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Join CWLA as We Support National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
Thriving in the Community
May 8, 2008
What Is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day?
May 8, 2008 will be the third annual National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Awareness Day is an opportunity for SAMHSA, SAMHSA-funded communities, and partner organizations, including CWLA, to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.
We know children and youth in out-of-home care experience a particularly high and troubling rate of mental health concerns:
- Children raised in vulnerable home environments where there are significant family problems are at risk for a host of negative psychosocial outcomes, including mental health problems. Children with mental health problems living in vulnerable home environments are less likely to have their mental health needs met, as the parents are less likely to have the resources or motivation to seek help for their children.
- Moderate to severe mental health and behavioral problems affect 50%-80% of children in foster care.
- Despite the disproportionate need, some estimate only about 25% of children in foster care are receiving mental health services at any given time.
- Children with medical, developmental, or mental health problems are more likely to experience multiple foster care placements and spend more time in foster care.
- Compared with the general population, youth and adults formerly in foster care experience higher rates of general mental health problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depression.
CWLA, therefore, appreciates the opportunity to partner with SAMHSA on Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. The theme for the 2008 Awareness Day is Thriving in the Community. This year, there is a special emphasis that high school youth who receive the services they need are more likely to have positive outcomes, such as better grades and higher rates of education, and less likely to have negative outcomes, such as involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
CWLA Resources
SAMHSA Resources
Other Resources
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