FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact Canice Rupp, 303-432-5137, [email protected]

Mental Health First Aid Jeffco poised to train a new set of certified instructors free August 28-Sept 1.

Wheat Ridge, CO. July 24, 2017. People passionate about leveraging their skills to spread Mental Health First Aid in our community now have the opportunity to apply for instructor training. “This is a great opportunity for a select group of candidates to become certified and influence their area far beyond the reach most of us can have in our day-to-day work, and equip them, in turn, to equip citizens who can affect their communities,” according to Linda Rosenberg, MSW, president and CEO of the National Council.

Most people know how to recognize and appropriately react to medical emergencies, but there is little knowledge in our communities about what to do in a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aid is an interactive 8-hour course to help everyday people recognize and respond appropriately to a mental health crisis. Our goal is to make MHFA as common as CPR.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Jeffco Collaborative as a partner in extending Mental Health First Aid across the country,” says Rosenberg “The Jeffco Collaborative will be one of the key players in improving mental health literacy nationwide.” . The Jeffco Collaborative is a group of over a dozen organizations dedicated to spreading Mental Health First Aid throughout Jefferson County. According to the Surgeon General, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health crisis in any given year, so effective training is vital to the health of our communities.

The certified instructor training is a 40-hour course that covers not only the extensive details of the course material, but also tips and structuring on how to best present the material to the citizen classes and keep them learning, enthusiastic, and engaged for the full session.

There are five different course certifications that span the areas of Adult, First Responders, Youth, Older Adults, and Veterans. Instructors already certified in one course who wish to add another certification are able to take an abbreviated course curriculum to complete the second certification.

Interested candidates are invited to fill out the National Application Form indicating their qualifications and desire to become a certified trainer. Those candidates accepted will be notified and invited to the training. Those who complete the training will join more than 9,000 certified instructors in all 50-states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Because of Grant money from the Community First Foundation, this training will be free to applicants accepted, in exchange for a commitment to teach at least three MHFA classes during the year after they are trained.

New trainers who complete the course will be paired with a more experienced trainer to teach their first class so they can apply what they’ve learned “on the job” and have a working model to replicate.

Candidates interested in applying can email or call Canice Rupp, [email protected], or 303-432-5137, or Stacy Wojdak-Goodman, [email protected], 303-432-5155. Applications are due no later than July 28th. Candidates accepted will be notified by mid-August.

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