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National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 

Capitol Hill Briefing

May 7, 2009

NAMI jointly hosted the third annual Capitol Hill briefing in honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. The program emphasized the critical importance of effective school and community based mental health services for children, youth, and their families.

The briefing, titled Investing in the Educational Future of Youth with Mental Health Needs,was held on May 7th and focused on raising awareness about school and community-based programs that effectively promote positive youth development, increase resiliency and support recovery, and demonstrate how youth with mental health treatment needs can thrive in their school and communities.

Guest speakers included:

• Goldie Hawn, Academy-Award Winning Actress and Children's Mental Health Advocate;
• Kathryn Power, Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS); and 
• Howard Muscott, Ed.D., Director of the New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

The briefing was a tremendous success with many Congressional members and their staff in attendance and a packed briefing room.

After the briefing, Ms. Hawn joined NAMI and other advocates for a meet-and-greet with Congressional members who have been champions of mental health issues on the Hill.  She then participated in multiple meetings with Congressional leaders.  While on Capitol Hill, she spoke powerfully about the need to better identify children with mental illnesses early and the need to link them with effective services and supports.  She thoroughly enjoyed the experience and promised to come back to engage in further advocacy on behalf of children’s mental health.

Mark your calendars for next year’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 6^th, 2010. Stay tuned for more details!

View More Photos of the 2009 Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

For further information on this event please visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Systems of Care website.

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