Since 2017, we have offered free annual Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training to adults in our community. The course includes 2 hours of self-paced content followed by 4.5 hours of instructor-led training via Zoom.

This training is open to participants age 18 and older and will be led by Monroe School District Behavioral Health Specialist and Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Jennifer Swan, LMHC, CMHS. This training is free of charge, sponsored by the Monroe School District.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program that teaches adults how to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of a potential mental health challenge in youth
• Listen nonjudgmentally and provide reassurance to a young person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge
• Connect youth to appropriate professional support and services

Mental Health First Aid was created in 2000 in Australia by Betty Kitchener, an educator and mental health consumer, and Professor Tony Jorm, a mental health researcher. In 2008, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought Mental Health First Aid to the United States.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of Youth Mental Health First Aid and the role of a Youth Mental Health First Aider
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth
• Explain the impact of traumatic experiences and the role of resilience in adolescent development
• Apply the steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) in both non-crisis and crisis situations
• Select appropriate self-care strategies after providing Youth Mental Health First Aid in crisis and non-crisis situations

Questions, please contact Jennifer Swan at swanj@monroe.wednet.edu

Registration

1. For YMHFA certification, please select ONE training day:

• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST Virtual YMHFA Training 
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST Virtual YMHFA Training
• Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST Virtual YMHFA Training

2. After registering on EventBrite, your instructor, Jennifer Swan, will email you with enrollment instructions for the Youth Mental Health First Aid website which will include your Zoom Link and training materials for the Live virtual event.
3. You will be asked to complete 2 hours of self-paced material prior to your training day to familiarize yourself with Youth Mental Health First Aid. 

For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Swan, LMHC, CMHS
Behavioral Health Specialist for Monroe School District
swanj@monroe.wednet.edu