OSPF Membership FAQs

Questions Related to Organization Membership: 

1. What do you mean by “organization”?
   • An “organization” is defined here as an entity that is officially recognized as a company, association, institution, agency, or coalition. 
2. Can Organization Members change who gets access to membership benefits?
   • Organization Member seats can be transferred to other staff/volunteers/coalition members in the event that an original member has left the organization. Organization Members can also name new members when they renew their membership. Membership is otherwise static.
3. Do I have to list our organization’s five members at the time we submit the application?
   • Organizations do not have to list all five people who will receive membership at the time they submit their application. However, the Organization Membership itself will expire after one year, meaning that membership for individuals who receive benefits through the organizational membership will also expire regardless of whether they have been named as members for less than a full year. 
4. Are there any restrictions for who can be named as one of the Organization’s members?
   • In addition to belonging to the same organization, individuals listed within an Organizational Membership must be 18 years of age or older. 

Questions Related to Individual Membership:

1. What do you mean by “individual”?
   • An “individual” is defined here as a single person who has purchased membership benefits for themselves and themselves only. 
2. Can an Individual Membership be transferred to someone else?
   • Membership benefits cannot be transferred to another individual.
3. Are there any limits to who can become an Individual Member?
   • All members must be 18 years of age or older. 

Questions Related to Student Membership: 

1. What do you mean by “student”?
   • A “student” is defined here as an individual enrolled in post-secondary education. 
   • Anyone registering as a Student member must apply with the email address provided by their institution (ex “.edu”).
2. Do I need to prove I’m a student in order to apply?
   • Follow up may be conducted to confirm that someone applying as a student is indeed enrolled in post-secondary education. 

General questions:

If I’m a member, can someone else go to a member training instead of me? 

• No, because member benefits are extended to members only. If non-members sign up for a training that is exclusive to OSPF members, OSPF will ask if they would like to sign up and pay for an individual membership or cancel their training registration.

Can someone who is not a member attend the Monthly Webinar Series instead of me/with me?

• If someone participates in a training without the benefit of membership, they will be billed for the cost of that training as normal. 

What is the Monthly Webinar Series referenced as a member benefit?

• “Monthly Webinar Series” refers to monthly webinars hosted by OSPF that focus on diverse educational topics and typically range between 60 and 75 minutes.
• Members may receive continuing education through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board; the Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board; and the Ohio Psychological Association. Please review the language of an event to learn more about CE opportunities.
• Non-members are required to pay $25 per webinar to attend the live webinar.

What is the VitalCog training referenced as a member benefit?

• VitalCog was previously known as Working Minds. As part of the membership, these two-hour trainings are conducted virtually by OSPF staff with the following program objectives:
• Increased awareness of suicide prevention.
• Increased capacity for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges.
• Increased ability to promote help-seeking and help-giving in the workplace.
• Learn more by visiting the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Working Minds webpage.

What is the QPR Training referenced as a member benefit? 

• QPR is a 60-minute gatekeeper training that has been taken by 5 million people worldwide. As part of the membership, QPR trainings are conducted virtually by OSPF staff with the following program objectives: 
• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal.
• How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide.
• The common causes of suicidal behavior.
• The warning signs of suicide.
• How to get help for someone in crisis.

Learn more by visiting the QPR Institute’s webpage.

Questions about the OSPF One-Page Resource Guides: 

What are the one-page resource guides referenced as a member benefit? 

• OSPF’s one-page resource guides (abbreviated: one-pagers) refer to original one-page documents that break down complex topics into digestible concepts.
• These documents often further the learning of that month’s Monthly Webinar, and/or relate to a Monthly Observance, such as National Veteran and Military Families Month in November, or Suicide Prevention Month in September.

1. Digital copies of the one-pagers can be found on our resource page. Members can choose to have one pagers mailed to them every month.

Are there any limits to who can receive these one-pagers? 

• Members must live in the continental United States in order for us to mail them one-pagers or other resources.
• Individuals outside of the continental United States may be able to print OSPF resources at local printers.

Questions about Payment:

Does OSPF provide free or complimentary memberships?

• OSPF does not currently provide free memberships.  

May I pay for my membership with a mailed check?

• If you’d prefer to pay by check, please email support@ohiospf.org.
• Pay to the order of: The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
• Memo: Your membership type
• Mail to: Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, 175 South 3rd Street, Suite 700, Columbus, OH 43215

My organization requires OSPF’s W9 before we can pay for membership. How can I access OSPF’s W9? 

Please email support@ohiospf.org to receive OSPF’s w9 for your membership.