Goodwill Industries of Arkansas announced Monday that it has received a $499,950 subgrant to expand The Academy at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas’ Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and services.
The grant, which was received through the Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, will assist in the education and training of community members who may encounter someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
The grant funds aim to allow The Academy at Goodwill to certify Goodwill staff in specialty mental health trainings for younger populations. Programs include Mental Health First Aid for Youth, which is designed for adults who regularly interact with children aged 12 to 18, and Teen Mental Health First Aid, which is designed for teens aged 15 to 18.
The youth course introduces common mental health and substance use challenges for children, reviews typical adolescent development and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in crisis and non-crisis situations.
The teen course teaches how to engage peers in open conversations about mental health and substance use, reviews common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance abuse, provides education on the impact of school violence and bullying on mental health and shows adolescents how to seek help from adults.
The Academy at Goodwill is a partner organization with the National Council for Behavioral Health, providing MHFA training throughout the state. The training prepares individuals to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
“The grant will allow our academy to continue to expand our training and prepare even more first responders, teachers and other individuals to become better equipped to tackle the critical challenge of mental health well-being in our state,” Edie Stewart, senior vice president and chief mission officer at Goodwill Arkansas, said in a press release.
MHFA classes begin Sept. 10. and are available for free through The Academy at Goodwill.
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