Glenwood High joins Hope Squad program

Mike Peterson
January 29, 2025

Glenwood's School District is among those in KMAland attempting to curb student suicides.

Glenwood High School is in its first year of participation in the Hope Squad, a national peer-to-peer counseling program focused on three areas: connection, community and prevention. Members of the Glenwood School Board received an update on the program at a special meeting and work session earlier this week. Glenwood School Superintendent Nicole Kooiker tells KMA News the program is designed to provide at-risk students the necessary support from both adults and student peers.

"They're going to have an event coming up in February," said Kooiker, "just for the promotion of letting people know they're available. But, there's about 13 active students involved, and just making sure that people are aware of watching if there's any signs of anybody struggling, and students or staff within our system reaching out and making sure they get the help that they need."

Student and Family Advocate Heather Roberson and Instructor Hannah Doorenbos are the program's sponsors. Kooiker says both sponsors and the student peers receive training in suicide prevention.

"It's definitely a work in progress and a growth progress," she said. "But, as you know, mental health issues are real, and they're in our schools, they're in our communities, they're in our state, they're all over the place. So, I think it's important to be aware of how do we necessarily see signs of things, and reach out to professionals as needed."

Kooiker says the program's student peer component is a necessary piece.

"Peer to peer--just like an adult peer to peer--is the most important and powerful way to get things to change, or to get people to realize there's other opportunities or options," said Kooiker. "It might look dismal, and it might not look like there's no way out of situations, but there's always ways out. I think if you can have other peers talk, and understand and listen, and just be good supporters of each other, I think it's going to show success."

Glenwood High School joins Shenandoah High as area schools implementing the Hope Squad this school year.

Originally published at https://www.kmaland.com/news/glenwood-high-joins-hope-squad-program/article_4bf28cec-de64-11ef-963a-0b272b54f9e6.html

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