Grant Us Hope Podcast

Throughout our recent podcast series, we have identified a multitude of factors related to mental health & suicide risk in youth. Today, Travis welcomes back Dr. Courtney Cinko of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to wrap up the series by looking at how we can proactively encourage our youth to focus on mental health wellness and self-care.

Protecting Your Teen from Social Isolation

The next in this series of the Grant Us Hope Podcast welcomes back Dr. Suzanne Sampang of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She joins host Travis Nipper to talk to us about the challenges of protecting your teen from social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the latest edition of the Grant Us Hope Podcast, Dr. Lynne Merk of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center joins host Travis Nipper to chat about the impacts and resolutions of current events and excessive media exposure. Dr. Merk outlines the data behind positive and negative effects of access to media and current event especially in light of the current pandemic. She discuses COVID’s effect on schooling and students in the form of stress anxiety, and depression in teens as well as the potential long term impacts. All along, Dr. Merk shares practical tips to keep your youth safe, healthy, and strong. 

Have a teen who seems to love video games a bit too much? In this episode, host Travis Nipper welcomes Dr. Suzanne Sampang of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center back to tackle the subject. Dr. Sampang addresses the hidden dangers of video gaming, the warning signs of overuse, and how to identify potential video game addiction. She offers some tips on parenting to help your child strike a healthier balance.

In this episode, host Travis Nipper welcomes Dr. Suzanne Sampang of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to discuss the implications of use and overuse of social media for our youth. Dr. Sampang shares the positives and negatives of social media, warning signs to look for with your youth, and some helpful tips on how to have a healthy relationship (and relationships) with social media.

In this episode, host Travis Nipper welcomes Suzanna Davis of Grant Us Hope and Dr. Andy Buechel of Lighthouse Youth Services to discuss the focus on the unique needs of LGBTQ youth. Dr. Buechel shares details about how the five key areas that the Safe and Supported Program provides support for LGBTQ youth in various critical ways. Suzanna speaks to layers of support and the complimentary effect that Lighthouse and Hope Squads provide to the community.

In this episode, host Travis Nipper welcomes administrators from three large Ohio school districts where Hope Squads function. They share what they are seeing as students return (and sometimes return again) for in-person classes. We draw upon their years of experience for some insight and practical tips on how parents can support their students.

What are the important roles that crisis response teams play? Travis Nipper is joined by Dr. Laura Stith and Dr. Randy Siler who lead the Crisis Response Team in Clermont County, Ohio. They share on a broad range of topics from the genesis of their team, to how they support school communities during crisis. 

Getting more of the student perspective! Travis Nipper is again joined by Olivia Marshall from Lakota East High School and Sarah Johnson of Ross High School, who have been chosen to serve on the Hope Squad National Council. The women tell us what motivated them to get involved in the Council and the work they are doing for the national conference. We also get some insight on how leading Hope Squads has changed during the pandemic, and what they envision for the future of their Hope Squads.

Getting the student perspective! In the first part of two episodes, Travis Nipper is joined by two Ohio students who have been chosen to serve on the Hope Squad National Council. We get to know Olivia Marshall from Lakota East High School and Sarah Johnson of Ross High School. The women share their stories of why they are involved with Hope Squad and how Hope Squad has positively impacted their schools, Suzanna also introduces us to the Hope Squad National Council and its purpose.

In this episode, we get to know Holly End, the new Vice President of Development for Grant Us Hope. She joins Travis Nipper to discuss the the exciting changes to the upcoming Butterfly Bash which goes virtual this year. Get up to speed on what you need to know!

In When Data and Hope Join Forces for Kids Mental Health, Dr. Rich Gilman and Dr. Kevin Jamison join Travis Nipper to discuss the synergy of Terrace Metrics and Grant Us Hope's Hope Squads.  They share the impacts in Princeton City Schools and how parents and educators can use the power of these tools for mental health together.

In How Hope Squad Changes Culture, Dr. Greg Hudnall the Founder of Hope Squad joins Travis Nipper to discuss the genesis of Hope Squad and what drove him to start the organization. He shares with us the unique relationship that Hope Squad and Grant Us Hope has and how Grant Us Hope has become a national leader in the mission of saving lives. He gives us some practical tips for these uncertain days. Then, he walks us into great detail about how Hope Squad changes and maintains culture in schools.

Jeremy Joseph, Jeremy Joseph, Supervisor in the Social and Emotional Learning Division for the Montgomery County Educational Service Center joins Travis Nipper to discuss Helping Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma.

Suzanna Davis, Director of Programming, Grant Us Hope joins Travis Nipper to discuss Changing the Culture of Your School for All Students. 

Dr. Beverly Smolyansky from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center joins Travis Nipper to talk about Return to School Anxiety: How to Help Your Teen. They cover topics on how students, parents, teachers, and health care staff are reacting to COVID-19. Dr. Smolyansky shares strategies and tips for all these groups on how to handle the uncertain return to school and how to address any warning signs during this stressful time.

Diane Egbers, founder of Grant Us Hope joins host Travis Nipper for the first episode of the Grant Us Hope podcast. They talk about the genesis of the organization, the mission it serves through Hope Squads, and the positive impact in the community.