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Mental Health First Aid Summit Breakouts C

MHFA16 - Mental Health First Aid Utilized and Marketed as a Key Disaster Recovery Public Education Program in Rural Western Iowa

Sunday, April 26, 2026
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM MDT
Location: Bluebird 2E
NASW CCB NBCC
In 2024, Iowa faced tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding causing $500 million in damage. Over 5,000 households received FEMA aid. Iowa HHS partnered with agencies, including ISU Extension and Outreach (ISUEO), securing $516,000 for crisis counseling and public education from October 2024 to August 2025. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) was the primary program, offered virtually and in-person across 21 counties. Thirty-one classes trained 479 individuals. Social media and paid ads drove success, generating 468,000 impressions, 10,370 webpage visits, and 36,000 views. These efforts filled rural MHFA classes previously hard to schedule. Outcomes and marketing strategies will be shared.

Learning Objectives:

  • 1. Participants will have the ability to demonstrate and replicate a comprehensive disaster recovery program, including Mental Health First Aid, which meets FEMA requirements.
  • 2. Participants will have the ability to implement Mental Health First Aid as a key disaster recovery response.
  • 3. Participants will have the ability to explore how social media marketing and paid advertisements are effective at recruiting participants for rural Mental health First Aid classes.
Disclosure(s):
David N. Brown, MS, PhD, LMFT, CFLE: No financial relationships to disclose
Danielle M. Day, M.A.: No financial relationships to disclose
Tammy R. Jacobs, B.S.: No financial relationships to disclose
Justin A. Verga, Firefighter/paramedic: No financial relationships to disclose

    Presenter - MHFA Summit(s)

  • David N. Brown, MS, PhD, LMFT, CFLE

    Behavioral Health State Specialist
    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
    Ames, Iowa

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    Slides

  • Danielle M. Day, M.A.

    Health and Human Sciences Educator
    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
    Monticello, Iowa

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

  • Tammy R. Jacobs, B.S.

    Health and Human Sciences Educator Manager
    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
    Ames, Iowa

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    • Moderator - MHFA Summit(s)

  • Justin A. Verga, Firefighter/paramedic

    Firefighter/Paramedic / National Trainer
    City of Long Beach Fire Department/National Council for Mental wellbeing
    Washington DC, District of Columbia

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose