24

Cody Regional Health

707 Sheridan Ave.

Monument Meeting Room

Cody, WY

ASIST Workshop

Park County

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day workshop that will prepare participants how to assist those at risk for suicide. During the workshop, attendees will examine attitudes toward those experiencing suicidal ideation and view the situation through that individual's eyes. Participants will use Suicide Intervention Model as a framework for applying suicide first aid, including connecting, understanding, and assisting skills.

Register here.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are events or circumstances that a child experiences in their first 18 years of life that threaten their sense of safety, stability, and bonding. ACEs affect children and families across all communities. In Wyoming, adults report higher ACE scores and has ranked 10th worst in the nation for percentage of children experiencing ACEs. This can lead to toxic stress which increases the likelihood of mental and physical health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, diabetes, cancer, etc.), substance misuse, and social outcomes (e.g., poverty, academic performance, unstable relationships, etc.)

Thankfully, ACEs are not destiny.

Earlier this year, an additional cohort of ACE Master Trainers were certified through ACE Interface and can provide ACE Training throughout Wyoming. Master Trainers are located in a majority of Wyoming communities, with many trainers willing to travel or offer ACE training virtually. ACE training can help you understand, recognize, and prevent ACEs regardless of your education level or profession.

If you would like to be connected to an ACE Master Trainer in your community, please contact Sarah Glandt (sglandt@thealignteam.org). Once you are connected with an ACE Master Trainer, you can collaborate on creating the presentation that best meets your and your community's needs.

Governor’s Mental Health Summit

Educational Series



The Educational Series takes place on a monthly basis. Please join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month during lunchtime to continue to engage in the conversation surrounding our mental health crisis.

If you haven't already, please visit our website to register for upcoming webinars or to watch the previously recorded sessions.

Would you like to host your own webinar? Fill out the form, here.

If there is a certain topic you'd like to see covered, please email us.

May 2024 Monthly Webinar

Registration is required.

Topic: NAMI Wyoming



When: May 14th, 2024, 12:00 PM Mountain Time

Description: For Mental Health Awareness Month, please join us as the Executive Director of NAMI Wyoming gives an informational overview of the organization.

Certificates for

Professional Development available.

Collective Call to Action



We know we cannot address our mental health crisis in Wyoming in a vacuum. None of us can do it alone. The educational webinar series and this recently formed newsletter are attempts to maintain engagement and continue the conversation around mental health in Wyoming. Please share the opportunity to subscribe with your networks. Thank you for your commitment to this work.

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