Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This three year certification gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to adolescents (ages 12-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

YMHFA trainingS will be provided in collaboration with Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHA) Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities or Coastal Plains Community Center trainers.  It will requires a 2 hour prerequisite online course prior to attending the virtual class. Registration closes one week before class date at 11:59pm.

• Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities can only provide training for school employees in NUECES COUNTY.
• Coastal Plains Community Center can only provide training for school employees in ARANSAS, BEE, BROOKS, DUVAL, KLEBERG, KENEDY, JIM WELLS, LIVE OAK AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES.
• Participants must register with a district email from the specified counties.   Registrants without district emails or are from outside the specified counties will not be placed in a YMHFA course.
• After the registration deadline expires, the LMHA will then send a link to the 2 hour course to registered participants.
• Candidates will need to complete the 2 hour online course prior  to the 4 hour virtual class session. 
• LMHAs will send a Zoom link those participants who have completed the 2 hour online prerequisite course.
• Registration will close up to 14 days prior to the virtual class date.  The time is needed for the National Council  to set up participants in the online course.  
• Participants cannot switch classes or substitute a different participant once registration closes due to grant funded purchase of online course. 

The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm
• Listen non-judgmentally
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help and other
support strategies

Join us as we host Dr. Eugenia Curet from the University of Texas - Rio Grand Valley for  sessions that promote educator wellness.

Two sessions available:

Introduction to Mindful Meditation for Self-Care (only for school personnel) (April 12th)

Summary: The Mindful Meditation Workshop aims to teach participants the fundamentals of mindfulness through meditation for stress management and reduction as a part of self-care. The one-time session incorporates the definition, practice, science, and health benefits behind meditation.

Learning Objectives: 

• Participants will learn the definitions of mindfulness and meditation 

• Participants will practice mindful meditation 
• Participants will acquire how to incorporate mindful meditation into their everyday lives  

Forgiveness Workshop – Self-care/Wellness (April 26th)

Summary: This workshop aims to teach forgiveness to participants to support better holistic health, inner- peace, improved relationships, and an enhanced life perspective. This interactive workshop filled with activities and short videos creates a safe space to be able to share experiences and the process of forgiveness.  

Learning Objectives: 

• Participants will learn the meaning of forgiveness 
• Participants will identify the path of forgiveness 
• Participants will learn how to practice forgiveness  

Dr. Eugenia Curet holds Master Degree in Social Work with specialization in psychiatric social work from New York University Graduate School of Social Work; a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Public Health and Substance Abuse from The Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, Ohio, and pursued doctoral studies (ABD) on advanced clinical social work at the Adelphi University in New York. She attended the two years One Spirit Seminary in New York City and ordained an Interfaith Minister. Her work experience includes Administrative Director of the Vincent P. Dole Research and Treatment Center for Opioid Addiction of Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC), and Instructor in Public Health; Assistant Dean for the Student Counseling and Health Services of the University of Texas System – UTB, UTPA, and Rio Grande Valley; and Assistant Professor of the University of Texas Rio Grande, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. She has clinical social work licenses in New York, New Jersey, and Texas and for eleven years had a private psychotherapy practice in New York.  She has published and has been a presenter at numerous national and international conferences on subjects ranging from m