The Power of Connection in Suicide Prevention

Staci Cornwell is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician and a Child and Geriatric Mental Health Specialist with expertise in mental health, suicide prevention and intervention. She has over 25 years working with youth, adults, and elderly populations in crisis and suicide situations, and is currently focusing her efforts on upstream approaches with the intent to impact individuals before a concern develops.

For the past 5 years, her business Specialized Training and Consultation Inc. has provided training, consultation, and support to the Spokane Community. Recent presentation requests and projects include development and training of a Suicide Response and Threat Assessment Plans in Schools, Mental Health Effects of Social Media, Building Future-Ready Youth, Safety Summit Resilience and Threat Assessments and a keynote for the Let’s Talk Suicide Spring Conference. As an active member of Prevent Suicide Spokane Coalition (PSSC) and Spokane Outreach Networking Group (SONG), she devotes her time to connecting with other partners and supporting our community’s mission. Along with a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP), she is also the Mental Health Coordinator for the Mead School District, tasked with developing, training, implementing, and coordinating the District’s Crisis Response team, Threat Assessment program, Social Emotional Learning, as well as providing consultation to school social workers, counselors, and other school personnel on behavioral health related topics. Prior to her work in Mead, she was the Director of Crisis Response Services in Spokane County, which included First call for Help, the 24/7 Regional crisis line (now 988), 24/7 mobile crisis response team, 2-1-1 resource line, and homeless outreach teams. She also served as the Crisis Intervention team (CIT) coordinator/trainer for Spokane’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy as well as a 40-hour training program for Law Enforcement, Fire, AMR, Mental Health professionals, and other crisis responders that covered topics of mental health, de-escalation, community resources, etc. Her approach to behavioral health is to build resilience in our youth, families, and our community so that we all can effectively manage the stressors life may bring and be able to successfully navigate through dark times in hopes of not venturing into a crisis situation, but if we do, we are equipped to move beyond it safely.

As the owner of Specialized Training and Consultation Inc., Staci presents a fresh perspective, a collaborative spirit, and seeks to inspire and support others in their work toward a resilient and connected community.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Katie was born (1963) in Pasco, Washington and has resided in numerous counties throughout the state. She developed a strong bond with her horses at the early age of four, learning to ride an off the track thoroughbred named Kazon. Katie accompanied her caretaker to the stables every day, and had her own first horse, Swifty, at six years old. It was this horse who inspired a life-long career in horsemanship, animal behavior modification, and eventually, the Founding of the longest standing and largest thoroughbred rehabilitation and transitioning non-profit organization in the Pacific Northwest.
Katie’s two life's passions have been the study of psychology and applied behavior in both humans and animals (horses, dogs and wolves). Much of Katie’s work has been inspired by and molded after the teachings of her lifelong mentors, Lou and Diane Tice, founders of The Pacific Institute (TPI). As a longtime follower and graduate of TPI, Katie relies upon her many years of work as an animal behaviorist to share the commonalities of cognitive behavior and operant learning in both humans and horses.
In 1999, after 15 years of independently providing private dog and horse training and 9 years of administrative work for Microsoft executives, Katie founded Second Chance Ranch (SCR). Also in that year, Katie authored a book, ‘People Food For Dogs’. As new trends in canine nutrition were forming, Katie produced a cookbook and guide to supplementing your canine’s diet with fresh foods. Katie’s present journey is to explore and expand the field of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. Katie’s primary upcoming role will be to continue to work on behalf of the horses while partnering with mental health professionals.