TRAININGS
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Mental Health First Aid
To put it in simple from, Mental Health First Aid is "the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis”. Like traditional first aide, mental health first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves" In mental health crises, such as a person feeling suicidal, deliberately harming themselves, having a panic attack or being acutely psychotic, someone with appropriate mental health first aid skills can reduce the risk of the person coming to harm. Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive 8-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Those who complete the 8-hours to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The Mental Health First Aid USA course has benefited a variety of audiences and key professions, including: primary care professionals, employers and business leaders, faith communities, school personnel and educators, state police and corrections officers, first responders, nursing home staff, mental health authorities, ER Staff, state policymakers, volunteers, young people, families and the general public. A number of studies have been carried out showing the people who are trained in mental health first aid showed improved knowledge, confidence, attitudes and helping behavior when facing a mental health crisis. Behavioral Health regularly schedules trainings for interested individuals to become certified in Mental Health First Aid. If you or your agency is interested in learning more, or participating in the next training, please contact us for more info. Next training dates: July 28-29 (1-5pm) | August 11-12 (1-5pm) | November 3-4 (1-5pm) | March 23-24, 2017 (1-5pm) Cost is $10 which includes materials, snacks and lunch. Trainings will be split over two days (in afternoons). Each session is 4hrs and to receive certification participants must complete the 8 hour trainings in the back to back sessions. Please contact Christine Prewitt at Behavioral Health to register. 559-852-2372 or Christine.prewitt@co.kings.ca.us Mental Health First Aid training may be provided to agencies or other groups with a request 30-days prior to the desired date and contingent on trainer availability. |
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Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
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Assist Training
Kings County Behavioral Health in conjunction with LivingWorks is proud to provide ASIST Training at no cost for Kings County!
The ASIST workshop is for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million caregivers have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop. Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid. If you are interested in attending, Please contact, Chris Prewitt at 852-2372 to RSVP. There are limited slots available and registration will be done on first come first served basis. Next training dates: July 13th and 14th, 2016 | Next training to be announced. You can request to be placed on the waiting list for the next training. |
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Another Kind of Valor
Families and agencies who serve veterans are constantly being challenged on how to best serve Veterans who turn to them for assistance and support. Families of these Veterans must also try to come to grip with loved ones who have returned home changed in so many ways. The dilemma is how can professionals and loved ones learn to be supportive of behaviors that they can’t begin to understand? Does one confront the Veteran’s resistance to talk? Does one challenge his/her emotional outburst? What does one do when the Veteran is faced with triggers of war and will recluse themselves for days on end? What do you do when caring words are met with stony silence? And how does one deal with a spouse that feels le out of the family after returning from an overseas tour?
These are all important concerns. Kings County Behavioral Health is addressing these questions and more through the “Another Kind of Valor” training. The 7 hour training is provided to a variety of agencies who work closely with Veterans. These agencies include the courts, law enforcement, college counselors, doctors, churches and mental health agencies, just to name a few. The training provides tools on how to reach Veterans by having actual Veterans speak about their experiences and directly letting us know what they need from all of us. Military spouses also speak out about their experiences of being married to a Veteran. Female Veterans discuss their experiences of serving in the military. Numerous videos are presented to exemplify the effects of war on our Veterans. Discussions on the availability of services in Kings County are also presented. The topic of what to say and not say, as well as what to ask and not ask Veterans is discussed. Finally, working with Veterans can be very taxing to family members and service providers; therefore, Vicarious Traumatization/Compassion Fatigue is thoroughly reviewed. The Valor training is available to any agency or person that works or plans to work with Veterans. For additional information please call Chris Pewitt at 559‐852‐2372 or Mario Lopez, LCSW at 559‐852‐2438. Next training dates: August 23, 2016 | Sometime in January 2017 These trainings are 8 hours long. |
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Cultural Competency Trainings
Kings County Behavioral Health constantly sponsors trainings that equip agency's and individuals to be more culturally competent. Currently there are none being offered. Please check back later for an update.
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Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
Coming soon will be the CIT training. This training is modeled after a nationally recognized, evidence-based program known as the CIT Memphis Model that focuses on training law enforcement personnel and other first responders to recognize the signs of mental illness when responding to a person experiencing a mental health crisis. The course provides 32 hours of training and is approved by the local Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) agency at no cost to the participating agency or individual. The course teaches trainees on the signs and symptoms of mental illness and coaching on how to respond appropriately and compassionately to individuals or families in crisis.
Coming soon will be the CIT training. This training is modeled after a nationally recognized, evidence-based program known as the CIT Memphis Model that focuses on training law enforcement personnel and other first responders to recognize the signs of mental illness when responding to a person experiencing a mental health crisis. The course provides 32 hours of training and is approved by the local Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) agency at no cost to the participating agency or individual. The course teaches trainees on the signs and symptoms of mental illness and coaching on how to respond appropriately and compassionately to individuals or families in crisis.
