Join communities, organizations/agencies, and individuals nationwide in raising awareness that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development.
This year, the national event in Washington, DC, on the evening of May 3 will focus on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma. The event will open with an art exhibit at the Shakespeare Theatre and continue with a tribute to youth who dealt with trauma in their childhood.
Organizations also can participate in art events at the community level for Awareness Day. Information on holding a local event will be available through a link on www.samhsa.gov/children.
In conjunction with Awareness Day, SAMHSA encourages families with young children affected by trauma, youth affected by trauma, and professionals in child-serving professions nationwide to:
- Integrate mental health and model resilience skills in every environment that has an impact on child development from birth.
- Enhance resilience and nurture social and emotional skills in young children from birth.
- Provide information to the public and teach them to recognize the signs of traumatic stress.
- Raise awareness that treatment for trauma is critical to achieving the milestones of a child’s social and emotional development from birth.
- Promote trauma-informed services and supports in all child-serving settings.
Find out more at www.samhsa.gov/children or e-mail: [email protected].
Posted: 2011-03-11