The Kane County Health Department (KCHD) is working with the Family Service Association of Greater Elgin (FSA) to offer Mental Health First Aid training in Kane County.
Mental Health First Aid training teaches participants how to identify and respond to signs of mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders, similar to traditional first aid and CPR training. They learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies to help someone in both crisis and noncrisis situations, and where to turn for help.
Kane County provided a federally funded grant of $75,000 to FSA to provide initial training to a cohort of 15 trainees, who in turn will offer low-cost training to other community members throughout 2026. The goal is to have 2,000 Kane County residents trained using an evidence-based, early intervention approach.
“We are excited to partner with the Family Service Association to offer this training to residents of Kane County,” said Michael Isaacson, KCHD Executive Director. “Mental Health First Aid is an important skill for teachers, parents, first responders, and anyone with a strong interest in community well-being. Having more residents trained to recognize and help those who are experiencing substance use or mental health crises is a valuable way to reduce stigma around mental health in our community.”
Mental Health First Aid is designed for a wide range of community members, including:
Teachers, school staff, coaches, and youth-serving organizationsHealthcare workers, public health professionals, and community health workersFirst responders, EMS, fire, 911 dispatch, and law enforcementFaith leaders and ministry volunteersLibrary, parks, and municipal staffCollege faculty, student support teams, and campus safetyHuman resources, corporate staff, retail and customer-service teamsNonprofit workers, social service case managers, crisis line volunteersSenior service providers, shelter workers, and housing programsVeteran service organizations, re-entry programs, and advocacy groups
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, more than 4.5 million people have been trained in Mental Health First Aid. Studies of Mental Health First Aid in the United States show that those trained have increased mental health literacy, increased confidence in helping an individual in distress and more.
“FSA is committed to providing accessible, holistic behavioral health services that strengthen children, families, and communities,” said Janeth Barba, CEO of FSA. “By equipping more people with the skills to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, we help connect individuals to professional support earlier when it’s needed. This training is one more way we’re building supportive, informed, and compassionate communities.”
Organizations, businesses and individuals interested in learning more or becoming trained in Mental Health First Aid should contact Ashley Kellenberger at AKellenberger@fsaelgin.org or (847) 695-3680 for more information.