You are invited! We are less than 1 month away at the beautiful Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, and if you haven't registered, you're in luck, there is still time to get in at the Early Bird Rate! http://www.meoaonline.org/events/32nd-annual-conference/ we also have a Pre Con...see below for details! Rooms are going fast! You don't want to miss out on our fabulous keynote speaker, Maria Milagros! See you all on the Cape! Ramon Gonzalez & Sharmese Gunn MEOA Conference Co-Chairs [cid:12c9d940-f1e3-45f8-bd27-bf19b969c360] [cid:070edcd7-14e9-422f-8aa2-5f83f31c020a] The Pre Con is Happening Wednesday, October 4th , below is the description of the event. If you have already registered and would like to attend the Pre Con please go in and register. If you haven't registered yet for the conference, there is still time!!! http://www.meoaonline.org/events/32nd-annual-conference/ EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS Sept. 15!!! Register for MEOA 2023 preconference Space is limited to the first 25 registrants ​***You must complete both pre-conference modules and the in-person conference module to receive a certificate of completion. Description: Youth Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a youth who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services. Mental Health First Aid was created in Australia in 2000 by Betty Kitchener, an educator and mental health consumer, and Professor Tony Jorm, a mental health researcher. In 2008, the National Council, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought Mental Health First Aid to the United States. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: * Describe the purpose of Youth Mental Health First Aid and the role of the Youth Mental Health First Aider. * Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth. * Explain the impact of traumatic experiences and the role of resilience on adolescent development. * Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to non-crisis situations. * Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to crisis situations. * Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Youth Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation. There will be a virtual pre-conference session before the in-person preconference session. The in-person session will take place on October 4, 2023 from 2:00 - 7:00 PM at the Seacrest Beach Hotel. Jammie Glenn, Project Director - Mental Health Awareness Training from Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc will be our Trainer for this Pre Con. The pre-conference costs $100 participants who are not attending the MEOA conference. The preconference is free for MEOA conference attendees. [cid:1f415ec8-10ab-4e96-ad0f-2f797b122fcd] Sharmese Sharmese Gunn Senior Resource Specialist, Gateway to College Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Mount Wachusett Community College Division of Access and Transition, Suite 316 444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440 https://mwcc.edu/academics/k-12/programs/gateway/ P:(978) 630-9493 | F: (978) 630-9400 E: s_gunn@mwcc.mass.edu<mailto:s_gunn@mwcc.mass.edu> "To the world, you may be somebody. But to somebody, you may be the world."