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Committee refers JED Foundation partnership proposal to City Council after community concerns about process
Summary
Committee members heard a presentation from the JED Foundation on a proposed city–district partnership to assess and strengthen youth mental health supports. After public commenters asked for broader local engagement, the committee voted 4–0 to refer the JED proposal and to ask staff to refine scope and stakeholders before City Council discussion.
The City–School Liaison Committee on April 1 heard a multi‑panel presentation from the JED Foundation describing a two‑year District Mental Health Initiative that assesses district systems, produces a strategic plan, and supports implementation of recommended practices to improve student mental health and reduce suicide risk.
Tony Walker, senior vice president for JED’s school programs, described the foundation’s model: a four‑phase process of assessment, strategic planning, implementation support and sustainability evaluation, led by district co‑leads and a cross‑functional steering committee. "The JED Foundation has been around now for 26 years. We are a national nonprofit organization…with one big specific mission, and that is around improving youth mental health and preventing youth suicide," Walker said.
JED presenters emphasized assessments that include staff, principal and student surveys, a district self‑assessment and stakeholder focus groups, followed by a gap analysis and an implementation plan. JED also offered community components—postvention support, trainings, and resource‑mapping—to align city, district and community partners.
Public comment included both support and requests for caution. Project Safety Net board member Steven Lee said the coalition of local nonprofit providers had not been consulted and asked the committee to "pause this effort and just to take a step back, take a breath, and to do the type of community outreach and engagement that is required here." Project Safety Net and other local providers urged early engagement with community‑based organizations that already deliver services in Palo Alto.
Committee members acknowledged both the urgency of addressing youth mental health and the need to coordinate with local partners. Several members and staff recommended refining the proposal’s scope to ensure community providers are engaged and that the city and district activities are aligned. District staff and several community commenters described existing local programs, collaborations with County services, and ongoing data collection efforts.
Committee Chair Stone moved that the committee refer the JED Foundation proposal to the City Council for discussion and potential direction and asked staff to refine the scope of stakeholders (including community partners) in advance of that council discussion. The motion passed 4–0 (Greer, Liu, Siegel, Kemheim voting yes). The committee recorded that any formal contract or implementation would return to the council and board for approval and that staff should continue coordinating with district and community partners while finalizing scope.
