Certified Instructors are Key to Building More Caring Communities in Maryland
Instructor candidates attend a five-day training that prepares them to facilitate the eight-hour program for either Adult or Youth Mental Health First Aid. Instructor training starts with a model how to teach the eight-hour course. Instructor candidates then spend time getting familiar with the curriculum so they can learn how to teach the course with fidelity and be able to tailor its content to a variety of audiences. Instructor candidates must pass a written exam and evaluation of their ability to deliver the eight-hour course. Many instructors are certified to teach both courses.
Reasons for becoming a Mental Health First Aid® Instructor:
- Ability to teach the class and tailor it to best fit the needs of your community
- Embedding instructors in communities makes the program easily accessible where people live, work, play, and worship
- On-site instructors allow you to integrate Mental Health First Aid into your current training program
What are my commitments as an instructor?
- Teach the course three times per year
- Teach the course with fidelity
To support instructors, the Mental Health First Aid® Maryland Team will:
- Provide a high level of technical support to help you teach the course effectively
- Connect instructors for brainstorming and idea sharing
- Host annual instructor and regional networking meetings to provide program updates, share information, and networking opportunities