HOPE Services Annual Reports

Health, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Services Annual Summary

Marci Young, Psy.D., HOPE Services Director  

Report compiled by HOPE Services staff

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Prevention is Intervention for the Community

HOPE Services employs a multidisciplinary approach to promote health and wellness and prevent suicide, sexual violence, and substance misuse and overdose. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration with campus and community partners, we support the Shocker community in addressing these critical wellness concerns. HOPE Services empowers Wichita State University to foster a culture of connection, care, and well-being.

Guided by this mission, our programs and initiatives enhance awareness of healthy behaviors, reduce high-risk alcohol and other drug use, challenge attitudes and behaviors that contribute to sexual violence, and increase knowledge of mental health and wellness resources across the Wichita State community.

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• Continued to increase the presence of HOPE Services related materials on campus.
• Presented related materials at several conferences (e.g. Maternal Mortality Prevention Conference, Kansas Public Health Association Conference, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas Annual Conference, Wichita Catholic Diocese Teachers Conference, HOSA Future Healthcare Careers Conference ) regarding our campus and community efforts.
• Provided support to the WSU community through engagement in committees (e.g. Student Affairs Assessment, Health Hum, Housing and Residence Life, Disordered Eating Treatment Team, and Clery committees) and consultation on campaigns and projects across the University.
• Evaluated and implemented action plans for decreasing student deaths due to suicide or overdose.
• Collaborated with T3 to optimize HOPE Services’ website content and navigation, helping students more easily find needed resources.
• Engagement across all social media platforms for all our accounts for HOPE Services
• Engagement across all social media platforms for all our accounts for HOPE Services
• Engaged in collaborations with several campus and community organizations/departments (see below).
• Presented at Orientations for students, faculty, and staff

Translating Research into Practice

• A major accomplishment this year is the movement from program delivery into evidence-based dissemination. Examples:
• Veteran training evaluation data
• Ongoing PMWPS efficacy studies
• NCHA administration (965 respondents)
• Perinatal Hope Kit research
• KU School of Medicine collaborations
• New Prevention Science & Community Wellness course
• Prevention Ambassador applied learning infastructure

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• During FY 26, engaged in 514.8 hours of prevention and outreach and had 17,330 contacts with students, parents, staff/faculty, and community members.
• 161 presentations were completed, totaling 230 hours and 8,803 contacts (average of 55 people per presentation). These presentations ranged in topics covering our four focus areas.
• 102 presentations that were provided were requested by campus partners.
• The most requested presentations were related to wellness promotion, wellness resources, and preventing suicide trainings.
• Provided 110 informational tables totaling approximately 325 hours and had 8,527 contacts (provided information to an average of 78 individuals per table).
• Continued to have a significant amount of our outreach engagement take place on virtual platforms, including livestreams, Strat Comm, social media, and Zoom presentations, to increase resources for remote students.
• Suspenders4Hope gear item sales over the FY have allowed us to continue the incentive of a free #WSUWeSupportU shirt to any students, faculty, or staff who complete a Suspenders4Hope Training (Promoting Mental Wellness and Preventing Suicide, Substance Use and Mental Wellness, or Healthy Relationship and Bystander Intervention trainings), as a self-sustaining program for the coming year.
• Delivering hopeful content and informative campaigns on social media, WSU TV, Shocker Blast, WSU Today, WSU Foundation and Alumni Newsletter, and other publications to build awareness of available resources among students, staff, faculty, and the community.
• Orientation presentations to familiarize new students with CAPS, HOPE Services, and Suspenders4Hope.
• Hosted WSU Wellness Initiative for campus community, recognized Suspenders4Hope Champions.
• Provided a faculty and staff Wellness Retreat.
• Updated our social media programming to better align with students' current trends.
• Supported several masters and doctoral level students on dissertation/thesis projects, and sat on dissertation committee chairs.
• Collaborated with many campus departments/organizations on programming, planning, trainings, and events (e.g. Veteran services, TRIO, Student Engagement and Belonging, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Government Association, Student Activities Council, psychology department, Hispanic Serving Initiatives, School of Performing Arts, Orientation, Student Conduct and Community Standards, College of Education, Housing and Residence Life, School of Nursing, CAPS. School of Engineering, ISLE, Modern and Classical Language and Literature, Community Engagement Institute, CARE Team/SOS, OSAT, Sociology, Social Work, Elliot School of Communication, Human Resources, Graduate School, Honors College, College of Health Professions, Barton School of Business, Athletics, Dining Services, Shocker Store, see additional groups below).
• Through a collaboration with Campus Rec, Suspenders4Hope was the charitable partner of the 2025 Pumpkin Run

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• Health and Wellness Subcommittee members:
  • Cora Olson (chair, HOPE)
  • Abigail Rees (Student Representative)
  • Amanda Conner (Advanced Education General Dentistry)
  • Ana Abente (Shocker Career Accelerator)
  • Ashley Purdum (College of Health Professions: Dept of Comm. Sciences & Disorders),
  • Brenda Lichman (Ulrich)
  • Brett Brunner (Academic Affairs),
  • Elizabeth Hardyway (YMCA),
  • Heather Stafford (SHS),
  • Jared Gulledge (SOS)
  • Jennifer Nicholson (OSAT),
  • Karolina Mosa (Campus Rec.),
  • Marci Young (HOPE and CAPS),
  • Sara McIntyre (HR)
• Preventing Suicide Subcommittee:
  • Marci Young, Chair  (HOPE Services)
  • Georgina LaFoe (Community Engagement Institute)
  • Guy Schroeder (University Police Department)
  • Suzanne Hawley  (Public Health Sciences)
  • Chad Steinkamp (Admissions)
  • Cora Olson (Student Wellness Center)
  • SGA Vice-President
  • Courtney Lockhart (SOS)
• Preventing Sexual Violence Subcommittee/ Coordinated Campus Community Response Team (CCCRT) members:
  • Cora Olson (Chair, HOPE),
  • Abigail Rees (Student Representative)
  • Chelsah Penick (CTAC)
  • Claire Goenner (WASAC),
  • Corey Herl (UPD),
  • Grace Henderson (SCCS),
  • Holly Cole (CTAC)
  • Lauren Henderson (WFCC),
  • Jodie Hertzog (Sociology Dept.),
  • Marci Young (HOPE Services),
  • Michelle Geesaman (SOS),
  • Whitney Corley (WFCC),
• Preventing Substance Use/Misuse members:
  • Rachael Gladden (Chair, HOPE Services)
  • Marci Young (HOPE Services)
  • Sheri Barnes (Academic Advising)
  • Cora Olson (HOPE Services)
  • Alan Dsouza (TRIO)
  • Malaree Hood (Student, Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership)
  • Ashley McKinney (SOS)
  • Deah Davis (School of Social Work)

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• HOPE Services offers applied learning opportunities to students from a variety of disciplines. They work on projects that are utilized on campus and in the community, engage in professional development and training opportunities, and function as a vital part of the HOPE Services team.
• HOPE Services offered 36 students applied learning opportunities in FY 26, including those who participated in the Prevention Ambassador programs.
  • 3 communications applied learning opportunities
  • 3 prevention program implementation positions
  • 2 AOD prevention grant positions
  • 2 Sociology practicum/applied learning opportunity
  • 2 Public Health Social Work practicum opportunities
  • 1 Philosophy practicum
  • 1 Psychology applied learning opportunity
  • Provided transitional employment for students who recently graduated and were looking for full-time employment. 
• Assisted in the distribution of $4,000 in scholarships from the Greg & Carol Denewiler Scholarship for Combating Human Trafficking
• Paid Applied Learning Positions (Does not include Prevention Ambassadors)
  • Total number of unique undergraduate students: 7
  • Total number of unique Graduate students: 2
  • Total number of hours for 25-26 fiscal year: 2,285
  • Top three new initiatives students engaged in: 

    • Building Spanish Hope Kits

    • New student-centered resources for programming

    • Assisting with new presentation creation for classrooms

  • Two students completed the Midwestern Public Health Training Center Internship

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• At HOPE Services our applied learning students are an integral part of our resource creation process. Not only do they create resources, student staff and Prevention Ambassadors regularly provide feedback for resources created by professional staff. This gives our department insight into a diverse student perspective and increases the efficacy of our resources. 

Program Structure: 

• The Prevention Ambassador program was designed with applied learning in mind. Students are given opportunities to build leadership and skills, collaborate on research projects, and create resources for their peers all while learning to work on a team. The 3 hour per week commitment consists of:
  • General Meeting (1hr): large group meeting every Friday to touch base on outreach activities, focus group resources, and meet with campus/community partners.
  • Internship Hour (1hr): smaller groups of ambassadors meet once a week to discuss focused projects determined by interest and/or needs assessments.
  • Outreach (30min to 1hr): reserved each week for potential outreach events scheduled for the WSU community. Training (30min): new ambassadors complete a training session each week, equipping them with best practices in prevention education and more information about HOPE services programming.
  • Program Implementation Leadership Meetings (1hr): Because of our dedication to increasing applied learning opportunities, experienced PAs have been nominated to lead projects and assist with meeting coordination. Our Prevention Ambassador Leads meet with program facilitators each week to discuss project progress and future goals.

Key Performance Indicators

• • 25 unique PAs over the course of two semesters
  • Fall 2025
    • 24 ambassadors
    • 350 hours of Key Performance Indicators
  • Spring 2026
  • 22 ambassadors
  • 392 total hours
• 25 unique PAs over the course of two semesters

Events/Initiatives 

• Prevention Ambassadors worked with HOPE staff on the following events (see Preventing Sexual Violence and Preventing Substance Misuse section for event details):
  • Fall Redzone Programming: 247 contacts 
• Wellness Events:
• Destress Fest: This is a campaign initiated by the Student Activities Council. Prevention Ambassadors host an event every semester.
  • De-Stress Fest Fall  - 176 students
  • De-Stress Fest Spring – 100 students
  • Prevention Ambassadors interacted with 1,803 students at tables and presentations
  • Women’s History Month Trivia Night (12 attendees) designed to build community among non-traditional students.
  • Cultivating Joy Workshop (3 events each with 7-10 attendees) workshop series designed to uplift student voices in discussions and skill building around joy and resiliency. 

Internship Hour Projects: 

• Implementing Cultivating Joy Workshop, a series of presentations uplifting student voices in discussions around joy and resiliency. 
• Healthy Habits Campaign dedicated to nutrition on a budget and the intersection of nutrition and mental health.
• Developing resources for international graduate students with the goal of increases awareness of CAPS resources, reducing barriers to accessing therapy, and addressing mental health stigma.
• Partnering with the Phoenix and Student Engagement and Belonging, Prevention Ambassadors hosted a Trivia Night for Women’s History Month.
• Preventing sexual violence and promoting healthy relationship behaviors art installation proposal at the Rhatigan Student Center's Cadmen Art Gallery.
• Affirmation and Marketing campaign complied methods to imbed memorable, health-centered phrases to integrate into HOPE Services marketing.
• Research was conducted to create webpages focusing on resources for neurodivergent students navigating academics.
• Outlined a mental wellness training focused on students. This will be utilized for to account for student perspective/tailoring as the Suspenders4Hope Mental Wellness Training is drafted by HOPE Services staff.

"As an international student, it was a great opportunity and valuable experience to be a part of the Prevention Ambassador Program. The program was both informative and engaging, helping me become more involved in college activities while providing a broader understanding of prevention initiatives. Being part of this program enhanced my communication skills, expanded my knowledge, and encouraged me to take a more active role in supporting a positive and healthy campus environment." -Rohan Paramal Viswanathan 

"The Prevention Ambassador programs provided an opportunity for me to have a meaningful, positive impact on my community. As a student, it can be difficult to feel heard, and even more so to feel like you can make a difference. Prevention Ambassadors refined and amplified my voice, gave me a platform to take action, and supported me in trying to uplift peers across the university." - Evris Oake 

Being a Prevention ambassador has not only helped me build meaningful connections with other students at WSU who share the same passions as I do, but it has also aided in strengthening my relationships outside of WSU. This internship has taught me how to lead with compassion and how to better support my fellow humans. - Savannah Apel 

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• Was awarded $35,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) for community prevention of suicide.
• Completed one-year $287,865 grant from the Kansas Fights Addiction funding for community substance use and overdose prevention in January.
• Submitted additional grant proposals.

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• Launched PSY 317: Prevention Science and Community Wellness
  • Our first course in the budding Prevention Science and Community Wellness academic track launched with 19 students. Students reported really liking the class and finding the information valuable. Student said that much of the content was new to them and not covered in any other course they had taken.
  • This is a 16-week course is designed for future leaders, researchers and practitioners interested in wellness and mental health, this course examines the theory and applied practices of community wellness and prevention work. Students are a catalyst for change on campus as they create content that matters to fellow students. A broad array of prevention strategies, populations, methods and programs are explored through the lens of promoting wellness and preventing suicide, substance misuse and sexual violence. Upon completion of this course, students gain a foundational knowledge of, and experience applying, prevention and wellness concepts in the development of programing in communities with an emphasis on engaging the campus. 
• First Year Seminar is the approval process. The course design is complete and content is in development.

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• Elevating the conversation around Suspenders4Hope and making strides toward becoming the nationally recognized symbol for supportive mental health communities.
• Featured in media by: KMUW, KSN, KAKE, Smoky Hills PBS, Sunflower, KLC The Journal, University Business
• Served on County, State, and Regional Committees such as Kansas Department of Educational Mental Health Task Force, Sedgwick County Mental Health Advisory Board, Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Kansas Prevention Conference Planning Committee, Sedgwick County Health Improvement Plan, Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition committees, and became an active member of the Wichita Recovery Coalition,.
• Grew Suspenders4Hope campaign awareness with multiple promotional and marketing initiatives through large-scale events, collaborations, and programming with community partners, including OneRise, Love Like Remi, DCCCA, KDADS, KDHE, Kansas State University, CRIBS, University of Kansas, Salud + Bienestar, The Phoenix, Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, The City of Wichita, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, ComCare, USD 259, Sedgwick County, NAMI Wichita, Safe Streets Wichita, DCCCA, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of KS, Fartleks, Bob Dole VA, The Greater Wichita YMCA.
• In-person community training events for the following groups/events include: City of Wichita employees, KDHE Regional Public Health Meetings (all Kansas), Pando, Breakthrough Club, Passageways of Wichita, Penn State Altoona Counseling Center, Wildcat Construction  Ascension Via Christi, NAMI Wichita, The Phoenix, Wichita Recovery Hub Coalition, Catholic Association of Businesses, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Girl Scouts of Kansas, Wichita Downtown Rotary, YMCA, Vet-to-Vet.
• Expanded opportunities with WSU’s Office of Tech Transfer to commercialize Suspenders4Hope technology.
• Worked with Copp Media to ensure most effective reach of advertising materials
• Continued access of our Promoting Mental Wellness and Preventing Suicide training on the TRAIN system that allows access for public health professionals on a national level
• Social media engagement across all Suspenders4Hope® accounts

	Facebook	Instagram	Youtube	LinkedIn (7/17/25 - 6/30/26)
Views	183.6K	20.4K (+100%)	Views: 1.5K	Impressions: 960
Content Interaction	3K (+14.1%)	546 (+100%)	Watch time (hours): 33.2	Members reached: 654
Link Clicks	3.4K (+913.3%)	268 (+3.7K%)	Subscribers: +11	Clicks: 32
Visits	3.6K (+57.3%)	385 (-3.8%)		Reactions: 17
Follows	188 (+44.6%)	103		Engagement Rate: 5.1%
Reach		10.5K (+348.8%)

• Community Partners who during FY 26 had a licensing agreement, or contributed significant donations, to use the Suspenders4Hope Prevention Program, focusing on Mental Wellness, Preventing Suicide, Preventing Sexual Violence and Substance Use Disorders.
  • Ascension Via Christi (ongoing post-initial license collaboration)
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University
  • Penn State Altoona
  • HCA Wesley Hospital
  • Newman University
  • The Catholic Diocese of Greater Wichita
  • Lower Columbia University
  • OneRise
  • Community Action Coalition (Sponsored by Love Like Remi)
  • Anoor Islamic School (Sponsored by Love Like Remi)
• Engaged with the Kansas Prevention Collaborative (KPC) and statewide prevention coalition network, utilizing coalition directories, maps, and partnerships to identify rural collaborators and strengthen community-based prevention infrastructure across Kansas.
• Maintained partnerships with statewide prevention organizations including DCCCA, CADCA, Prevention Technology Transfer Center partners, and Kansas prevention coalitions through workforce development, prevention competency training, and community prevention initiatives.
• Continued collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita by providing prevention materials, mental wellness cards, community resources, leadership tools, and faith-informed suicide prevention content that could be adapted for broader dissemination.
• Build a HOPE Kit campaign: 750,000 impressions

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Resources and Social Media Campaigns

Continued building a culture of mental health wellness at WSU through print resources and social media campaigns designed to connect students and staff with resources and encourage them to reduce stigma in their personal and professional lives. Student-led campaigns and graphic design featured messages around:

• Navigating change and decision paralysis
• Burnout
• Monthly wellness calendars
• Stress management
• Naloxone access and destigmatization
• Promoting access to mental health resources
• Stalking awareness and healthy relationships
• Access to crisis resources on and off campus
• group therapy options
• other resources available at CAPS
• Navigating consent
• Healthy conflict

Stories4Hope:

• Currently filming Stories4Hope for both Veteran and Law Enforcement populations

Mental Health Advocate:

• Mental Health Advocate campaign in WSU Today and Shocker Blast.
• Suspenders4Hope® Mental Health Advocate campaign and recognitions in WSU Today and Shocker Blast.
• This year we recognized staff in the Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization and School of Music, and Dr. Teri Hall

Programming:

• Launched PSY 317: Prevention Science and Community Wellness
  • Our first course in the budding Prevention Science and Community Wellness academic track launched with 19 students. Students reported really liking the class and finding the information valuable. Student said that much of the content was new to them and not covered in any other course they had taken.
  • This is a 16-week course is designed for future leaders, researchers and practitioners interested in wellness and mental health, this course examines the theory and applied practices of community wellness and prevention work. Students are a catalyst for change on campus as they create content that matters to fellow students. A broad array of prevention strategies, populations, methods and programs are explored through the lens of promoting wellness and preventing suicide, substance misuse and sexual violence. Upon completion of this course, students gain a foundational knowledge of, and experience applying, prevention and wellness concepts in the development of programing in communities with an emphasis on engaging the campus. 
• National College Health Assessment administered with 965 respondents, a 9% response rate. The assessment asks about a wide range of health behaviors and will be used to inform wellness programming and help address gaps in resources. Degree seeking students at Wichita State were eligible to participate.
• Mini-Wellness and Social Services Fair was held on September 17th. HOPE and Student Engagement and Belonging partnered again to continue to elevate the event for increasing visibility of campus and community resources.
  • We had 73 student attendees this year
  • 29 campus departments/community organizations participated as vendors
• Partnered with athletics for a Blackout Mental Health stigma Men’s basketball game and Mental Health Awareness Women’s volleyball and softball sponsored games.
• Partnered with organizations across the university to create Suspenders4Hope Day in Wichita that included resource tabling, trainings, and the Blackout Mental Health stigma men’s basketball game.
• Student Wellness Center Winter Break Wellness Collabration designed to resource students with tools, skills, and connection to off campus resources during the two weeks the SWC is not open. Some of the topics include:
  • Information and skills managing Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Navigating challenging family dynamics
  • Stress let down
  • Tools for financial wellness
  • Coping tool kit for stress and distress
• Semesterly De-stress Fest Collaborations with SOS
  • In these end-of-semester events for fall and spring semesters, we reached a total of 276 students with a variety of wellness resources.

Wellness Cards:

• Over 2,400 SETS have been distributed for use
• Promotion continues to increase visibility of the resource and provide easy access to the request website. The new promotion initiative features bookmarks with a sample of wellness reflection questions found in the card set, crisis resources, and a QR code to the request page.
• This fiscal year, HOPE received direct requests for:
  • Workplace Wellness Card Sets
  • Classroom Wellness Card Sets
  • Student Wellness Cards Sets
  • Classroom Wellness Card Sets in Spanish
• Promoted Mental Wellness in the Classroom and Workplace programs, as well as Wellness for Students card resource. These easy-to-use exercises allow supervisors or individuals to infuse wellness content into their everyday routines and meetings.

Mental Health Screening:

• 441 online mental health screens completed this year.
• Promoted mental health screenings available wichita.edu/freescreen. This resource is free, anonymous, and available to students, staff, and faculty.

New Content Developed:

• Tabling Resources
  • Imposter Syndrome resource
  • Navigating Big Changes resource
  • Burnout resource
• Presentations
  • Mental Health: Ours and Our Students (for employees)
  • Understanding Common Mental Health Issues (for students)
  • Sleep Wellness
  • Stress and Conflict Management
• Graduate Student Wellness Journey in the Navigate App developed by the HSAB Subcommittee to serve as a checklist for students to reference as a list of wellness activities graduate students can complete. The wellness activities are broken down by the dimensions wellness and each offer two ideas of activities or resources students can access. For example, in the dimension of mental wellness, the checklist suggests graduate students complete a Mental Health Screening at wichita.edu/freescreen OR make an appointment at Student Health and talk to a provider about mental health medication. The dimensions of wellness that are represented include: Academic Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness, Mental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Social Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Financial Wellness, Spiritual Wellness.
• Resource Publication & Distribution
  • Over 7,000 How to Talk About Feeling Bad Zines have been distributed
• Other
  • Expanded Suspenders4Hope and Wichita.edu website with updated content and formatting.
  • Providing WSU #WeSupportU t-shirts to students and staff as a sign of solidarity and to be objectively identified as a WSU mental health supporter.

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• Mental Wellness and Preventing Suicide Trainings
  • General and community trainings updated with the latest data.
  • Version in Spanish – In person and online.
  • Preventing Suicide in the LGBTQ+ Community Version – In person and online.
  • Preventing Suicide in the Law Enforcement Community Version- In person.
  • Preventing Suicide in the Veterans Community Version – In person and online.
  • Version in Vietnamese – In person and online.
  • Catholic-Faith Community Based Version – In person.

Training and Prevention Education

• Suspenders4Hope continued to expand access to evidence-based suicide prevention education through its Promoting Mental Wellness and Preventing Suicide trainings. Since program inception, more than 10,900 individuals have been trained, and over 150 facilitators have been prepared to deliver programming within their organizations and communities.
• Key training accomplishments during FY26 included:
  • Continued mont

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• Outreach Contacts
  • 6,057 outreach contacts on the subject of Preventing Sexual Violence and Healthy Relationships.
  • Healthy Relationship and Bystander Intervention Training
    • A total of 188 completed the training in-person and online
  • Purple Mile: 250 attendees
  • January Stalking Awarenness Education: 20 attendees
  • University Police Department Trauma Informed Communication Training: 20 attendees
  • HOPE and Student, Outreach, & Support trained 75 Apha Phi members on the topics of healthy relationships, boundaries, and resources
• Intersectional Programming
  • Red Zone resource programming and social media campaigns are an intersectional collaboration between HOPE areas preventing sexual violence and substance misuse, as well as members of their accompanying HSAB Committees.
  • The Red Zone spans the first six weeks of fall semesters when, nationally, we see an increase in cases involving sexual assault and substance use concerns on college campuses.
  • Composed of weekly tables for the first eight weeks of school. Tabling topics addressed: preventing sexual assault, consent, healthy conflict, preventing substance misuse and the intersection of these topics
  • 247 Students attended Red Zone in-person programming
    • 235 at DVSAS resource containing topic tables
    • 217 at AOD resource containing topic tables
• Collaborations
  • Annual Safety Report completed by CTAC – collaborations from HOPE staff on sections of prevention, education, and programming for sexual violence and alcohol and other drugs
• Preventing Sexual Violence Programming:
  • Preventing Sexual Violence Domestic Violence Awareness Month  (October)
    • 10^th Annual Purple Mile was held on October 4^th (250 in attendance) with vendors at full capacity. Partners continue to be a mix of mostly community organizations and several campus organizations, while the attendees are mostly community members.  
    • For the 10th anniversary, not only were families invited who had lost loved ones this past year, but all families were contacted (to the best of our ability) from the past 10 years and invited to attend.
  • Campus Events: 
    • Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October)
      • Tabling addressed topics of red and green relationship flags, healthy conflict, sexual assault, consent, digital consent, and the promotion of the Purple Mile. 
    • Stalking Awareness Programming for Staff (January)
      • The CCCRT hosted a webinar viewing from the Stalking Prevention Awareness Resource Center - "Know More, Do More: Identifying and Responding to Stalking on College Campuses"
      • The CCCRT facilitated discussion for professionals who work on prevention of and response to stalking and other forms of sexual violence as relates to the WSU campus community. This discussion is informing next steps and new resources.
    • Healthy Relationships and Consent for Valentines Day (February)
      • Tabling and comprehensive social media campaign strategy utilized
    • Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) (April) 
      • Participated in SGA Wellness Week (healthy relationship event)
      • Tabling events hosted by HOPE with CCCRT partners
        • Topics for these events included consent, how to have consent conversations, myths and misconceptions, bystander intervention, healthy relationship behaviors, and confidential and nonconfidential persons. 
        • Denim Day awareness: individuals could create fabric squares with positive messaging on pieces of denim for people to wear in support of survivors on Denim Day. They were displayed at the Denim Day table and available for people to take. 
      • A social media campaign was used to support all activities during SAAM and provide prevention material.  
• New Content
  • Trauma Informed Communication Training in development by the CCCRT focusing on trauma informed responses and skill building on providing support and resources for a student/peer.
  • Webpage content related to stalking resources, information, and connection other forms of sexual violence.
    
    • Content being adapted for handouts and social media content.

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• Outreach Contacts
  • 5,548 outreach contacts on the subject of Preventing Substance Misuse/Overdose

Trainings 

Substance Use and Mental Wellness Training 

• This Suspenders4Hope training was designed to provide participants with tools to learn about substances, reflect on their perception of substances and those who use them, help them with decision-making around substance use, and skill-building with them on ways to intervene in a crisis
  • 119 TRAINED in FY26

Naloxone Administration Training

• Through a partnership with DCCCA, a prevention-related non-profit that operates primarily in Kansas, the Preventing Substance Misuse HSAB subcommittee became certified in their one-hour Naloxone Administration training.
• Because of a donation from DCCCA, we have been able to give free naloxone to training attendees. 
• 289 TRAINED IN FY26

5-Minute Naloxone Administration Training

• In partnership with Safe Project, a national organization that works to promote harm reduction in campus and community settings, we have created a 5-minute naloxone administration training video for the general community as well as one specific to campus resources. The videos, available on YouTube, walk viewers through what naloxone is, how to use it, and available resources. We also created the above business card with a QR code leading to the video. 
• 220 VIEWS between both ShockersCAPS and Suspenders4Hope channels since posted Apr. 2024 

New Resources:

• Cannabis Fact Sheet 
  • General information about different types of Cannabis  
  • Strategies to mitigate risk  
• Prescription Drug interactions with Alcohol 
  • How effects of different medications are changed when used with alcohol 
• Impaired Driving 
  • How alcohol and cannabis use can impact your ability to drive safely 
  • Ways to plan ahead so no one has to drive under the influence 
• Vaping 
  • Information about the contents of a vape 
  • Recommendations to decrease use 

Social Media Campaigns

• Spring Break Overdose Prevention
  • Promote education around Naloxone, Fentanyl Test Strips, and Medication disposal the week before Spring Break 
• Alcohol Awareness Month
  • Emphasized safer drinking practices 
  • Provided education about when/how to intervene in the case of alcohol poisoning
• Drug Take Back
  • Campaign with the Drug Enforcement Administration that encourages individuals to safely dispose of unused or expired medications.
• Alcohol Overdose Response
  • Emphasizing the importance of safer practices and bystander intervention when it comes to drinking alcohol 

Campaigns/Events

• Number of Narcan Kits distributed: 1723
  • This was through the Naloxone Administration trainings, Attorney General Naloxone Distribution Box, Suspenders4hope Care Kits, Student Health Services' Wellness-to-Go vending machines, and various outreach events. 
• Attorney General Naloxone Distribution box On Wednesday, WSU accepted a free naloxone distribution box from the Office of the Kansas Attorney General. 
  • Located in the Rhatigan Student Center on the Wichita State campus, students will be able to grab free naloxone whenever it is needed. 
  • The Office of the Kansas Attorney General has kicked off an initiative, thanks to a grant from the Kansas Fights Addiction Board, to deploy naloxone distribution boxes on campuses across the state of Kansas. 
  • The Attorney General has partnered with Emily’s Hope, DCCCA and Kansas higher education institutions to make naloxone accessible
• National Save A Life Day
  • Safe Streets Wichita facilitated this national campaign with partners in Kansas
  • We contributed by passing out naloxone here on campus
  • Their combined efforts led to 850 kits distributed across Kansas
• Phoenix Events
  • HOPE Services partnered with the Phoenix to promote multiple initiatives
  • In order to normalize alternative options to drinking alcohol, Prevention Ambassadors hosted one event each semester to promote alternatives to alcohol.
  • In partnership with The Phoenix and Shocker dining, these events reached over 200 students with substance use and mental wellness resources.  
• Red Zone
  • Comprised of two weekly tables for the first six weeks of school. The Red Zone is the first six weeks of fall semesters when, nationally, we see an increase in cases involving sexual assault and substance use concerns. 
  • Partnered with the DVSAS Teams and Prevention Ambassador Teams.
  • Tabling topics addressed substance misuse, sexual assault, consent, and the intersection of these topics. 
  • 118 students attended Red Zone in-person programming related to AOD resource topics. 
• Suspenders4Hope Substance Use and Mental Wellness Training Facilitator Workshop for Staff at Nebraska Wesleyan University 
  • Their university will be disseminating trainings
• Presented at KPC to discuss harm reduction-based response to the opioid epidemic 
• Shared specific statistics from the Alcohol and Other Drugs and the National College Health Assessment  Surveys to demonstrate improved outcomes related to overdose prevention 
• Problem Gambling Presentation from KDADS 
• Student Conduct: 
  • Completed 9 2nd and 3rd tier AOD sanctions in collaboration with Student Conduct.  

Kansas Fights Addiction

• Suspenders4hope at Wichita State University was awarded the Kansas Fights Addiction grant from the Sunflower Foundation.
• This funding allowed the creation and distribution of Care Kits, a box of risk mitigation materials, to assist individuals in their recovery journey. 
• Each kit contains materials to help reduce the risk of overdose and other potential harm. This includes a naloxone kit, 4 fentanyl test strips packs, a medication lock, a gun lock, and condoms, with information about how to replace items that may be regularly used for free. 
• Additionally, Care Kits promote alternative coping strategies for substance use. Although we want to ensure individuals who use substances have the resources necessary to stay alive, we also want to acknowledge using is not their only option.
• Through over 34 partnerships, we have distributed 1174 kits to high risk populations in Kansas. the goal is to disseminate these supplies to high-risk populations. 
  • This includes campus partnerships with CAPS, SHS, and SOS. 
• Because of our participation in numerous outreach events, we were successful in producing and disseminating PrEP resources to a larger Kansas community. Among these events were outreach opportunities specific to providers and future providers which allowed us to resource on the importance of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
  • For example, we provided a Substance Use Disorders training to nursing leaders at Wesley and to ER providers at Ascention Vis Christi
• We participated in the development of the next Community Health Improvement Plan as part of its Mental Health and Substance Misuse work group and will continue to emphasize the importance of these topics. 
• We held a Substance Use for Health Care Providers training with 117 Vituity physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who staff the Emergency Department at Ascension Via Christi’s Wichita hospitals and trainings are currently scheduled with Wesley practitioners as well. 
• We have received qualitative data from our partners and kit recipients detailing specific instances where resources from the Care Kits have saved a life. 
• Another instance was shared by the practice manager at The Caring Center of Kansas. An individual in treatment decided to use the fentanyl test strips on the substance he was about to take. The test came back as positive for fentanyl, and this information saved his life. This also led to an increased investment in moving toward sobriety and engagement in treatment.
• In addition to the resources given to individuals who use, we also wanted to support providers and service workers. An example of this was the luncheon we co-hosted with the Wichita Recovery Hub for Recovery Coalition members and our community partners. This gave us the opportunity to help connect individuals and groups and organizations that provide support to those struggling with substance use and inform them about training and other supportive services we offer.  From start to finish, wrote Carrie Corliss, who leads the Wichita Recovery Coalition, in a follow-up email, “it truly felt like a gift to our community, and everyone in the room felt that warmth…The way your folks showed up made the luncheon more than a holiday meal — it sparked meaningful conversations, strengthened relationships, and opened the door to potential collaboration that we’re excited to continue exploring together. Moments like this remind us how powerful it is when people come together with shared purpose and care.” We had 63 individuals in attendance, and our team was able to make several connections with coalition members resulting in several new community partners, including the Urban League of Kansas Drug Endangered Children program. 
• Through Care kit distribution and outreach we were able to reach a total of 1174 individuals 
• Participated in a two-day vendor trade show at the Kansas Hospital Association’s annual meeting, where we had extended conversations with 47 people, including leaders from 25 Kansas hospitals, healthcare systems, and/or clinics. A dozen Care Kits were given to hospital attendees who expressed interest in distributing the kits in their communities. Several of those rural hospitals later came on board as community partners for distribution of the kits.
• We provided informational fliers on substance misuse and misuse disorders for distribution at a statewide general contractors' organization’s annual conference.
• We attended a community safety fair to meet with other vendors that developed into partnerships with Sedgwick County EMS and a victim support program of the Wichita Police Department.
• Onboarded each community partner with a brief training on combatting stigma and the benefits of a harm-reduction approach to those who are recovery resistant or are wanting to change their relationship with substances or are struggling to attain or maintain sobriety and need support.
• Attended a symposium attended by approximately 75 advance practice nurses, where we staffed a table with information about our Care Kits, MOUD training, PrEP, and other training available to health care providers. 
• Hosted a luncheon with the Wichita Recovery Hub at their site for Recovery Coalition members and our community partners, with a total attendance of 50 individuals. This gave us the opportunity to help connect individuals, groups and organizations that provide support to those struggling with substance use and inform them about training and other supportive services we offer.

The integration of these kits into our existing trauma services has streamlined our ability to provide immediate, life-saving resources to vulnerable populations. The feedback from our staff and the community emphasizes that these kits are filling a critical gap in localized harm reduction efforts funded by the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant.

On a more personal note, I want to share a specific instance of the profound impact this partnership has had. We recently received a report that Narcan provided through one of the WSU Care Kits was administered by a family member during an active overdose. Because they had the kit on hand, they were able to intervene successfully, directly resulting in a life being saved.

This success story is a testament to the importance of the work being done through your coordination and WSU’s resources. We are honored to continue this partnership and look forward to the further positive outcomes it will undoubtedly bring to our community.

Thank you for your continued support and leadership.

Best regards,

--

John Ruder MSN, RN

P.I. Coordinator of the AVC Trauma Program

 

Phone call from the practice manager at The Caring Center of Kansas, who shared that an individual who was newly in therapy was given a Care Kit and later decided to use the fentanyl test strips on the drugs he was about to use: 

“They tested the drugs that he had gotten and the test came back so quickly that it was positive for fentanyl. I know that test saved their life and change the direction they were going. They have stepped up to treatment with full force because they know how close to dying that they came. These boxes have helped so many of our patients…we are so grateful to be a part of this program. Thank you so very much for saving a life that we could have lost!!!"

 

Care Kits

Evidence of Impact

Care Kit findings:

• 100% became more aware of support and recovery resources
• 100% felt resources were presented in a nonjudgmental manner
• 86% reported reduced distress
• 86% reported feeling supported and cared for

Provider feedback:

• 100% positive experience
• 100% felt equipped to distribute kits
• 100% wanted program continuation