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Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training

South Dakota Codified Law 13-42-71 requires employed, certified educators to complete at least one hour of approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training every five years. Verification that this requirement is met will be conducted through accreditation review.

House Bill 1020 effective July 1, 2024, moved the verification of the youth suicide awareness and prevention training requirement from certification to accreditation. This means that educators are still required to complete an approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training; however, verifying training completion will be conducted within district accreditation reviews rather than educators' initial and/or renewal certification.

Approved trainings listed on the DOE Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training page may be used to meet the training requirement.



Approved Online Training

The online training options provided by the following organizations have been approved by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards as meeting the guidelines for online training.

The Jason Foundation
The Jason Foundation is an educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. Online training resources include a series of modules which introduce the scope and magnitude of the problem of youth suicide, the signs of concern, risk factors, how to recognize young people who may be struggling, how to approach the student and how to help an at-risk youth find resources for assistance.
    Guidance for accessing the training:
    1. Click the "Training" link on this page
    2. Log in or Register.
    3. Select "2-Hour Courses" under "Catalog".
    4. Click on "Module 5 Youth Suicide: A Silent Epidemic".
    5. Select "Register to Begin".


Type Name of Training Cost Certificate of Completion
Online Module 5 Youth Suicide: A Silent Epidemic Free Yes


The Helpline Center
The Helpline Center is recognized for suicide prevention work in South Dakota.

Type Name of Training Cost Certificate of Completion
Online Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention: Act on FACTS (60 min) Free Yes


The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment

The Child & Adult Advocacy Studies (CAASt) Training Series provides professionals with tools to successfully advocate for children and adults in need, while learning how to work in interprofessional teams to provide wraparound services and overcome problems associated with rurality, funding, and lack of services. The CAASt programming will create advocates who can use critical thinking skills to help align services and recovery to people in need. Training attendees will better understand suicide prevention strategies for students in South Dakota, will learn the process and importance of mandatory reporting, and will gain knowledge in trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approaches. It is essential for people working within the education system to identify trauma and adversity in students, respond in a manner that allows the student to begin the healing process while continuing to function within a classroom or school setting, and promote access to services through utilization of a multidisciplinary team.

Guide to access the training



Type Name of Training Cost Certificate of Completion
Online The Child & Adult Advocacy Studies (CAASt) Training Free Yes
Approved In-Person Group Training

The in-person training options provided by the following organizations have been approved by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards as meeting the guidelines for training.

Type Training Cost Completion Certificate Training Request Link
In-Person or Virtual
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
QPR has three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide: Question, Persuade, and Refer. People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR can be learned in as little as one hour.
Free
Yes
SD Suicide Prevention Request Training page
In-person
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
ASIST is a two-day, interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.
Free
Yes
SD Suicide Prevention Request Training page
In-Person, Virtual, or Hybrid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is an eight-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Learn more.
Free
Yes
SD Suicide Prevention Request Training page
In-Person or Virtual
More Than Sad Suicide Prevention for Teachers and Other School Personnel
The More Than Sad family of programs has taught over a million students, parents, and educators how to be smart about mental health. Educators and other school personnel will learn how to recognize mental health conditions, the warning signs of suicide, and the steps they can take get help for at-risk students.
Free
Yes
Contact Samantha Christopherson at schristopherson@afsp.org, 701-371-1194, or Alicia Fabel at afabel@afsp.org, 701-809-3494
In-Person or Virtual
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention
Talk Saves Lives is AFSP s standardized, 60-minute education program that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide and how to keep themselves and others safe. The standard Talk Saves Lives presentation is also available in Spanish.
Free
Yes
Contact Samantha Christopherson at schristopherson@afsp.org, 701-371-1194, or Alicia Fabel at afabel@afsp.org, 701-809-3494
In-Person or Virtual
Child & Adult Advocacy Studies (CAASt) Training Series
The Child & Adult Advocacy Studies (CAASt) Training Series provides professionals with tools to successfully advocate for children and adults in need, while learning how to work in interprofessional teams to provide wraparound services and overcome problems associated with rurality, funding, and lack of services. The CAASt programming will create advocates who can use critical thinking skills to help align services and recovery to people in need. Training attendees will better understand suicide prevention strategies for students in South Dakota, will learn the process and importance of mandatory reporting, and will gain knowledge in trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approaches. It is essential for people working within the education system to identify trauma and adversity in students, respond in a manner that allows the student to begin the healing process while continuing to function within a classroom or school setting, and promote access to services through utilization of a multidisciplinary team.
Free
Yes
Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment CAASt Training page
Approval Process for Trainings

The Board of Education Standards approves youth suicide awareness and prevention trainings. These trainings are posted on the Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention page and open to any South Dakota educator and district to utilize.

Approved trainings meet the following criteria:

  • Are a minimum of 1-hour duration
  • Are evidence-based
  • Include information on youth suicide risk indicators
  • Include appropriate educator responses and referral sources
  • Certificate of completion is provided to participants who complete the training that contains the name of the training, name of the individual who completed the training, length of the training, and date on which the training was completed

Approved trainings shall be approved for a period of five years.

To become approved:

  • The training provider completes the Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training Application. Submit any additional information to Andrea Effling including: Viewing of the training, a syllabus, or documentation of the training to determine the training meets the approval criteria.
  • Applications are reviewed annually after December 1.
    SD DOE staff will review the training using an evaluation and determine if it meets the approval criteria. If the training meets the approval criteria, SD DOE staff will present to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards in a following spring meeting for approval. If the training does not meet the approval criteria, SD DOE staff will provide feedback to the provider outlining why the training does not meet the requirements.
  • Trainings approved by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards will be made available by July 1 of the year they are approved and posted on the Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training page.

For questions related to the approval of suicide prevention trainings, contact Andrea Effling at (605) 220-3813.
For questions related to accreditation, visit the Accreditation page or contact doeaccred@state.sd.us.