Yulanda Prude, assistant director of the Cuyahoga County Youth Work Institute (CCYWI) at the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, was named Instructor of the Year at the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Impact Awards. In a ceremony held at the Mental Health First Aid Summit in Los Angeles in April, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing recognized Prude and others for their outstanding contributions to advancing MHFA’s reach across the country. The MHFA Impact Awards acknowledge individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment in promoting MHFA’s mission to support individuals of all ages and backgrounds who may be facing mental health and substance use difficulties through education and peer support.
Over the past eight years, Prude has been involved with MHFA and has conducted 141 training sessions, certifying more than 2,300 first aiders. With over two decades of experience in the human services sector, she has offered mental well-being advocacy, services and support to families and children, while establishing extensive community partnerships.
“Mental health challenges are real, and people really need non-judgmental help,” Prude said. “So, I am so honored to have received this recognition as someone who is doing her part to be that help, teaching people how to have the conversation with no judgment, just help.”
For more than 15 years, the CCYWI at Case Western Reserve University has facilitated professional development for individuals who work as part of out-of-school time programs. The CCYWI was established in 2008 as a professional development network that offered training and technical assistance for youth professionals and programs. Previously, the institute was housed under Weatherhead School of Management and now operates synergistically with the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, providing education, coaching and leadership development. The institute welcomes individuals and organizations that support youth, mainly during out-of-school time. This includes targeted efforts to enhance the implementation of best practices for high-quality programs where all youth can flourish.
The MHFA Impact Awards—which include the Organization of the Year, Partnership of the Year, Momentum Award, Instructor of the Year, and Coordinator of the Year—commend individuals and organizations that have had a significant influence on their communities by changing the conversation surrounding mental health.