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Congressional Briefing for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

April 24, 2009

On Thursday, May 7th, a legislative briefing will be held in honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.  The briefing will focus on Investing in the Educational Future of Youth with Mental Health Needs and the value of effective school-based mental health programs.

This year we are extremely fortunate to have Goldie Hawn, Academy-Award Winning Actress and Children’s Mental Health Advocate, at the briefing and talking about the importance of schools better addressing the needs of students with mental health needs.  Kathryn Power, Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), will also share newly released data on positive outcomes achieved with school and community-based grant programs administered through CMHS.  Howard Muscott, Ed.D., Director of the New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports, will also present on the positive outcomes they have achieved in NH with Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) and their work in linking schools with the community mental health system.

Act Now!

We urge you to contact your House and Senate representatives to ask them and their staff to attend this important breakfast briefing in honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.  They will be receiving a U.S. House of Representatives “Dear Colleague” letter about the briefing in the next week.  Your calls, emails, and contacts with Congressional offices will greatly impact turnout for the breakfast briefing.  Here is the vital information:

• Date and Time:  Thursday, May 7th at 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
• Location:  Room 2168, Rayburn House Office Building

Your phone and/or email message can be short and sweet: “Please attend a legislative briefing on May 7th at 8:30 a.m. in Room 2168 of the Rayburn House Office Building in honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.  This briefing is especially important for education and health staff in your office.  You will hear from Academy-Award Winning Actress and Children’s Mental Health Advocate Goldie Hawn about the importance of effective school-based mental health programs.  You will also learn about recently released data from the Center for Mental Health Services showing positive outcomes with effective school and community-based mental health services and supports.  These issues are extremely important to your constituents as we work to improve the academic and functional achievement of children and youth with mental health needs.”

Please call or email your Congressional Representatives today using NAMI's Legislative Action Center.  All House and Senate offices can also be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Thanks for all that you do on behalf of children and families.

Learn More

To learn more about NAMI’s work on child and adolescent mental health issues, visit NAMI’s Child and Adolescent Action Center Web site.

 

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