HCCADA is providing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training to school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement, and other community members who can provide referrals to mental health services. Our population of focus for which the training is intended to help is school-age youth, adults with serious mental illness/disturbance, and the public.

Youth MHFA teaches adults how to identify signs and respond if children/youth are experiencing a mental health illness or serious emotional disturbance.

Adult MHFA trains adults in how to identify signs and respond if someone may be experiencing a mental health illness or serious emotional disturbance.

HCCADA specifically serves the entirety of region 8 of Texas Department of State Health Services which includes 28 counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Calhoun, Comal, DeWitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Wilson, Zavala.

Courses are offered both in-person and online. Either course is 8 hours long and feature hands-on activities and practice, ALGEE, the 5-step action plan and an overview of local mental health resources, support groups and other help.

The curricula is established and facilitated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

All costs associated with tuition and training are covered by our MHAT grant.