BATAVIA, Ohio — Five school districts serving Clermont County students will receive money to support various efforts aimed at preventing suicide, county officials said.
County commissioners approved about $20,000 in funding from Clermont County Family and Children First (FCF), this week.
Clermont County FCF is a partnership of government agencies and community organizations “committed to improving the well-being of children and their families,” according to its website.
Funding will be used by local school districts in the following ways:
Milford High School (ninth grade)
Milford High School will use $1,500 to support Ending the Silence Day, a prevention and early intervention presentation by The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Another $500 will support the Hope Squad’s Hope Week, a school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.
West Clermont Middle and High Schools
About $1,900 will support Hope Squad training and supplies. Nearly $3,700 will support the district's WEB and Link Crew organizations.
WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) is a program to support students’ transition into the sixth grade where eighth-graders serve as mentors and student leaders. They are also trained to look for bullying behaviors.
Link Crew focuses on the transition to ninth grade with juniors and seniors serving as leaders and mentors.
Williamsburg High School (ninth grade)
Williamsburg Local Schools will receive $1,000 to support Freshman Kick Off Day. The day is meant to both welcome students to the ninth grade and help students feel positive about coming to school.
Goshen Middle and High Schools
The Goshen Local School District plans to use $9,500 to support the district’s Hope Squad.
Miami Valley Christian Academy (ninth-12th grades)
The academy, located in Newtown, received partial funding, about $2,000, to implement its Hope Squad program with 50% of its students coming from Clermont County.
Clermont County FCF receives state and federal funds for some of its programs, but mostly relies on local contributions from community groups and agencies.
If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 any time to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center also has a list of local phone numbers and other resources for help here.
