Skiljan Receives Honorary Service Award
Carol Skiljan is the Executive Director and one of the founding members of the Light for Life Foundation of Southern California (LFLFSoCA), established in 1997. The purpose of the foundation is to save lives through the prevention of youth suicide - the fastest growing killer of youth in America - with awareness, outreach and the promotion of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® (YRSPP®). Carol administers this youth outreach program and is a certified YRSPP® trainer and presenter.
"Being involved in Yellow Ribbon has changed my life in the sense that my involvement is not just about getting the message out there," Carol says. "I am part of a movement to destigmatize mental illness and to prevent needless deaths because of the myths the general population believes about suicide" (from MonicaZech.com). Young people, particularly those who are depressed, may benefit from being asked about suicidal behavior or ideation because often they are afraid or hesitant to share their feelings. During the past eight years, LFLFSoCA has provided comprehensive suicide prevention education for over 130,000 middle/high school staff, students and parents in San Diego County.
Ms. Skiljan represents YRSPP® on the Suicide and Violence and Injury Prevention Committee of the Community Health Improvement Partners. In 2004, Carol and YRSPP® provided technical assistance to the San Diego Children's Initiative project, Results for Kids: Youth Suicide Prevention Toolkit.
Ms. Skiljan has served on the Encinitas Union School District Board of Trustees since 1992. She is immediate past president of San Diego County School Boards Association and a delegate to California School Boards Association. She represents SDCSBA on San Diego Health and Human Services Agency's Children's System of Care Council and on the Mental Health Services Act Children's Workgroup.
Ms. Skiljan serves as vice chairman of the First 5 Commission of San Diego and is a member of the San Diego County Superintendents Achievement Gap Task Force. She's a past board member of Ninth District PTA and her local PTAs where her two daughters, Jessie 24 and Stefanie 21 went to school in the Encinitas Union School District and San Dieguito Union High School District. Married for 33 years, Carol lives in Encinitas with her husband Jeff, and continues her involvement as a parent, volunteer, elected official, educator and advocate for children and youth.