Palo Alto committee backs city partnership with JED Foundation, urges school board review

The City–Schools Liaison Committee unanimously voted Sept. 11 to refer consideration of a potential partnership between the Palo Alto Unified School District and the JED Foundation and to recommend that the City Council approve a separate city contract with JED for a 24‑month engagement.

Committee Chair Stone said the proposed work is intended to sharpen local prevention and postvention efforts around youth mental health. “A JED partnership is a no‑regret action,” Chair Stone said, adding that the city and district have already spent substantial resources on student mental health but that “suicide still plagues our city.”

The committee discussion followed a staff presentation describing a draft scope of work from the JED Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit that advises communities on teen and young adult emotional health and suicide prevention. Kristin O'Kane, Director of the Community Services Department, told the committee the current city proposal is for roughly $149,000 over 24 months and includes a gap analysis, youth engagement (a peer task force and focus groups), a high‑school survey (if the district concurs), a citywide communications campaign, and trainings for students, educators and parents.

Dr. Allison Rosen, a clinical…