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ABOUT
SPAN

SPAN (Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia) is a regional community coalition of CSBs, partner organizations, and local community members all working together to prevent suicide.

MISSION & HISTORY.

SPAN was founded in 2016 as one of the five regional coalitions supported by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. SPAN is a regional coalition of the Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax-Falls Church, Loudoun, and Prince William Community Services Boards (CSBs) and other partners in Northern Virginia, all working together to raise awareness and share resources to prevent suicide.
 
Northern Virginia encompasses more than 1,300 square miles with a diverse population of more than 2 million residents. Our neighbors come from many countries and cultures and speak many languages – in addition to English, more than 180 languages or dialects are spoken in our homes. Virginia has the 8th largest military veteran population and fourth-largest active duty population in the U.S., many of whom live here in Northern Virginia. SPAN focuses on regional strategies to address Northern Virginia's unique challenges and opportunities for preventing suicide.

WE CAN ALL HELP PREVENT SUICIDE .

We invite community leaders, faith communities, mental health advocacy groups, school system administrators, health foundations, law enforcement, NAMI chapters, governmental human services coordinators, health departments, parent groups, ethnic counseling groups, peer resource center staff, private providers, university faculty, and youth leaders to get involved with SPAN, get trained, and raise awareness. 

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LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

Ashritha Akula

Sources of Strength

DECA Leadership Academy

Rock Ridge High School

Linda Silver Bufano

Chair

ConnerStrong Foundation

Noraine Buttar, MPH

Chief of Youth Development

City of Alexandria

Helen Cooper

Mental Health Matters Club, Founder

TC Williams High School

Bethany Demers, MS

Mental Wellness Specialist

Fairfax County Public Schools

Kimberly Fleming

CEO

David J Cobb Foundation

Prevention Alliance of Greater Prince William

Alicia Guajardo, MSW

Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth & Families

Regional Response Program Manager

American Red Cross

Allen Lomax, MPA

Chair, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria

Chair, Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria

Lahari Kunapaneni

Sources of Strength

Ryan Bartel Foundation Student Advisory Board

Independence High School

Jamie MacDonald

Prevention Intervention Specialist

Loudoun County MHSADS Prevention & Intervention

Heather Martinsen, MSW, ICPS

Behavioral Health Wellness Supervisor

Prince William County CSB

Melanie Myers, LCSW

Prevention/Intervention Program Manager

Loudoun County MHSADS

Linh Nighe, M.Ed

Prevention Director

Children's Behavioral Health Bureau

Arlington Child and Family Services Division

Rachel Lynch

Program Officer

Northern Virginia Health Foundation

Ali Walker, PA-C, RRT

National Capital Area Chapter, Board Chair

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Critical Care Physician Assistant

Medstar Georgetown University Hospital

Marla Zometsky, MPH, M.Ed, LPC

Manager

Wellness, Health Promotion & Prevention

Fairfax-Falls Church CSB

PARTNERS.

SPAN is a collaboration between the five Community Services Boards in Northern Virginia, nonprofit partners, community groups, and dedicated local community members. Our coalition depends on our partners and supporters, so we invite you to join us!

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