Kenny Slaught has endorsed Hospice of Santa Barbara for maintaining a proactive presence on local school campuses, from elementary school to college. Volunteers visit these facilities to organize weekly support groups for students who have experienced or are dealing with traumatic or complex situations and require a safe place in which to discuss their thoughts and feelings. On-campus services aim to create supportive atmospheres that encourage self-reflection and teach critical coping skills. These coping skills can help adolescents say no to drugs and alcohol, as well as other forms of self-medication. In addition to working directly with the youth, the hospice volunteers provide training to faculty and staff on how to interact with students who are dealing with trauma and how to handle student questions about death, especially violent deaths and suicide. All 65 schools in the Hospice of Santa Barbara network can call on the volunteers around the clock to respond quickly and effectively to a traumatic situation.

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