DESE continues to partner with Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs, Lighthouse Wellness and Health Education Consulting, Pinnacle Partnerships, and others, to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training sessions again this year.
School districts may request up to two **free** trainings for up to 60 of their staff and community by completing this form. Participating districts will also be eligible for technical assistance to explore and develop follow-up systems and resources for integrating this training into multi-tiered systems for student support.
The training helps teachers, broader school staff, parents, and others who interact with youth to recognize and support students ages 6-18 who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges and if needed, to refer them to mental health services. As everyone continues to navigate the impacts and challenges of the pandemic, it is likely that teachers, broader school staff, family and community partners who serve as trusted adults in the lives of young people are seeing increased numbers of students who report and demonstrate changes in mood as well as more intense feelings of anxiety and stress. Though school mental health professionals may find this training to be helpful, the intended audience is individuals without mental health training who work or interact with young people.
TRAINING DETAILS:
The training comprises 2 hours of asynchronous pre-work that must be completed prior to the 4.5 hour live session via Zoom. Upon completion of the virtual training, all participants must complete the course evaluation in the learning management system (LMS) to receive a certificate for the training. Options are available to offer the training in-person, time requirements may vary.
ASSURANCE:
By completing this request form, applicants are committing to working with their DESE-assigned trainer to coordinate logistics, recruit and support participants to attend and complete the full training.