Planning for Clermont FAST TRAC My Feelings are a Work of Art activities has begun. In May 2011, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will celebrate the fifth anniversary of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and May is Mental Health Month. Communities across the country will observe this day with their own events, youth demonstrations, and social networking campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to increase understanding about the mental health needs of children and their families.
“National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and Mental Health Month is really all about raising awareness that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth,” said Gretchen Behimer, Clermont FAST TRAC Project Director. FAST TRAC is supporting this initiative because our is to provide a collaborative, sustainable system of care that is family-driven and youth-guided, providing community-based and individualized supports and services that are responsive to the cultural characteristics of Clermont County’s multi-need children, youth and their families, strengthening them with hope and supporting them to lead successful lives.
Earlier this year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Clermont FAST TRAC celebrated the fifth anniversary of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and May is Mental Health Month. Communities across the country observed this day with their own events, youth demonstrations, and social networking campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to increase understanding about the mental health needs of children and their families.
Since National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is a time to promote positive youth development and the ongoing transformation of mental health service delivery for children, youth and their families, our local transformation project, FAST TRAC, provided art supplies and support to youth to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, and nurture the social and emotional well being of children. The events included the Awareness Day Art Action, “My Feelings Are a Work of Art,” in which local children and youth are part of a national effort with thousands of other children and youth across the country to use art to express their mental health. Clermont FAST TRAC had over 850 children and youth across Clermont County participating in “My Feelings are a Work of Art” activities in May.
