KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With grant support from the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), the University of California Cooperative Extension has completed a statewide project to strengthen youth mental health preparedness by expanding access to Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training for professionals who work with young people.
Through the project, more than 100 adults—including Extension professionals, educators, and youth-serving organization staff—completed Youth Mental Health First Aid certification, gaining skills to recognize and respond to mental health challenges among adolescents. Participants demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge from pre- to post-training, particularly in applying the nationally recognized ALGEE action plan, a five-step approach used in Youth Mental Health First Aid to assess risk, listen, and connect youth to appropriate support.
“The EDEN grant has opened up new doors for the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program (UC 4-H) to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of youth. I am so grateful for the outstanding EDEN team for their continued support,” said Matthew Rodriguez, project lead and 4-H Youth Development Advisor serving Placer, Nevada, Sutter, and Yuba Counties in northern California.
In addition to participant training, the project certified two UC 4-H academics as Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors, expanding long-term capacity within the UC system to deliver future training independently. One of the newly certified instructors is also a California EDEN delegate, further strengthening ties between Extension disaster preparedness and youth development efforts.
Project results and lessons learned were shared with the EDEN network through presentations at the EDEN Annual Conference and will be further disseminated through Extension communication channels, blog posts, and future peer-reviewed publications.
The project also included a qualitative study examining how partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations can be strengthened to broaden the reach of mental health preparedness efforts. Findings showed increased engagement with school districts and new organizational partners, particularly in agricultural and rural communities, helping extend EDEN’s visibility and impact at the local level.
“Youth mental health is a critical yet often overlooked component of disaster preparedness,” said Fred Schlutt, EDEN Project Manager. “This project expanded practical, evidence-based training into rural and agricultural communities, helping ensure young people have informed support when they need it most.”
This initiative highlights the critical role Extension plays in addressing youth mental health as part of comprehensive disaster preparedness and community resilience strategies. To learn more about the EDEN Development Grants Program visit the EDEN website here.
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About EDEN
EDEN is a collaborative network of Cooperative Extension educators across the United States and territories who work to improve the delivery of education and information and the availability of resources related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Historically, this grassroots network has been aligned with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and supported by USDA NIFA through the Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative (FADI) grant.
The Extension Foundation, in partnership with the Cooperative Extension System, supports the administration of the FADI-EDEN project. Learn more about EDEN here.
About California 4-H
California 4-H is the youth development program of the University of California (UC) and delivered through the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in every county in California. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs. Learn more at 4h.ucanr.edu.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.
Media Contact:
Ruth Inman
EDEN Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
405-612-7639
