Youth Mental Health First Aid

A basic training course designed for parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring adults who regularly interact with young people.

General Description:

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course designed to give participant’s key skills to aid someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind Mental Health First Aid demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis situation and builds mental health literacy — helping to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. Specifically, studies found that those who were trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will:

• Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
• Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including: depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavioral disorders, and substance use disorders.
• Use a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
• Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
• Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.
• Assess their own views and feelings about mental health problems and disorders.

Please see below for upcoming training dates and registration links. 

Scheduled Dates in 2023:

Training is 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; registration fee is $70. Click on the date below to register. 

For more information, contact:

Kendra Turcotte
Trainer/Record Manager, SATRI
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Training for Schools

The SATRI team has been providing quality training to local agencies and school districts for over 20 years. Our trainers are subject matter experts with extensive experience working with children and families. Training curricula is customized to the specific strengths and challenges that exist in each agency, organization, district, or school. SATRI subject matter experts are constantly developing curricula to meet the changing needs of our clients.

SATRI Continuing Education for Schools

CTLE Opportunities

Parsons Child and Family Center, a member agency of Northern Rivers Family Services, is recognized by the New York State Education Department as an approved sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education for classroom teachers, school leaders, and teaching assistants. #23580.

CLICK HERE for a schedule of approved courses that are available for CTLE Credit Hours. 

If you would like to schedule additional trainings at your district please contact Lauren Ford at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Additional topics may include, but are not limited to, Trauma Informed Care, Meeting Facilitation, Understanding Residential Care for School Personnel, Bullying, and Human Trafficking.  Trainings may be customized to meet individual needs.  

Therapeutic Response

A behavioral de-escalation and early intervention program customized specifically to the needs of school districts. This two-day training, uses evidence based practices and the extensive experience of our master trainers, to assist the broad array of personnel dedicated to teaching children and youth. Full training includes training in Handle with Care physical restraint techniques.  

Therapeutic Response Full Dates (8:30a.m.–3:30p.m. Day 1, 8:30a.m. - 12:30p.m. Day 2)

August 28 and 29, 2024

December 2 and 3, 2024

Therapeutic Response Recertification (8:30a.m.-12:30p.m.) 

February 29, 2024

October 15, 2024

For updated pricing or to register for Therapeutic Response email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

School Clients include:

Berne Knox Westerlo
Chatham
Cooperstown
East Greenbush
Greenville
Guilderland
Hudson
New Lebanon
Windham Ashland Jewett
Wynantskill

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Make a Donation

If your employer has a matching gift program, please match using Northern Rivers Family of Services and enclose the appropriate form. GE employees may call 800.305.0669 to have a contribution of $25 or more matched. You will need to provide your SSO User ID and Northern Rivers’ tax ID# 46-0759782.

Proceeds to benefit Northern Rivers Family of Services. A copy of Northern Rivers’ latest financial report may be obtained, or requested, by contacting Northern Rivers Family of Services, 60 Academy Road, Albany, NY 12208, or the from the NYS Attorney General’s Charity Bureau, 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10271.

Find a service

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely facing a problem ― or multiple problems.

Maybe your child is struggling at school. Having behavioral issues. Or dealing with depression, anxiety or substance abuse.

Maybe you’re at risk of giving up your child to foster care or a residential program.

Maybe your family is in crisis that can be caused by a multitude of issues, from financial difficulties and health problems to abuse and the desertion of a parent.

You’re angry, scared, confused and don’t know where to turn for help. You feel alone. And you may have lost all hope.

Well, there is hope. And help. You’re not alone. And there are answers. Many answers.  

At Northern Rivers, we have a program for just about every problem you may be experiencing. In fact, we provide more than 70 programs and services that can help your family respond to stressful situations with resilience and adaptability. And we understand what you’re going through. Because we’ve been helping children, individuals and families overcome adversity and thrive for well over a century.

From family preservation and crisis intervention to education, therapy and foster care, Northern Rivers provides so many services that it can be a little intimidating trying to figure out which ones are right for you.

Please call us at XXX-XXX-XXXX and we’ll be happy to guide you to the programs and services that best meet your needs. We look forward to helping you and your family find support, strength and solutions.

To learn more about all of our services, go to our services page.

Make a referral

Whether you are a physician, social or community service worker, educator or a mental health professional, you undoubtedly often encounter children, adults and families whose problems or issues need additional help.

At Northern Rivers, we believe that working closely with providers throughout our communities is the key to delivering the best possible help and care to people in need. And we welcome you to refer your patients, clients or students to us so we can make a lasting, positive difference in their lives.  

As a leading provider of client-centered, patient-focused, family-driven, trauma-informed services to people of all ages, Northern Rivers offers more than 70 programs and services to meet virtually any need of children and adults — from behavioral health, substance abuse treatment and family preservation to education, foster and residential care, respite and crisis intervention.

Every year, our 1,300-strong team of caring, committed people provides life changing care for more than 14,000 children, adults and families in 36 counties, working out of 28 office locations and right in the heart
of our communities.

Healing traumatized, hurting children.

Empowering individuals and families.

Brightening lives and building futures through educational enrichment.

And providing hope and recovery for those suffering from mental illness, substance and sexual abuse.

To refer a child, adult or family to Northern Rivers, please call us at 518.426.2600. We truly appreciate your care and concern.

To learn more about all of our services, go to our services page.