STAR-Center

 Programs

Introduction   |  History  |  Mission  

Introduction

Welcome to STAR-Center! As the director of Services for Teens at Risk (STAR-Center), I would like to welcome you to our website.  STAR-Center was founded in 1986 by a bi-partisan Pennsylvania General Assembly subcommittee to investigate teen suicide. [The Center is listed in the Pennsylvania State Budget under Department of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Western Teen Suicide Center.]

Since its inception, STAR-Center’s outpatient clinic has assessed and treated over 6,400 children and adolescents at risk for suicide. The Center serves as the focal point for our efforts to develop new knowledge in preventing and treating suicidal behaviors, depression and interpersonal violence. Our staff has attracted 15 external grants, bringing in over $45 million in support for suicide treatment research and educational outreach. Our nationally recognized Survivors of Suicide community support group has met monthly for 10 years. STAR-Center provides intensive training programs to educators, mental health professionals, and concerned citizens in the recognition and referral of at-risk youth.

When a suicide or tragedy occurs in a school district, our Outreach staff consults with educators on how to provide postvention services. Following the events of September 11, 2001, STAR-Center has responded to dozens of school districts and agencies with resources and consultations. We sent materials for parent and staff use to schools and agencies across the state and responded to individual requests for assistance throughout the year, including requests from the communities affected by the crash of Flight 93. To follow up, STAR-Center faculty led three regional seminars on helping children and adolescents through trauma. As always, our staff continued to be available by telephone to any district or agency 24 hours a day.

Many school districts across the country have come to rely on our Postvention Standards Manual. In the past nine years alone, STAR-Center provided technical assistance, training or resource materials to over 54,000 people. STAR-Center Link, a newsletter, reaches 16,000 and is also available here on our website.

For additional information about the STAR-Center and our work in the Commonwealth, please feel free to contact us at 412-687-2495. For clinical referrals please contact us at 412-246-5619.

History

Since the STAR-Center was created, its staff, led by Dr. David Brent, has attracted fifteen external grants, bringing in over $45 million is support for suicide treatment research and educational outreach.

STAR-Center's nationally recognized Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Program supports adults and children who have lost a loved one to suicide.  In addition, STAR-Center consults with community agencies to set up SOS groups for bereaved individuals in their hometowns. During the past fifteen years, nearly 35,000 children and youth have received direct assistance and/or letters, informational materials, and group presentations from STAR clinicians or STAR-trained school staff.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, STAR-Center has responded to dozens of school districts and agencies with resources and consultations. The Center sent materials for parent and staff use to schools and agencies across the state and responded to individual requests for assistance throughout the year, including requests from the communities affected by the crash of Flight 93. To follow up, STAR-Center faculty led three regional seminars on helping children and adolescents through trauma. As always, our staff continued to be available free of charge by telephone to any district or agency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mission

To improve the psychological well-being of children and adolescents --- especially those at risk for suicide and interpersonal injury --- STAR-Center will work to increase the capacity of youth-serving organizations, including schools, social services agencies, government agencies, and community groups.

By working in collaboration with youth-serving organizations, we recognize and respect the critical role of the local community in determining the needs of its youth. We seek not to replace or direct the local organizations' efforts, but to strengthen and expand them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise: "Keep leadership and ownership at the community level. ...agencies may provide support or be involved, but the community should be the leader." (1993, p. 29)

Our role is to assist you in the development and dissemination of resources to improve children's psychological well-being. Through a multidisciplinary approach, STAR-Center can create and coordinate resources sometimes unavailable to a local youth-serving organization or community group. In return, you can inform us to ensure that our research, training, and clinical efforts are responsive to your needs.