Are You Wondering How to Support a Youth Developing Signs and Symptoms of a Mental Illness or Experiencing an Emotional Crisis?

Two separate sessions of Youth Mental Health First Aid are available to assist any school staff member to develop those skills. Participants can choose to attend the session on Feb. 27 or April 6.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. YMHFA is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. 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.

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Registration
Choose one date to attend:

Feb. 27 registration

or

April 6 registration

Don't Miss Out! Youth Mental Health First Aid Training is Dec. 5

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. 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.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Dec. 5, 2022
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Invited Audience: Any District Staff

Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3OhHvom

Youth Mental Health First Aid Being Offered Again on Oct. 28 in a Blended Format

Participants will become certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders. Through the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum, participants will learn about the prevalence of various mental health disorders impacting youth and how to recognize the warning signs of mental health problems that may impact a youth’s mental health and resiliency.

They will learn how to utilize a five-step (ALGEE) plan to support youth and help youth in crisis connect with appropriate evidence-based treatment. In addition to becoming certified, participants will become more familiar with their YMHFA manuals, practice the ALGEE plan using case studies, identify appropriate school interventions/supports and research community resources. Registration includes a digital YMHFA Manual.

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Blended Format
Oct. 28, 2021
8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Registration

REMINDER! Heartland AEA Offers Youth Mental Health First Aid in Blended, In-Person and Virtual Formats

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. 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. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats: YMHFA Training Options

**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!

Youth Mental Health First Aid Offers Training in Blended, In-Person & Virtual Formats

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce we are now offering Youth Mental Health First Aid in a blended format. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats.

**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!

Youth Mental Health First Aid Offers Training in Blended, In-Person & Virtual Formats

Heartland AEA is pleased to announce we are now offering Youth Mental Health First Aid in a blended format. Read more about YMHFA and options available to districts, including YMHFA in blended, virtual and in-person formats. 

**Child Mental Health First Aid also now available!

To request a YMHFA Training Email the Heartland AEA Regional Director assigned to your district and Jadie Boens, Heartland AEA Director of Special Programs, who will coordinate scheduling the YMHFA training.

AEAs Are Providing Training to Help Districts Meet Requirements of Recent Mental Health Legislation

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are providing support to Iowa schools to meet the requirements of new legislation that requires school districts to provide annual employee training and protocols in two areas related to mental health:

• Suicide Prevention and Postvention
• Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response

Iowa’s AEAs also offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training that focuses on how to help students who are experiencing a mental health, addiction challenge or crisis. YMHFA is a nationally recognized curriculum.

In addition, Heartland AEA is offering Iowa Building Strong Brains, to provide all Iowa educators with awareness of brain-aligned, trauma sensitive strategies for working with all students in Iowa’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports. This professional learning opportunity meets Iowa’s legislative requirements for training school employees on “Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response.”

For more assistance, contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director who serves your district or AEA Learning Online.

AEAs Are Providing Training to Help Districts Meet Requirements of Recent Mental Health Legislation

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are providing support to Iowa schools to meet the requirements of new legislation that requires school districts to provide annual employee training and protocols in two areas:

• Suicide Prevention and Postvention
• Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response

Iowa’s AEAs also offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training that focuses on how to help students who are experiencing a mental health, addiction challenge or crisis. YMHFA is a nationally recognized curriculum.

Additional trainings are listed in the technical assistance guidance created by the Iowa Department of Education. The list is not exhaustive and school districts are not required to select from the list. School districts have the authority to select the evidence-supported training that best meets the needs of their district.

Learn more about the trainings here or contact AEA Learning Online.

Be the One to Make a Difference; Become Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid on April 12

Anyone, anywhere can be the one to make a difference in the life of an adolescent with a mental health challenge – if they know what to do and what to say.

Heartland AEA is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid certification training on April 12 to help educators, school staff and other caring adults how to identify, understand and respond to signs of a mental health challenge in kids ages 12-18. The certification trains on the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to an adolescent who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or a crisis.

Learn more about:

• Risk factors and warning signs of mental health issues in adolescents
• Importance of early intervention
• How to help youth ages 12-18 who are experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis

Youth Mental Health First Aid
April 12, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Registration
This is a FREE course.Register at this link.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course Coming June 13

District school staff within the Heartland AEA service who work primarily with youth age 12-18 are invited to attend this course. Through the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum, participants will learn about the prevalence of various mental health disorders impacting youth, and how to recognize the warning signs or mental health problems that my impact a youth’s mental health and resiliency. Participants will become certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Date: June 13, 2017
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register at this link

Become Certified as a Youth Mental Health First Aider

Heartland AEA supports student mental health and one way we are doing that is by offering a one-day Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course beginning in Sept. 2016. Additional dates will be considered if the need arises; however, we do not have the capacity to fulfill in-district course requests at this time.

Through the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) curriculum, participants will learn:

• The prevalence of various mental health disorders impacting youth
• Warning signs or mental health problems that may impact a youth’s mental health and resiliency
• Utilizing and practicing the five-step (ALGEE) plan to support youth and help youth in crisis connect with appropriate evidence-based treatment
• Appropriate school interventions/supports and community resources

Dates and Registration Links (select one)

1. Sept. 12, 2016 Registration
2. Nov. 8, 2016 Registration
3. Jan. 9, 2017 Registration

Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Audience: District staff within the Heartland AEA area who work primarily with youth age 12-18