About SSD Consulting
Learn more about our mission, expertise, and the leader behind our work.
Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon, M.S., GPC
Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon, M.S., GPC, is a leading expert in nonprofit and grants management with specialized expertise in the field of suicidology, specializing in postvention and the development of LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Teams, with a demonstrated history of working in the mental health, crisis response, and suicide prevention fields. As a former Executive Director of a suicide prevention organization, her primary areas of career focus include crisis intervention, first response, and teaching suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention programs while managing a nonprofit organization and its grant-funded programs. She has earned the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) designation from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, awarded to grant professionals with the knowledge and real-world experience expected in the field of grantsmanship. As a published researcher and seasoned trainer, she brings a wealth of knowledge in the nonprofit and grant professions, along with a compassionate approach to mental health education.
Professional Background
With over thirteen years of non-profit management experience and twenty-five years as a grants professional, Stephanie has developed comprehensive expertise spanning program implementation, first response team coordination with law enforcement, and deep knowledge in suicidology and forensic psychology fields. Her specialized focus on suicide postvention, grief counseling, and crisis intervention has made her a sought-after expert for case reviews and training programs, particularly for law enforcement officers and first responders.
The strongest skill is working with and teaching law enforcement officers and first responders in crisis intervention training to ensure that their interaction with those who are in a mental health or suicidal crisis is diverted from the criminal justice system to behavioral health care services.
Experiences:
Experienced suicidologist who managed a non-profit organization for thirteen and a half years, encompassing many skills, from non-profit and grants management skills, program implementation of a first response team working with law enforcement to knowledge of the suicidology and forensic psychology fields.
Certifications:
Grant Professional Certification (GPC) Credential
I join a select group of 693 grant professionals, and growing, who have attained the GPC credential. Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the GPC is awarded to grant professionals who meet eligibility requirements and successfully demonstrate proficiency in the required competencies and skills of the grants profession.
Forensic Skills:
An expert in suicide postvention, suicide grief, crisis intervention, and law enforcement suicide prevention, providing education and knowledge to improve one's mental health and reduce suicide. Provide case reviews of deaths by suicide to determine factors why a person died by suicide. Special expertise in reviewing case files to determine why law enforcement officers and first responders died by suicide.
Additional Skills:
Technical writing, research, public speaking, curriculum development, community outreach, grant seeking and management, and program and community development.
Peer-Reviewed Articles:
- Schweitzer Dixon, S. (2022). Mini Review of Law Enforcement Suicide in Today's World. Inf J Neuropsy Beh Sci. 3(1):1-2. doi: 10.51626/ijnbs.2022.03.00026; View Article
- Schweitzer Dixon, S. (2021). Law enforcement suicide: The depth of the problem and best practices for suicide prevention strategies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 61:101649. doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2021.101649; View Article
Books:
- Alvarez, A., Price-Sharps, J., & Schweitzer Dixon, S. (2022). Cultural Influences and Expectations Surrounding Mental Health. In O. Johnson, K. Papazoglou, J. Violanti, & J. Pascarella (Eds.), Practical Considerations for Preventing Police Suicide: Stop Officer Suicide (153-176). Springer. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83974-1; View Book
- Schweitzer Dixon, S.M. (2021). Grant Writing Manual: A Project Planning, Grant Seeking, Grant Writing, and Program Management Training Manual, 2nd Edition. Amazon Kindle. View Book