National Association of Counties
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleagues.
To help the National Association of Counties (NACo) realize its vision of creating healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and NACo are partnering to offer
crucial MHFA trainings to county employees and the communities they serve. The National Council-NACo partnership will support elected officials and county staff, who are asking for help with their own mental health and wellbeing. And, by extension, create a framework for counties to destigmatize mental health and substance use issues as they provide community residents with more equitable access to quality mental health and substance use treatment services.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The group was very impressed with the trainers and felt the curriculum was extremely useful in helping the county workforce address and support the need of county employees who may be experiencing mental health and/or substance use needs. The training was comprehensive, skills-oriented and provided the essential tools and guidance to support our staff.”
— Michael Orth, Commissioner, Westchester County, NY, Department of Community Mental Health
Coe, E., Cordina, J., Enomoto, K., Seshan, N. (2021, July 23). Overcoming stigma: three strategies toward better mental health in the workplace. McKinsey Quarterly. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/overcoming-stigma-three-strategies-toward-better-mental-health-in-the-workplace
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). Mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
National Association of Counties. (n.d.) Behavioral health matters to counties. https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/documents/NACo%20Behavioral%20Health%20Priorities.pdf
<p>When determining local jail population drivers, counties may choose to look at neighboring counties’ data or others within their state and/or nationally as comparisons.
<p>Join NACo and the <a href="https://familiarfaces.naco.org/" target="_blank">Familiar Faces Initiative (FFI)</a> for a series of webinars highlightin
<p>Reducing length of stay during the pretrial period will decrease jail populations and allow people to return to the community more quickly to assist with their defense and continue working, attending school, caring for their familie
<p>Reducing the number of people in jail for technical violations can help decrease jail populations and improve outcomes and compliance with supervision conditions.
<p>Reducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can h
<p>Reducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.</p>
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<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
To learn more about mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, visit MentalHealthFirstAid.org or email MHFA_NACo@TheNationalCouncil.org.
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
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