Carol Skiljan is the Executive Director and one of the founding members (1997) of the Light for Life Foundation of Southern California. She administers the outreach program: Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® (YRSPP®). Light for Life Foundation of Southern California is a non-profit chapter of Light for Life Foundation International. Carol is a certified YRSPP® trainer and presenter. She received an A.A.degree from West Valley College and completed Sociology coursework at San Jose and San Diego State Universities. Locally and nationally, YRSPP® works to save and enrich lives through suicide prevention efforts using education, advocacy and support strategies. These efforts encompass the entire community, areorganized by the community, for the community with our technical assistance. In this way, high risk populations are addressed and sustainability for programming is built. During the past eight years LFLFSoCA has distributed nearly 420,000 Yellow Ribbon Lifeline Cards and has provided comprehensive suicide prevention education for over 130,000 middle/high school staff, students and parents in San Diego County. In addition we provide suicide prevention presentations and training for health classes, after-school programs, parent organizations, civic groups, service clubs, health & wellness fairs and other community based organizations.

Carol represents YRSPP® on the CHIP (Community Health Improvement Partners) Suicide and Violence and Injury Prevention Committee. YRSPP® has played a major role in the projects of this committee. Among them are developing PSAs for a suicide and depression awareness media campaign, college-age signs of depression refrigerator magnet project with CSUSM and two “sold-out” conferences (East County, 2001 and North Inland 2005) on Youth Suicide and the School Community: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Issues. In 2004, Carol and YRSPP® provided technical assistance to the San Diego Children’s Initiative project, Results for Kids: Youth Suicide Prevention Toolkit.

Carol has been active volunteer and advocate of public education for the past 20 years. She’s served on local and county level PTA boards and other parent foundation boards providing leadership in many capacities. Carol was elected to the Encinitas Union School District Board of Trustees in 1992. She has served as Board President, Vice-President and Clerk numerous times and represents EUSD on the City of Encinitas School Liaison Committee. Carol has completed California School Boards Association’s Master in Boardsmanship and Master in Governance training. Carol is particularly proud of EUSD’s Preschool Learning Center which was recognized in 2004 with a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award. She is Immediate Past President of San Diego County School Boards Association and a Delegate to California School Boards Association. She represents San Diego County School Boards Association 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.

Carol and her husband, Jeff, married for 33 years have two daughters, Jessie 24 and Stefanie 21. Carol is involved in some facet of K-12 issues practically on a daily basis, be it as a parent volunteer, elected official, educator or advocate. She appreciates the opportunity to expand her advocacy via the First 5 Commission and embraces the vision: Every child in San Diego County will enter school ready to learn.