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Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings - **Registration Opens Today, Tuesday, Sept. 1**    

The State Library was recently awarded an Outreach to Consumers grant award in the amount of $15,000 from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region. The funds will be used to purchase approximately 100 seats for staff in public and school libraries who work with adolescents ages 12 – 18 to be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid. This training enables library staff members to deal calmly and effectively with customers who may be suffering from stress or mental health issues in their lives at no cost to them. Participants will earn a Mental Health First Aid certificate at the end of the two-part program. Youth Mental Health First Aid training will take place in the following libraries:

Fairfield Public Library, Wednesdays, October 14^th and 21st

Monroe Township Library, Thursdays, October 15^th and 22nd

The eight-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course will be offered in two four-hour sessions. Space is limited! There are 25 seats available at each location. Registration will be closed once we meet capacity.

Register here for Training Sessions:

Fairfield Public Library,

October 14^th and 21^st, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm  (NOTE: start time of 10:30 am)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-mental-health-first-aid-for-nj-library-staff-tickets-17780106778

Monroe Township Library

October 15^th and 22^nd, 10 am – 3 pm

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-mental-health-first-aid-for-nj-library-staff-tickets-17780246195

Please note that you MUST attend both sessions to receive certification.

Registration and coffee begins at 9:30 am at Monroe Public Library and 10 am at Fairfield Public Library, instruction promptly at 10:00 am at Monroe Public Library and 10:30 am at Fairfield Public Library.

This training is for all library types and for all library staff. Multi-type libraries encouraged to participate.

Lunch will be provided

Who should attend?

We encourage ALL library types and ALL types of library staff to apply. The purpose of this training is to provide New Jersey library staff with the tools they need to deal calmly and effectively with customers who may be suffering from stress or mental health issues in their lives. This encompasses both the quality of the service to the customers and providing support for the library staff members.

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.

Mental Health First Aid Training will be provided by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey: http://www.mhanj.org/.  The Mental Health Association in New Jersey strives for mental health for children and adults through advocacy, education, training, and services. The vision of the MHANJ is a statewide community in which people with mental illnesses can achieve full potential, free from stigma and other barriers to care and recovery.

 For more information, or for questions, please contact 

• Sharon Rawlins at...@njstatelib.org"> sraw...@njstatelib.org or 609-278-2640 ext. 116
• Jennifer Podolsky at ...@njstatelib.org">jpod...@njstatelib.org or 609-278-2640 ext. 135

Additional Information:

• Facts about Mental Health First Aid:
  http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101623288838-1525/MHFA-Facts.pdf
• Mental Health First Aid – USA: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/
• MHANJ Launches Mental Health First Aid Initiative: http://www.mhanj.org/mhanjs-mental-health-first-aid-initiative/

Best,

Sharon Rawlins, MLS

Youth Services Specialist for Lifelong Learning

NJ State Library

185 West State St.

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625-0520

...@njstatelib.org">sraw...@njstatelib.org

609-278-2640 ext. 116 - phone

609-278-2650 - fax

CSLP 2015-2016 Vice-President/President Elect