Hope Squad Draws Praise from the Montgomery Township Committee

Students who are training peers to recognize signs of mental health struggles got a warm reception at the Montgomery Township Committee, a contrast to the debate that accompanied the program's school board launch in the fall.

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Hope Squad, a national peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, launched chapters across Montgomery schools this year. Faculty advisors and student members presented a progress update at the committee’s June 4 meeting.

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“The premise of the entire program is for them to be able to spot something going on, and then simply just report it,” said Cory Delgado, the director of school counseling for the district and an advisor to Hope Squad. “They're not expected to solve the problem, they're more expected to just come and report it.”

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Delgado introduced faculty advisors and student participants who advocated for the program’s approach of providing resources for students, hosting workshops and holding spirit weeks. Following the presentation, the committee members each expressed their support for the organization.

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“This has been a personal passion to have a spirit of Montgomery,” Mayor Neena Singh said, adding that she saw the program as boosting the sense of community in the town. Singh previously authorized a $10,000 grant to support the program on behalf of the township committee.

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Deputy Mayor Vincent Barragan asked the student presenters if there were any additional resources the program needed from the township, to which students answered that they were hoping to extend their outreach capacity.

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Originally published at https://www.themontynews.org/single-post/hope-squad-draws-praise-from-the-montgomery-township-committee

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