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Supervisors approve aid for suicide prevention walk
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Supervisor Robert Rickman

In action at its Tuesday, April 14 meeting, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved District 5 Supervisor Robert Rickman’s proposal to provide $1,999 to The Child Abuse Prevention Council to help cover costs for their 2026 Suicide Prevention Walk that will take place in Stockton this coming September. The grant is through Rickman’s discretionary supervisory district funds.

The county’s Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) protects children and strengthens families through awareness and outcome-driven programs delivered with compassion, officials noted. Among services provided are suicide prevention. San Joaquin County’s suicide rate (10.8 per 100,000) is approximately 15% higher than the California average (9.4 per 100,000). Suicide prevention remains both a public health and public safety priority. CAPC staff are on campus one to two days per week at five high schools in the Fifth District and have provided Yellow Ribbon services and trainings to nearly 1,100 students in the last fiscal year. The annual Walk 4 Life, scheduled for September 2026, is a countywide suicide prevention awareness and resource event that connects families, students, educators, and first responders to early intervention supports.

“The Child Abuse Prevention Council provides many services assisting with family needs. Our youth can sometimes find themselves experiencing loneliness or feeling isolated. The Child Abuse Prevention Council trains school employees and student peers to learn the signs and be suicide prevention Ambassadors and I am proud to support these efforts,” said Rickman.

If you need help or know someone who does you may call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the emergency response system for youth and families in crisis. Or visit www.988lifeline.org for more resources.

The Supervisorial District Funds were re-established by the Board of Supervisors in the 2023-2024 Adopted Budget, to afford each supervisor the opportunity to address district-specific unmet needs. Supervisorial district-funded projects are subject to existing County policy and business practice.