Hope Squad

Led by: Taylor Adams and Meghan Shipley

Jr. Hope Squads are comprised of 4th and 5th grade students identified by classmates and peers as trustworthy who are trained to watch for at-risk students. Squad members provide friendship, identify warning signs, and seek help from adults. Jr. Hope Squad members are NOT taught to act as counselors, but rather are educated to recognize signs that a student is struggling or may be contemplating suicide and respectfully report concerns to an adult. Jr. Hope Squads utilize three key elements: Phases, Supplementary Literature, and Advisors. Jr. Hope Squads in the elementary schools do not focus as much on suicide prevention, but more on kindness, friendship,  inclusion, bullying and warning signs.