Hillsboro teachers train to respond to emotional crisis
Staff writer
Hillsboro teachers now have training in recognizing signs of emotional crisis and know how to respond.
All teachers in the school district got training from Prairie View. The initiative is part of Hillsboro School District’s school redesign.
“It will allow our teachers to give immediate help if students are in a crisis situation,” superintendent Max Heinrichs said. “One of our goals in our redesign is social and emotional learning.”
Teachers learned risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to immediately help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
“It was pretty powerful training,” Heinrichs said.
Heinrichs said the district is considering offering the same training to classified staff members, such as secretaries and custodians.
After teachers took Youth Mental Health First Aid training, Prairie View was given a $2,500 grant from Hillsboro Community Foundation’s Hillsboro Impact Fund to cover training costs.
Heinrichs said the district arranged for the training and would have paid the cost out of district funds if the grant did not come through.
“Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Youth Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis,” said Eric Schrag, director of advancement for Prairie View.
Last modified March 4, 2020