City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: September 29, 2025
Report #:2506-4767
TITLE
Approval of Professional Services Agreement C26195459 with Project Safety Net, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $300,000 to Provide Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Support for a term ending June 30, 2028; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve and authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute Contract No. C26195459 (Attachment A), with Project Safety Net to provide youth mental health and suicide prevention support for one year not to exceed $100,000 with options to renew for up to two additional years at $100,000 per year. The City Manager or their designee may authorize and execute the options. The total not-to-exceed is $300,000 for a term ending June 30, 2028.
BACKGROUND
Project Safety Net (PSN) is a collaborative community network formed in response to the tragic teen suicide clusters the Palo Alto community experienced between May 2009 and January 2010. PSN’s mission is to mobilize community support and resources in Palo Alto for youth suicide prevention and mental wellness. PSN is a coalition working on community education, outreach, and training; access to quality youth mental health services; and policy advocacy.
PSN’s vision is “young people are empowered, in partnership with the whole community, to advocate for themselves and their peers. Youth suicide is ended. Stigma is non-existent, and high-quality mental health services are culturally relevant, accessible, and well-utilized. A community where youth and young adults feel safe, supported, and accepted.” The PSN collaborative includes mental health organizations, nonprofits, youth organizations, faith-based organizations, individuals, Palo Alto Unified School District and City of Palo Alto staff. Additional information on Project Safety Net’s background, strategic road map, and resources can be found on their website at psnyouth.org.
Project Safety Net was originally within the City’s Community Services Department, however; beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, (July 1, 2020) Project Safety Net, Inc. (PSN, Inc.) operated as an independent entity. Project Safety Net, Inc. became registered as an incorporated nonprofit with the State of California on April 23, 2020 and subsequently obtained 501(c)3 tax exemption status. The City’s financial support continued at a level of $100,000 for a five-year period beginning in FY 2021 through June 30, 2025. During this time, PSN has organized community meetings, mental health and suicide prevention trainings for youth and adults, partnered with the City and other community partners on special events, and provided postvention support following a youth suicide.
ANALYSIS
To ensure continuity of services and community support, a new agreement and scope of services has been prepared (Attachment A). The scope of work includes the following:
1. Collaboration Convenings: Facilitating Collaboration and Coordination to align around youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
2. Crisis Communications Support and Collaboration to Enhance Youth Suicide Postvention Protocols.
3. Community Engagement and Education.
In the first year of the contract, PSN will convene up to two meetings on Youth Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention with City staff, PSN coalition members, and youth and adult community members to identify opportunities and challenges to advancing suicide prevention work. PSN will continue to engage in postvention work and provide support during a crisis to ensure timely and effective sharing of information to the community and partners.
Additionally, PSN will organize community meetings for teens, parents, community organizations, and experts to share information and resources and promote youth mental health and suicide prevention topics. A summary report on progress of deliverables will be submitted to City staff at the end of each fiscal year.
PSN is the only organization that has had consistent presence in Palo Alto addressing teen mental health and suicide prevention and uses a collective impact model to convene local partners and expand reach, therefore, an exemption to competitive solicitation pursuant to the Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.30.360(d) was approved by the City Manager or designee.
A contract agreement with the Jed Foundation is also being brought to Council for approval to provide in-depth youth mental health and suicide prevention support to the City on a shorter- term basis. The scope of the Jed Foundation’s work is to provide expert guidance and recommendations, strategic planning, and technical assistance related to youth suicide prevention and postvention. This would complement Project Safety Net’s work, and the two organizations will collaborate to provide the best guidance and recommendations to the City and partners. It is important that Project Safety Net’s work in the community continues while the Jed Foundation completes its work so that pre- and postvention services continue to be provided. The Jed Foundation’s scope can be described as shorter term, over a period of 24 months with ongoing support as needed, while Project Safety Net’s work is continuous and longer term, providing consistent presence in the Palo Alto community.
Project Safety Net’s Scope of Work will be revisited and adjusted annually as appropriate based on community needs and in response to changes in program and service offerings. This could include adjustments made because of recommendations that arise from the Jed Foundation’s work.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The year one, FY 2026, contract amount of $100,000 is available within the General Fund, Community Services Department as part of the FY 2026 Adopted Operating Budget. Funding for future years is subject to City Council approval through the annual budget process.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Project Safety Net is a coalition that mobilizes community support and resources for youth suicide prevention and mental wellness. The PSN collaborative includes mental health organizations, nonprofits, youth organizations, faith-based organizations, individuals, Palo Alto Unified School District and City of Palo Alto staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is not a Project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Project Safety Net; Contract C26195459
APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director