Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Certification for Youth Education and Engagement Professionals | April 2026
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) enables youth professionals to recognize signs of distress and guide a young person toward appropriate treatments and other supportive health care. Participants will learn how to distinguish between typical adolescent development and symptoms of mental health challenges most common to young people; anxiety, depression, eating or substance use disorders, and the impact of social media and bullying. YMHFA emphasizes the importance of early intervention and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. They will walk away with strategies for self-care and a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants who complete this course will earn a certificate that is valid for 3 years.
This training is being offered in partnership with BeWell/JFNA and RootOne.
Registration will close on Monday, April 20, 2026. Reach out to Erica Hruby with any questions ehruby@jewishedproject.org.
- After School Programming
- Educator Training
- Camp
- Teen Engagement
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Care
- Communication
- Empathy
- Mental Health
- Self-care
- Stress
- Supporting Individuals
- Supportive Conversations
Erica Hruby, M.A. is a Jewish educator with nearly 30-years of teaching, curriculum writing, and professional development experience in Jewish community, academic, and residential environments. Erica serves as Senior Manager, National Teen Education and Engagement at The Jewish Education Project. She is also the founder of Anchored Parenting, LLC where she serves as a parent educator and coach. Erica has an M.A. from Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children and adolescents. She lives on the West Coast of Florida with her high school sweetheart with whom she shares two adult daughters.
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