Hope Squad Coming to Milford
Milford Schools, in partnership with Greater Cincinnati’s Grant Us Hope, is proud to bring Hope Squad to students at Milford High School this school year. Milford is one of more than 20 schools in the Greater Cincinnati region to implement this national school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. The program is designed to empower students to be the eyes and ears of a school as they watch out for students in distress.
Who is the Hope Squad?
Hope Squad members are students nominated by their peers who are then trained to identify at-risk students, provide friendship, and seek help from an adult when needed. The Hope Squad at Milford High School will be supported by trained staff members. They are: NGC Associate Principal, Adam Reed; Comprehensive Mental Health Specialist, Will Cates; NGC counselor, Mary Beth Corbin; and MHS teacher, Kevin Metzger. Hope Squad provides these program advisors with a detailed curriculum that guides education and training of their student representatives. The program also builds in a data and evaluation plan that allows schools to monitor outcomes and adjust accordingly.
Timeline
During the first two weeks of September, Milford High School students will be asked to identify peers whom they consider trustworthy. The Hope Squad co-advisors will review this data and identify 8-10 students per grade level as potential Hope Squad members. The parents of these selected students will be contacted and invited to a meeting with their child to cover what it means to be a Hope Squad member. Once invited to be Hope Squad members, students willing to go through the training must get a permission form signed by their parents.
Hope Squad Goals
• Enhance the health and safety measures already in place at a school
• Educate students on how to recognize warning signs of suicide
• Educate students how to respectfully report potential suicide behavior
• Train students how to interact with, watch, and support fellow students/friends who may be struggling
• Implement evidence-based strategies through Hope Squad training programs
• Reduce suicide attempts
Hope Squad members are NOT taught to act as counselors, but rather, are educated on how to recognize signs of suicide contemplation, and how to properly and respectfully report this to an adult.
If you have any questions about Hope Squad, please contact Will Cates, MS, LPC, NCC, Comprehensive Mental Health Support Specialist, Milford Schools at cates_w@milfordschools.org or via phone at 513-576-2284.
To learn more about Hope Squad, click on the video link below.
