Sheridan High School first in Indiana to offer ‘eCPR’

Sheridan High School has partnered with Allies of Indiana to offer the first Youth eCPR training in the state. Allies of Indiana is a Peer-Run community-based organization that provides recovery inspiration, hope, support, and education to individuals working toward mental and lifestyle wellness.

This is the first Youth eCPR program to be offered in Indiana through grant funds from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). Sheridan Schools staff recommended 16 students, grades freshman through junior, to become certified in the Youth eCPR program. A second round of youth will be trained beginning mid-April.

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is an evidence-based educational program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis based on the principles found to be shared by a number of support approaches: Trauma-informed care, counseling after disasters, peer support to avoid continuing emotional despair, emotional intelligence, suicide prevention, and cultural attunement. Click here for more information on eCPR.

Sheridan Community Schools Superintendent Mary Roberson said, “We know that mental health awareness is vitally important to the well-being of our students, staff, and community. We are honored to be ground floor of this exciting project and are grateful to Allies of Indiana and the staff and students of Sheridan High School for making it possible to promote mental health well-being through this innovative program.”

NaKaisha Tolbert-Banks, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Adult and Youth eCPR Trainer, along with a great team through Allies of Indiana, has excitedly worked with Carrie Bennett, Sheridan’s Project AWARE Mental Health Coordinator, and staff of Sheridan High School to bring Youth eCPR to life and train students of Sheridan to be the first of their peers to be able to utilize these skills to better support, listen to, and benefit others in an emotional crisis.

For more information on Youth eCPR, contact NaKaisha Tolbert-Banks at nakaisha@alliesindiana.org. For more information on Adult eCPR, contact Kimberly Ewing at kimberly@alliesindiana.org. To learn more about the Sheridan High School Youth eCPR Pilot Program, contact Carrie Bennett at cbennett@sheridan.k12.in.us.