The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), a national leader in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs, is joining with the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors (NOCAD) for an affiliation targeted to address the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 in our nation. One of the first projects between the two will be to provide an online training library on suicide awareness and prevention for all of NOCADs 38 member associations through JFI’s Coaches Assistance Program. The NOCAD membership reaches more than 155,000 coaches across the country.

In the nation, according to the 2013 CDC Youth Risk Behavioral Survey, one out of every six students responded that they had “seriously considered suicide in the past twelve months.” This same survey reports that over 1 out of 13 students reported attempting suicide within the past twelve months. “We are excited about working with NOCAD to offer programs and materials that will provide information, tools and resources to their membership in raising awareness and helping to build prevention skills,” stated Clark Flatt, President of The Jason Foundation. “The fact that the NOCAD Board unanimously voted to affiliate with JFI only further cements the commitment they have to their student-athletes and student bodies as a whole. As their unofficial motto states – Please Remember, Kids Need Coaches.” NOCAD, in its 26th year, has never before aligned itself with another non-coaching organization. “After hearing Clark Flatt’s presentation and statement of goals and procedures there was no doubt that we would seek affiliation,” said Phil Weaver, Executive Director of NOCAD. “Within hours the unanimous vote was taken and the coaches of NOCAD had committed to helping The Jason Foundation work to reduce the terrible incidence of youth suicide in the United States.”