The Safety and Violence Education Students Act, better known as the SAVE Students Act or House Bill 123, requires schools to implement an evidence-based suicide prevention program by fall of 2023. Schools can utilize the Sources of Strength Secondary Program to meet the legislation’s suicide prevention requirements by following the HB123 Approach.

To opt into the HB123 Approach, schools should submit a Letter of Commitment and, during pre-implementation conversations with Sources of Strength or Sources of Strength Ohio, let the planning team know they intend to implement the HB123 Approach to Sources. The planning team will proceed as normal to schedule an Adult Advisor and Peer Leader training with one change: instead of conducting a 3- to 6-hour Adult Advisor training, participating schools will need to conduct a 3.5- to 6.5-hour Adult Advisor Training and include the 30-minute HB123 Approach module.

This module, based on the video recording below, will be led by the Local Trainer. It includes guidance on how Adult Advisors and Peer Leaders can implement Sources to HB123’s suicide prevention requirements.

Have Additional Questions?

• For more information about Sources of Strength, check out SourcesofStrength.org.
• For an overview of Sources in Ohio and how to bring this program to your school or community at no or low cost, reach out to SourcesOH@prevention-first.org or schedule an appointment here.
• For more information about the HB123 Approach, please reach out to Evi.Roberts@OhioSPF.org or schedule an appointment here.
• For more information about the SAVE Student’s Act, please visit the Ohio Department of Education’s HB123 webpage or reach out to Sarah Music at Sarah.Music@education.ohio.gov.

• For more information about the bi-annual suicide prevention training mentioned in this webinar, check out the Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.073.