KRS 210.053: Kentucky Mental Health First Aid Training Program.

(1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall establish and administer the

Kentucky Mental Health First Aid Training Program or a similar program to train

professionals and other members of the public to identify and assist individuals who

may have or m ay be developing a mental health disorder, a substance use disorder,

or who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The program

shall promote access to certified trainers who have obtained certification in mental

health first aid train ing by successfully completing an instructor training program

approved by the cabinet.

(2) The Kentucky Mental Health First Aid Training Program or a similar program shall

promote training that is appropriate in content and vocabulary for the language,

educational level, and literacy of the trainees and individuals to be served and that

accomplishes the following objectives:

(a) Build mental health and substance use literacy that is designed to help the

public identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental health

disorders, substance use disorders, and mental health or substance use crises;

and

(b) Enable the trainee to assist an individual who may have or may be developing

a mental health disorder, a substance use disorder, or who may be

experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The ability to assist an

individual includes knowledge of how to:

1. Recognize the symptoms of a mental health disorder, a substance use

disorder, and a mental health or substance use crisis;

2. Provide initial help;

3. Refer individuals requiring assistance toward appropriate professional

help including help for individuals who may be in crisis;

4. Prevent a mental health disorder, a substance use disorder, or a mental

health or substance use crisis from deterio rating into a more serious

condition that may lead to more costly interventions or treatments or

harm to an individual; and

5. Promote healing, recovery, and good mental health.

(3) Subject to appropriations provided by the General Assembly, available fund s in the

Kentucky mental health first aid training fund created in KRS 210.054, or other

available funding, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall award training

grants for mental health first aid training provided by certified trainers. The trai ning

grants may support training courses or provide hardship subsidies for training fees.

(4) The cabinet shall make awards equitably among geographical regions and meet the

training needs of rural areas, areas with underserved populations, and areas with

health care provider shortages. The recipients of awards may include but are not

limited to law enforcement, corrections, education, retail establishments, military,

older adults, and youth-focused agencies.

(5) The cabinet shall ensure that evaluation cri teria are established and utilized to

measure the distribution of the training grants and the fidelity of the training process

in achieving the main objectives of the program.

(6) The cabinet shall include information on training programs that are available on the

cabinet's Web site.

(7) The cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations to implement this section.