Partnerships to Provide Mental Health First Aid in Kentucky

The Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) partners with UK FCS Extension on grants and programs. One recent partnership is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). Melody Nall, CEDIK Extension Specialist completed MHF instructor training in May 2019. During COVID, it was apparent that mental health was a top priority in communities. The extension specialist completed additional training with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to be certified to present the MHFA content virtually in addition to the traditional in-person format.

Two partnerships impacting a broader audience in Kentucky emerged during COVID-19. The UK Kentucky Office for Rural Health program manager for EMS requested assistance with MHFA for KY EMS employees and rural hospitals. A partnership formed, and the CEDIK extension specialist and UK KORH program manager trained KORH staff, UK arts extension agents and a county EMS staff in MHFA. In addition, both instructors were asked to teach the MHFA course at the KY Board of EMS annual conference in September 2021 where 18 people were certified as Mental Health First Aiders. Additional MHFA classes will be held in 2022 with county EMS services and rural hospitals.

The second partnership is with the Council on Post-secondary Education (CPE). Employees from CPE contacted the CEDIK Extension Specialist regarding an opportunity to teach up to 1900 faculty and staff across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Through a partnership with UK FCS Extension a contract and plan for the CPE trainings was finalized. Most trainings were offered virtually due to continued COVID concerns. FCS staff coordinated the scheduling and recruitment of instructors while CPE recruited class participants. The CEDIK Extension specialist taught classes and recruited an additional CEDIK employee to be trained as an instructor in MHFA to assist with the CPE classes. Classes will continue through September 2022 and final numbers will be reported.

More than the number of participants reached, these examples share the importance of partnerships with new organizations and expanding the reach of UK Extension.