Clermont FAST TRAC participated in the National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day initiative, My Feelings Are a Work of Art, throughout the month of May 2013. 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.
FAST TRAC provided art supplies and support to youth in community programs and schools to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to nurture the social and emotional well-being of children through art. The My Feelings Are a Work of Art activities through each program and school use art to help youth express their feelings. In May 2013, Clermont FAST TRAC had over 1,000 children and youth and over 250 adults across Clermont County participate in “My Feelings are a Work of Art” activities. Partner sites included: FAST TRAC Youth Advisory Group, Juvenile Court, Clermont Board of Developmental Disabilities, CEC South, Boys and Girls Clubs, Child Focus Wasserman Youth and Adolescent Center, Foster Care, Head Start and Bilingual Preschools and various school partners, including Boyd E. Smith, Holly Hill, Williamsburg, Amelia and Seipelt Elementary, New Richmond Middle and Live Oaks Vocational 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 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.
Click here to watch our 2013 video: http://youtu.be/eHd5_a3cY9M
For questions, please contact Tara Keith, FAST TRAC Social Marketing Coordinator at 752-1555.
