All Care Receives Mental Health First Aid Funding

The Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund, overseen by the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, has approved a $2,200 grant for All Care’s Mental Health First Aid Training. The funding will cover tuition for an All Care provider to receive training to be an adult instructor of Mental Health First Aid. After receiving training, the instructor will train patient-facing staff members of All Care in Mental Health First Aid. 

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training will give All Care staff the skills needed to provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis, even if they are not a mental health provider. Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.  

All Care’s Mental Health Supervisor, Amanda McCormick, recognized the need for staff to receive training. When patients arrive at All Care, the front desk interacts with a patient first. The training will begin with this team and continue until the skills are taught to all patient-facing staff. Mental Health First Aid will become a part of onboarding new employees as All Care grows.  

All Care intends to share Mental Health First Aid educational opportunities with its closest partners.