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As of 3/8/24 this course is FULL and cannot accept any additional registrations.
ACA, New England is not offering additional courses this spring focused solely on camp professionals, but additional spring dates are available through this link: https://www.collaborative.org/event/youth-mental-health-blended/
Youth Mental Health First Aid
(BLENDED COURSE: Online pre-work and live in-person course)
This is an 8-hour education program that teaches partcipants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.Youth Mental Health First Aid uses group activity, role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The course covers:
This course is offered in a two-part format and both components must be completed to earn your certification:
What will participants learn? This course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder.
Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling – rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan. The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 8-18.
Who should take this course? The course is designed for any adults who regularly interact with adolescents who are ACA, New England members or who work at camps located in Western Massachusetts. *We are able to provide this course free of charge to ACA, New England members thanks to a SAMHSA grant.*
Who created the course? Who created the course? The National Council for Mental Wellbeing was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid to the U.S. Mental Health First Aid USA worked with experts at the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development to develop the youth program.
Mental Health First Aid Instructors through Mental Health First Aid:
This course is FREE for ACA, New England members and folks who work at camps in Western Massachusetts. You MUST register by March 6 and complete your pre-work completion by March 28 receive access to the live virtual course on April.
*Because this course results in a certification, attendees must fully participate in the entire program.*
Space is limited to 30 participants!
Register: As of 3/8/24 this course is FULL and cannot accept any additional registrations. If you are already registered, additional communication about the course will come from the course instructor/ the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. You will receive a Zoom link for the live portion of the course 24 hours prior to the session.
Registrations are non-refundable, but may be transferred to another eligible individual prior to the start of the event (provided there is enough time for that individual to complete the mandatory pre-work).
Once you register through ACA, New England, you will receive an email with additional details on how to access the pre-work through the Mental Health First Aid Portal. Please allow time to receive that email. All pre-work must be completed by Thursday, March 28 to ensure you are qualified to attend the in-person component of the program.
A minimum of 10 and maximum of 30 registered participants is required for the program to run.
Questions, reach out to Kerry Salvo, Director of Education and Professional Development at kerry@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 104.
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