How can I find my local mental health agency?

Start by checking with your district or school system leadership to see whether an existing partnership, referral agreement, crisis provider, or community mental health resource is already in place. Hope Squad is designed to build on existing school and district support systems rather than create a separate referral structure.

If no formal partner is currently identified, administrators should work with district student services, counseling, or school mental health leadership to identify an appropriate local counseling agency, community mental health provider, crisis service, telehealth provider, hospital-based program, or prevention partner that can support student referrals and continuity of care.

Once a potential partner is identified, schedule a conversation to clarify roles, referral processes, points of contact, crisis-response expectations, and how students and families will be connected to support.

If local options are limited or unavailable, the Administrator Pathway landing page includes a robust list of national mental health and crisis resources that can help schools identify additional support options. Hope Squad also provides administrators with a microlesson and planning workbook to guide coordinated referral planning.