Montana CAST-S 2017 MONTANA’ S CAST- S Crisis Action School Toolkit on Suicide 2017 1 Montana CAST-S 2017 2 Montana CAST-S 2017 Montana’s CAST-S Crisis Action School Toolkit on Suicide 2017 This Montana CAST-S Toolkit was developed by co-authors Dr. Scott Poland and Dr. Donna Poland in collaboration with Montana OPI, SAM, DPHHS, Big Sky AACAP, and NAMI Montana for the express use by Montana schools. Other agencies or individuals wishing to use materials must obtain permission from the authors by contacting
[email protected]. Published November 2017 3 Montana CAST-S 2017 Editorial and layout support was provided by Peter Christensen, Punchline Communications Inc. 4 Montana CAST-S 2017 About the Authors Scott Poland, EdD Currently a professor at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology, Dr. Scott Poland is also the co- director of the NSU Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has worked in schools as a psychologist or a director for twenty-six years and is still very involved in school crisis response and consultation. He has recently provided on-site assistance after suicides in several school districts. As survivors of the suicide of his father, he and his family are examples of those who never believed a suicide could happen. After being promoted to director of psychological services in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and facing the suicides of several students, Dr. Poland became dedicated to suicide prevention. In 1982, the district superintendent asked him what he was going to do about these suicides. At the time, he answered that he did not know.