On June 13, Sertoma Star Services hosted our first group of community-based trainees in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) with an IDD focus.
MHFA with an IDD focus reviews mental health challenges and how they relate to individuals who are dually diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis and intellectual disability.
During Mental Health First Aid training, participants learn common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, how to interact with a person in crisis, and how to connect a person with help. Encountering someone in an emotional or mental crisis is more common than someone having a heart attack.
Opportunities like this are made possible through The Arc’s Navigating Co-Occurring I/DD and Mental Health Needs grant.
We will be hosting additional trainings throughout the year. If you are interested in MHFA with the IDD focus, contact Kara Pierce at kpierce@sertomastar.org.
Join us on November 14, 2025 for a hybrid training. The training will consist of 4 hours of in-person work and 4 hours of online work. The in-person portion will be held at 4331 Lincoln Hwy, Matteson, from from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Register today!
Additional Community Education Trainings:
Sertoma Star also hosts other Mental Health Awareness trainings. Examples of available training include Mental Health First Aid (Adult and Youth), QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Hearing Voices, and Mental Health Basics Overview. View Flyer »
For more information on training, contact:
Gia Washington, Director of Community Education at gwashington@sertomastar.org