CHEYENNE, WY –The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY) Caring Foundation is partnering with the Boys and Girls Clubs across Wyoming to promote suicide awareness and prevention training for Club staff and teen members. The training program, offered by the Grace for 2 Brothers organization, teaches young adults to recognize warning signs of a potential suicide and how to respond. The program was piloted by the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne and will now expand the program to other Wyoming Clubs. The Caring Foundation has provided a grant of $65,000 to support this effort.
Keeping Wyoming children healthy and safe is a priority goal of the Caring Foundation according to Diane Gore, President and CEO of BCBSWY. “This program will help teens build valuable skills for handling stress and helping others who may be struggling,” she said. “With Wyoming’s high suicide rate, we think it’s important to help young adults deal with potential suicide situations among each other, their friends and their families. We’re delighted that the Boys and Girls Clubs is partnering with us and will put our grant funding to use to offer this training.”
The suicide prevention training grant reflects the Caring Foundation’s ongoing support for helping youth live healthier lives. Since 2015, the Caring Foundation has funded the Healthy Habits program for Boys and Girls Clubs across the state. The program teaches Club members goal setting, selecting healthy foods and better eating habits and provides healthy meals and snacks. In 2018, more than 66,000 meals and 126,000 snacks were served at local Clubs.
“Youth across Wyoming are grateful for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming Caring Foundation’s support of the Healthy Habits Program and suicide prevention training” stated Rolinda Sample, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne. “It’s heart-warming when you see youth enjoy healthy meals and snacks which they helped prepare and when youth are excited about exercising. Now Club youth and staff are better equipped to help others have a healthy lifestyle by recognizing those who are in need of support because of the suicide prevention training.”
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY), a not-for-profit health insurer and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, provides access to high quality health care coverage, services and programs to help our members make the best health care decisions and get the best care. With 10 locations across Wyoming, we provide hometown service to residents and businesses while serving people and charitable organizations in communities around the state. Learn more about us at BCBSWY.com.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation of Wyoming
As a caring community, BCBSWY has been involved in promoting the good health and well-being of Wyoming residents by participating in and contributing to many health-related charities and causes. In 1990, BCBSWY established the Caring Foundation of Wyoming to help sustain this mission. The Caring Foundation of Wyoming focuses its support through charitable giving. For more information, visit www.bcbswy.com/company_info/foundation