Mental Health First Aid is between five to seven hours long. It is broken up into three (3) portions, the Pre-Work Section, the Skills Section, and the Post-Work Section. This training is free through the Local Behavioral Health Authority at the Maryland Department of Health. All materials are free. Once the pre/skills/post work and evaluations are completed (with a passing score), you will obtain a certificate that is valid for three (3) years.
Because of COVID-19, additional options for course delivery have been made available to you upon request. There are three (3) ways to take this course: 100% Virtual Delivery; 100% In-Person Delivery; and a Blended Delivery option where you complete the self-paced pre/post work online and then the skills portion is given in-person. This course can also be given in one day or broken up into two days. If it is broken up into two days, the second training day has to take place within one week of the first training day. The only stipulation is that there needs to be at least five (5) people signed up in order to give the course and no more than 15 for each class. Once you have completed this interest form, you will be placed on a waitlist. We will reach out via email or telephone once a course becomes available that matches your preferences. Thank you.
The Allegany County Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded behavioral health services with the county. This includes planning for service development, encouraging providers to develop and deliver a full range of treatment and rehabilitation services for persons with mental illness or substance use disorders, and working with the Behavioral Health Administration, Office of Health Care Quality, and Administrative Service Organizations to investigate complaints and monitor the delivery of services.
Additionally, the LBHA works to ensure people have access to needed services, educates the public about mental health and substance abuse, hosts trainings to enhance skills of behavioral health providers, and advocates with other systems on the behalf of individuals with mental health and substance use disorder.