Middlebury has partnered with RadicalHOPE for the upcoming year.
Middlebury Athletics and RADical Hope, a national organization committed to strengthening connections and building resilience in young adults, have partnered to support the mental, physical and emotional health of Middlebury's student-athletes. Middlebury will implement RADical Hope's four-week college wellness program,
RADical Health, beginning in January 2024. This pilot will be required of all first-year student-athletes, with the opportunity for other class years to participate as paid peer mentors.
Since its launch in 2020, the program has supported nearly 10,000 students on two dozen campuses across the country, including several NESCAC schools. This fall, RADical Hope will reach thousands of additional students through 35 school partners.
"Middlebury Athletics is excited to partner with RADical Hope," said Director of Athletics Erin Quinn '86. "While the mental health of our student-athletes has previously been a priority, this partnership allows us to provide resources in a systemic manner through engaging and researched-based programming. We are confident that the partnership with RADical Hope will have a transformational impact on the experience of our student-athletes. Specifically, we are looking forward to introducing this program to our first-year student-athletes who will benefit greatly from the resources RADical Hope will provide as they make the transition to college athletics."
"We commend the leadership at Middlebury for making the mental health of their student-athletes a priority," said Liz Feld, RADical Hope's CEO. "Young adults tell us every day that two essential ingredients are missing from their lives: meaningful connections and the resilience to power through everyday challenges. Student-athletes often experience additional pressures, with many sharing feelings of 'silent suffering,' fueled by an apprehension to show weakness or sadness. We developed Radical Health to get right to the heart of these issues. We look forward to supporting the Middlebury Athletics community through this partnership. "
In the fall of 2020, RADical Hope partnered with New York University to pilot a groundbreaking resilience program that empowers and equips young adults with skills and resources to cultivate connections and build resilience. RADical Health was developed with behavioral health specialists, adolescent psychologists, academic leaders and input from students across the country. The program is peer-led; under the direction of trained Guides, participants explore topics including self-care, stress management, active listening, emotional regulation, and informed decision-making. Young adults are most vulnerable during times of transition, and the program was designed to be an on-ramp to college life for first year students. After several successful pilots, the organization scaled the program nationally.
In addition to its college and university partners, RADical Hope is supporting athletes and other young adults outside of the school structure through partnerships with the National Football League and community organizations.
To reduce barriers to adoption and to ensure equal access to the program, RADical Hope fully funds all costs associated with its implementation for every partner.
About RADical Hope
RADical Hope is committed to improving the lives and futures of young adults by strengthening connections and building resilience. The non-profit organization is addressing the youth mental health crisis by developing, funding and scaling evidence-based programs that focus on 5 core pillars: connectivity, engagement, emotional Intelligence, empowerment and sustainability. Learn more at www.radicalhopefoundation.org.
