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Board approves Hope Squad peer-support program after debate over timing and data
Summary
Montgomery Township Board approved the Hope Squad peer-support program as part of an omnibus motion at its Sept. 16 meeting after several board members urged tabling for additional review. The program is funded for two years and district leaders said it supports the strategic goal for student wellness.
The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted Sept. 16 to approve the Hope Squad peer-support program as part of an omnibus adoption of action items at the board’s regular meeting.
Administrators and community members told the board that Hope Squad is a research-informed, peer-support program that trains students to recognize signs of distress among classmates and to use the QPR model — question, persuade, refer — to connect peers to adult help. A family member whose niece died by suicide described Hope Squad as a program that “is not just suicide prevention. It is about total mental health,” and urged the board to approve it.
Why it matters: Board members split over whether to…
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