MO Hope Policy Academy

2026 Regional Convening Highlights

In October 2026, school professionals gathered in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Nixa for the MO Hope Policy Academy’s Regional Systems Learning Academy. Building on the summer Academy, participants explored how to put suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies into practice. Together, they identified challenges, shared strategies, and outlined opportunities to strengthen support for students and staff.

Equip & Support Staff

Clear roles, consistent training, administrative support, and protected time help school staff turn policies into practice. Participants identified heavy caseloads, competing duties, and burnout as barriers.

Strengthen Connections

Trusted relationships with students, families, and community partners are central to prevention. Participants emphasized early coping skills and better communication between schools, homes, and care providers.

Plan for Continued Support

Support must continue beyond the immediate crisis. Participants highlighted coordinated school re-entry, ongoing follow-up, and postvention planning after a suicide loss.

Explore the Regional Takeaways

Kansas City | Clear Roles & Consistent Support

Participants identified five priorities:

• Clarify crisis team roles, so staff know whom to contact.
• Strengthen follow-up after hospitalization and school re-entry.
• Teach coping skills consistently from early childhood through 12th grade.
• Build staff capacity for training and screening while supporting staff well-being.
• Review and update policies, including procedures addressing social media.

Connection with trusted adults emerged as a thread across these priorities.

Nixa | Staff Capacity & Family Engagement

Participants identified five priorities:

• Engage and educate families through accessible information and opportunities for connection.
• Expand staffing and reduce caseloads.
• Protect time for prevention by redistributing non-counseling duties and strengthening administrative support.
• Connect students to care within and beyond school, including coordinated re-entry plans.
• Align supports across buildings and grade levels so services remain consistent as students transition.

Jefferson City | Training & Continued Care

Participants identified five priorities:

• Provide training for all staff and administrators, with dedicated professional development time.
• Help students recognize concerns and connect peers with trusted adults.
• Continue support after a crisis through reintegration meetings, follow-up, and community partnerships.
• Prepare for postvention through identified response teams, grief support, and protocol review.
• Strengthen early identification of students who may need additional help.

Continuing the Work

The regional convenings connected school professionals and gathered insights to inform the leaders, funders, and organizations supporting Missouri schools. Participants’ experiences and ideas will contribute to a final report.

Interested in continuing the conversation? Connect with the MSPN Schools Committee to help strengthen suicide prevention efforts in Missouri schools.

Connect with the Schools Committee

MO Hope Policy Academy

2026 Regional Convening Highlights

Equip & Support Staff

Strengthen Connections

Plan for Continued Support

Kansas City | Clear Roles & Consistent Support

Continuing the Work

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