Children’s artwork created from My Feelings are a Work of Art projects will be displayed from September 21-24 at the Eastgate Mall from noon to 6pm. An art gallery reception will be held on Tuesday, September 22 from 2pm-3:30pm. This event is free and open to the public and children, youth and community are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served so RSVPs are requested to 732-5400. This is Clermont FAST TRAC’s sixth year participating in the National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day initiative, My Feelings Are a Work of Art, during May, which is also Mental Health Month. The initiative raises awareness of children’s mental health needs, demonstrates how children’s mental health initiatives promote positive youth development, recovery and resilience and shows how children with mental health needs thrive in the community. Click here for the event flyer.
Clermont FAST TRAC provided art supplies and support to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to nurture the social and emotional well being of children during special days of “art action” called “My Feelings are a Work of Art.” More than 800 children and youth and 200 adults involved with various agencies and schools across Clermont County participated in the national effort to use art to express feelings. Partner sites include: Juvenile Court, Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Clermont Recovery Center, CEC-South, Boys and Girls Club, Child Focus Head Start and Bilingual Preschools and various school partners, including Batavia, Williamsburg and Amelia elementary schools, special education classes and Amelia Middle School.
“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 a System of Care initiative of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, with the mission to provide a collaborative, sustainable mental health 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.
The My Feelings are a Work of Art Gallery is located next to Sears and Willis Music in The EastGate Mall.