Excelsior Springs Job Corps Launches Nation's First Hope Squad to Support Student Mental Health

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Oct. 14, 2026) — Sometimes, the person best positioned to recognize when a young person is struggling isn't a teacher, counselor, or parent. It's another young person who sees them every day.

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That's the idea behind Hope Squad, a student-led suicide prevention and peer support program recently launched at the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center. According to Center Director Lori Sams, the local campus is the first Job Corps center in the nation to implement the program, which aims to reduce the risk of youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention.

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Hope Squad members are selected by their fellow students to serve as trusted peers who can recognize when someone might be struggling, offer support, and help connect classmates with appropriate resources.

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"All of our members have to be voted in by other peers," explained Lieren Reed, the center's Student Government Association (SGA) coordinator.

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For Logan, a Job Corps student studying in the Security trade, volunteering for the program was an easy decision.

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"I like helping people," Logan said during a recent interview with the Excelsior Citizen.

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Logan explained that students who need support can approach Hope Squad members directly, creating opportunities for young people to connect with someone their own age who understands the challenges they may be facing.

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Approximately 20 to 30 students are participating in the program, which was introduced through a partnership with Beacon Mental Health. Hope Squad operates alongside other student leadership initiatives at the center, including SGA, with some students participating in both groups.

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Recently, Hope Squad members joined SGA students at a Northland Youth Leadership event, where they participated in activities and discussions covering mental health, substance abuse, leadership, and communication.

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Reed described the experience as an opportunity for students to learn about a broad range of challenges facing young people while building connections outside the Job Corps campus.

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During a recent Community Relations Council meeting, Sams highlighted the significance of bringing the program to Excelsior Springs. She said the center's Hope Squad is the first of its kind among Job Corps centers nationwide, and staff hope the initiative can eventually serve as a model for other campuses.

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The program is particularly meaningful at Job Corps, where students ages 16 to 24 come from diverse backgrounds to pursue education, career training, and greater independence. Many live on campus, away from their families, making strong relationships and a supportive environment especially important.

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Hope Squad members are not meant to replace professional counselors or mental health providers. Instead, they serve as approachable peers who can listen, recognize potential warning signs, and help students seek additional assistance when necessary.

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For Logan and the other volunteers, the mission is simple: create a community where students know they aren't alone and that someone is looking out for them.

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As the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center continues developing its Hope Squad, staff hope the program will strengthen relationships among students while demonstrating how peer support can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.

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Originally published at https://www.excelsiorcitizen.com/schools/excelsior-springs-job-corps-launches-nations-first-hope-squad-to-support-student-mental-health-b6cd6a99