The Jason Foundation, Inc., (JFI)will hold a kickoff event for the grand opening of the JFI affiliate office with Arbour Health System on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Conference Center at Waltham Woods.

Gary Gilberti, Senior VP, Uni­versal Health Services and CEO, Arbour Health System (AHS) will introduce keynote speaker Clark Flatt, President/CEO, The Jason Foundation, Inc.

The Jason Foundation, Inc., is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through education and aware­ness programs that equip young persons, educators, youth work­ers, and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth. Because the need for information and training in youth suicide awareness and prevention was so great when JFI began op­erations in 1997, the organization quickly expanded its programs and outreach through the development of national and regional affiliate offices. In 2010, UHS became JFI’s third National Clinical Affiliate. UHS, as the leading provider in the behavioral health industry, brings great opportunities for collabora­tion in the field of youth suicide awareness and prevention.

With the opening of the affiliate office with AHS, JFI will be able to share its programs and services with Massachusetts families, youth, educators, youth workers, and oth­ers. The AHS affiliate office will be based at Arbour Hospital in Jamaica Plain, with Andrea Santilli, AHS Director, Community Relations, and Cara Matossian, AHS Senior Community Relations Coordina­tor, serving as JFI Representatives. The Representatives market the programs and mission of JFI to the community.

Programs offered by JFI include “A Promise for Tomorrow” school-based curriculum, staff develop­ment training modules for educa­tors and youth workers, parent and community seminars, faith-based programs, and college programs.

At the kick-off event, participants will hear Mr. Clark Flatt, President/CEO and founder of JFI speak about the organization named after his son, Jason Flatt, and his dedication to creating an organization which is now a national leader in youth sui­cide awareness and prevention.

For more information on The Jason Foundation, please visit www.jasonfoundation.com.