CARE – Resources For Families And Young People In Crisis

Responding to a suicide crisis

The CARE Team (Community, Assessment, Response and Education), developed by North Valley Community Foundation’s healing initiative Thrive, is a group of highly trained, compassionate community healers able to respond quickly to support young people and their families in three specific situations:

• When a young person is experiencing suicidal ideation or thoughts of suicide.
• When a young person has attempted suicide.
• When a young person has taken their life by suicide.

The CARE Team was developed in response to multiple youth and adult suicides in Butte County during 2020. A determined group of community members came together to address this crisis and in less than six months, this free service was created.

Eliminating barriers, reducing trauma and promoting healing

Our team of experienced clinicians, caring coaches and an advisory board with high-level representatives from multiple sectors have worked tirelessly to transform the experience of finding and connecting with resources and services for youth and families by improving access to care, eliminating barriers, reducing trauma and promoting healing.
Since October 2021, the team has received more than 100 calls, and activated coaches to support more than 79 individuals, resulting in 60 case closures or warm handoffs to longer-term supportive services.

How it works

If a young person you know is struggling the CARE Team can help. Call or text 530-783-CARE (2273). Within 24-48 hours a member of the team will return your call. Once activated, a CARE Team clinician will review the case and make recommendations for next steps. This may include assigning a CARE Team coach to work with the young person who is struggling, as well as their siblings or other family members as needed.

Coaches work with families to make essential connections to the best resources, meet with young people individually, and help them identify and connecting with the local supports and activities that are uniquely meaningful to them.

Partnerships with local organizations

Thrive has established partnerships with mental health providers, schools and youth programs enabling the CARE Team to move quickly in connecting families with appropriate resources and removing any barriers they may encounter along the way. In addition, Thrive partners with local organizations for support beyond the realm of traditional therapy, including equine, music, art and forest therapy, as well as martial arts based programs.

Referrals from parents, caregivers, teachers, counselors and self-referrals are all welcome. There are no insurance or payment requirements, and the CARE Team will work with each family and individual to identify the best resources for each situation.

The CARE Team has been made possible through generous funding from the Thrive initiative of North Valley Community Foundation and the Aaron Rodgers NorCal Fire Recovery Fund. For more information on the CARE Team, visit http://www.nvcf.org/careteam . To learn more about Thrive or to make a donation to support this work, visit http://www.nvcf.org/thrive