New Richmond High School Hope Squad
The New Richmond Exempted Village School District, in partnership with Greater Cincinnati’s Grant Us Hope, is proud to bring Hope Squad to students at New Richmond High School. New Richmond 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 New Richmond High School will be supported by trained staff members. They are: Advisors, Sharon Nehls, Michelle Senter, and Maryann Dalton. Mental Health Specialist, Bethany Puliafico rounds out the team. 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 spring, New Richmond High School students will be asked to identify peers whom they consider trustworthy. The Hope Squad co-advisors will review this data and identify 5-6 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.

If you have any questions about Hope Squad, please contact Sharon Nehls, Advisor at [email protected] or Mental Health Support Specialist Bethany Puliafico at [email protected], or via phone at 513-553-3191.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. 

Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• NRHS Hope Week 2022 (FOX19)
• One in three local children may struggle with mental health (Enquirer)
• NRHS Spotlights Hope (NRSchools)

•  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.