HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2508-5142, Staff Report 2509-5173E.Discussion of Partnership with the JED Foundation Items Re-ordered, Late Packet Report,
Presentation
City Schools Liaison Committee
Staff Report
Report Type: REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: September 11, 2025
Report #:2508-5142
TITLE
Discussion of Partnership with the JED Foundation
This will be a late packet report published on 9/4/25.
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City Schools Liaison Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: September 11, 2025
Report #:2509-5173
TITLE
Discussion of Partnership with the JED Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
Review and discuss the draft updated scope of work between the JED Foundation and the City
of Palo Alto.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
At the April 1, 2025 City Schools Liaison Committee1, the Committee discussed a possible
partnership with the JED Foundation. The Committee approved the following:
Refer the JED Foundation proposal and further refine the scope with stakeholders to the
City Council for Council discussion and potential direction and for continued
collaboration with the School District.
During the FY 2026 City budget discussions, the City Council expressed support of moving
forward with an agreement with JED. City staff and the City Council members of the City
Schools Liaison Committee further refined the scope with the JED Foundation which resulted in
the attached draft scope of work. This agreement is drafted as an agreement between the City
and the JED Foundation with mention of the School District for specific needs. The City Schools
Liaison Committee should review and discuss the draft scope at the September 11 Committee
meeting. City staff will progress the agreement to City Council for approval.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The total not-to-exceed amount is $149,000, which includes $140,000 for services and $9,000
for travel. The City funding source will be identified when this item is brought to full City
Council for approval of the agreement.
1 April 1, 2025 City Schools Liaison Committee Meeting, Item E. Link:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/tasks/review/94672035-05dc-44fc-b28c-7a732ad09f1d
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ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
DRAFT Scope of Work for Contract with JED Foundation
As of Sept. 4, 2025
The JED Foundation (CONSULTANT) will provide strategic planning, technical assistance (TA), prevention
and postvention consultation to the City of Palo Alto. CONSULTANT will provide the services described in
this scope of work in a 18-24 month time period for a Not to Exceed amount of $149,000 which includes
$140,000 for services and $9,000 as a not to exceed for eligible reimbursable travel expenses. This
contract can be amended in the future to add additional scope of a Phase 2 upon mutual agreement of
the parties and identified funding.
CONSULTANT will provide the following services in partnership with the CITY’s Project Manager.
Task 1: Provide Postvention Support
CONSULTANT will provide the following deliverables for postvention services:
1. Meetings, Interviews, Focus Groups: CONSULTANT will directly facilitate and coordinate among
local providers opportunities for postvention grief processing and community healing in the
wake of recent losses and historic suicide cluster events. Consultant will engage Project Safety
Net (PSN) for historical knowledge, insight and experience.
2. Gap Analysis Write Up and Postvention Guide: CONSULTANT will conduct a gap analysis of the
current systems of postvention support, followed by the creation of a co-designed and
customized postvention guide to improve responses to loss by suicide (and other unexpected
loss) and reduce the likelihood that other individuals will die by suicide following a loss. CITY will
review a draft of the report and guide and provide comments before the report and guide are
finalized.
3. Messaging Write Ups: CONSULTANT will assist with community-wide safe messaging (including
news shared in local newspapers, community groups and memorials in the community) to
reduce the likelihood that other individuals will die by suicide following a loss.
Task 2: Strengthen Prevention Efforts
CONSULTANT will provide the following deliverables for prevention services:
1. Data Analysis: CONSULTANT will provide data analysis with at least the following data:
a. Regional: local data will be compiled to identify the leading methods of suicide in the
region and potential “hotspots” in an effort to create multipronged approaches to
reducing access to lethal means.
b. Local Schools Data: In partnership with the CITY, CONSULTANT will request data from
the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) that relates to mental health support of
the student population; CONSULTANT will leverage that data to inform citywide
prevention efforts for Palo Alto youth (particularly the K-12 population).
2. Communication:
a. CONSULTANT, in partnership with the CITY, will share this scope of work and progress
updates to PAUSD and will highlight if the update information is suggested to be broadly
shared with PAUSD families.
3. Gap Analysis Write Up on Prevention: CONSULTANT will conduct a gap analysis of the current
programs and services for youth mental health support in Palo Alto, particularly including
identifying those programs and services offered by or financially supported by the City. The gap
analysis will evaluate services offered by age, accessibility of services, supports for specific
demographic groups, availability of types of mental health support services, etc. CONSULTANT
and CITY will agree on what is included in the study and CONSULTANT will produce a report with
findings. CONSULTANT will make recommendations on evidence-based programs and
interventions for suicide prevention in communities. The CITY will review a draft of the report
and provide comments before the report is finalized.
4. Advising on Reduction of Lethal Means: CONSULTANT will provide concrete guidance to reduce
access to lethal means, including but not limited to: AI assisted surveillance along the rails,
temporary suicide barriers and deterrents (e.g. nylon netting at common entry points), hopeful
signage with specific low and no cost help-seeking options visible, messaging campaigns about
the benefits of mental health care, and regular environmental scans. This information will be
shared with the CITY through written report and meetings
5. Safety education for local agencies: CONSULTANT will conduct 2 four-hour trainings as
customized, citywide lethal means safety education. CONSULTANT will help train more local
providers in the use and implementation of research-based individual approaches to reducing
access to lethal means (e.g., Counseling on Access to Lethal Means).
6. Policy Development: CONSULTANT will assist in policy review and/or development, based on the
results of the gap analysis, to create clear systems of response and intervention to assist in a
mental health crisis. This can include reviewing and updating existing policies and/or developing
new policies.
Task 3: Facilitate Youth Engagement
CONSULTANT understands that voice, agency, and purpose are essential to healthy development and
wellness. JED will work with youth leaders, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure
that Palo Alto’s young people are central to this work.
CONSULTANT recommends the following elements to amplify youth voice and to increase youth
engagement:
1. JED will seek to better understand the needs of Palo Alto’s teens and young adults by recruiting
a diverse sample of participants (approximately 30 - 50) to take part in a series of small (6-8),
structured focus groups regarding the Palo Alto mental health ecosystem (access, awareness,
acceptability). The methodology will include an IRB review, a hybrid model (in-person,
anonymous remote), an interview schedule of key questions and follow-up probes, and a fully
informed consent process.
2. Survey Administration and Analysis: CONSULTANT will administer its well-developed JED High
School Survey where possible for Palo Alto youth in public and private schools. If the survey is
used at PAUSD, it is subject to concurrence by PAUSD to ensure it is not duplicative of other
PAUSD survey tools. The survey tool is intended to get a clearer picture of the
mental health needs and help-seeking preferences among Palo Alto teens. The CITY and
CONSULTANT will request support from local private schools and PAUSD (as appropriate
given note above) to help share the survey to Palo Alto youth.
3. CONSULTANT will work with the CITY to explore the creation of a Peer Task Force to ensure that
young people are meaningfully represented.
4. CONSULTANT will help to generate a roadmap of potential future activities and goals of the
Youth Task Force, as well as guidance on overall convening structure and the prioritization of
initial Task Force activities and agendas.
Task 4: Advise on the City of Palo Alto’s Citywide Campaign/Communications: CONSULTANT can
provide up to 40 hours of expert guidance on campaign concepts and materials to help ensure their
effectiveness and impact. This could include reviewing and sharing expert feedback on creative briefs
and materials, and/or informing potential impact goals and measures. Further details:
1. CONSULTANT will evaluate the City’s existing communication tools for sharing resources about
youth mental health and share best practices or share additional tools the City could consider
using. This can be a smaller write up.
2. CONSULTANT will potentially survey about youth access of CITY-provided services, if needed
beyond the gap analysis and communication tools evaluation listed above.
3. CONSULTANT will curate a set of existing, evidence-based resources tailored to the goals and
objectives of the campaign for licensed use, e.g. on the citywide campaign landing page. These
resources might include digital tools, storytelling content, or social-first assets designed to
provide trustworthy information about mental health, including recognizing signs of distress;
supporting open conversation, connection, and help-seeking behaviors; and offering specialized
information for a wide range of feelings, situations, and identities. Examples include: Mental
Health Resource Center content, videos featuring expert advice and voices of lived experience
like Caleb Williams, research reports, and social media assets.
4. Advise on rebuilding of CITY mental health resources webpage to ensure user friendliness for
ease of accessing resources.
Task 5: Trainings to Build Knowledge and Skills
CONSULTANT will provide six (6) standard workshops/trainings with three (3) in person and (3) virtually.
The standard workshops and training can be tailored to address the needs of specific groups. The
workshop/training final topics will be settled upon by the CITY and CONSULTANT based on specific
needs of the Palo Alto community, but some example workshop/training topics include:
● JED’s “You Can Help” training equips participants to understand youth mental health, recognize
signs of distress, learn how to respond, and know when and how to connect young people to
professional resources. JED has developed specialized versions of this training for youth,
educator, and parent audiences.
● “Creating an Inclusive Community of Care” covers the connection between belonging and
mental well-being, identifies the core elements of a culture of care, and offers proven strategies
to combat stigma among historically marginalized groups. It’s recommended for leaders and
staff members of organizations that work with young people.
● “It’s Okay to Say Suicide” Being able to talk openly about suicide opens the door for people to
get help. We are here to not only tell you it’s OK to say suicide, we’re here to show you how.
The target audiences for the Palo Alto-specific workshops/trainings will be determined by the City of
Palo Alto based on community need. Examples include community groups, schools, school districts, etc.
Travel for Contract:
Based on the scope of work, travel is required for the CONSULTANT. With the expectation that
CONSULTANT will deliver services within Palo Alto, the reimbursable travel not to exceed cost is $9,000.
Option to Amend Contract to Add Additional Scope:
Upon interest, funding, and agreement of both parties, this contract can be amended to add additional
scope related to co-creating and supporting a youth mental health summit and to build capacity for
sustainable engagement, prevention, and postvention. Further scope would be developed for this
additional work upon interest, funding, and agreement of both parties.
Contract Timeline
Below is the estimated timing for the Tasks within this report.
Task # Description Estimated Completion Date
Contract Cost Estimates
Below is the estimated pricing for the Tasks within this report.
Task # Description Estimated Cost For the Task
Travel Costs not to exceed: $9,000 for 6 trips
THE JED FOUNDATION
Draft Scope of Work
City Schools Liaison Committee
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Kristen O'Kane, Director, Community Services Dept.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 www.paloalto.gov
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BACKGROUND
•The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit devoted to
emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and
young adults nationwide.
•City Schools Liaison Committee discussed a possible
partnership with JED at the April 1, 2025 meeting.
•JED developed a Draft Scope of Work and revised it
several times based on feedback from staff, Council
representatives, public comments, and input shared by
PAUSD.
•Contract amount is $149k over a 24-month term.
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DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK
Task 1: Provide Postvention Support
Task 2: Strengthen Prevention Efforts
Task 3: Facilitate Youth Engagement
Task 4: Advise on Palo Alto’s Citywide Campaign/ Communications
Task 5: Trainings to Build Knowledge and Skills
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KEY DELIVERABLES
1. Provide
postvention support
•Opportunities for
grief processing
and community
healing
•Gap Analysis and
Postvention Guide
•Community-wide
safe messaging
2. Strengthen
prevention efforts
•Data analysis
•Communication
•Gap Analysis
•Guidance and
education on lethal
means reduction
•Policy review/
development
3. Facilitate youth
engagement
•Youth focus group
•High School survey
(public and private)
•Peer Task Force
•Roadmap of
potential future
activities
4. Campaign and
Communications 5. Trainings
•Evaluate existing
tools
•Potential survey on
youth access
•Curate a list of
resources and tools
•Advise on resources
webpage
•Provide 6 workshops/
trainings for youth,
educators, parents,
staff
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Components of Scope Related to PAUSD
Current Scope Includes the following components related
to PAUSD:
•That PAUSD would provide local schools' data related to
mental health
•As appropriate, PAUSD will be asked to share progress
updates with PAUSD families
•PAUSD review of JED high school survey tool and, if
concurred by PAUSD, then PAUSD assistance in sharing
the survey with PAUSD youth
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NEXT STEPS
•Receive feedback from City Schools Committee
members –September 2025
•Bring to City Council for approval –September 29, 2025
KRISTEN O’KANE
Community Services Director
kristen.o’kane@paloalto.gov
650-463-4908
CHANTAL COTTON GAINES
Deputy City Manager
chantal.gaines@paloalto.gov
650-329-2572