Tying it All Together: Public Policy + Mental Health = How does it Work?
(Restoring Hope to our Community)
Buffalo, NY - To kick off May is Mental Health Month, Family Voices Network of Erie County will participate in National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day along with 61 other communities on a national level at the Buffalo Convention Center as we hold our 1st ever Children’s Mental Health Awareness Conference & Luncheon with Youth & Community Awards. All details are listed on our website:
www.familyvoicesnetwork.org
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that in 2006, 21 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 received treatment or counseling for emotional or behavioral problems in the previous year. It is likely that a similar percentage in Erie County also have serious mental health needs. Through innovative approaches, Family Voices Network of Erie County helps meet the mental health needs of over 1,300 children, youth, and families. National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is an opportunity for the community to better understand the value of its investment in innovative approaches to meeting the mental health needs of children, youth, and families.
Underscoring how communities can help children, youth, and families thrive, Family Voices Network provides individualized services that are family driven, youth guided, community based and culturally competent. When we encourage families to use resources, supports and services that are tailored made for each family we can facilitate more successful outcomes for families. It takes an entire community today to help raise our children and youth. Our goal is to keep families together and child and youth at home, in school and living in their own community where they belong.
Kristin Riley, Deputy Commissioner, NYS OMH Child & Family Services will attend this event along with other State Level officials and share with us the new policy created by all 62 counties in New York State and published October 2008 (The Children’s Plan).
Dr. Philip Leaf, Director, Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will present a workshop on “The Teen Perspective: How Gangs, Poverty, Violence and Parenthood Impact our Teens.” Lenora Reid-Rose, Director of Cultural & Linguistic Competency will hold a youth leadership workshop “Prevention, Access, Self-Empowerment & Support: Helping Youth and Families Succeed.” This is a youth leadership workshop designed for youth and co-presented with Neville B. Morris, Program Director and youth who have graduated from the program and currently serve as youth mentors. We have 8-workshops with local and state-level presenters.
LeDerick Horne, National Motivational Speaker and Advocate for Youth with Learning Disability & ADHD will serve as our Keynote Speaker at the “Celebrating the Success of our Families” luncheon. This young man was diagnosed with sever learning disability with no chance of success. Listen to his struggles and see where he’s at today.
WNY Maritime Charter School will perform the School Color Guard Ceremony to open the Conference in the morning; and there Drill Team will perform in the afternoon to kick-off the “Celebrating the Success of our Families Luncheon.
In Erie County, our theme this year is “Tying It All Together: Public Policy + Mental Health = How does it Work? We have a series of activities occurring such as our 2nd Annual Youth Recognition Awards – 80 youth were nominated and will be recognized at the afternoon luncheon. Our Most Valuable Voices Awards – community awards where we recognize those in our community; individuals and agencies that are working to help improve the lives of our children, youth and families experiencing serious emotional and behavioral challenges. The Irish Classical Theatre has opened its doors and will host a session designed specifically for youth. At least 200 youth will be in attendance to listen to the unique message LeDerick Horne (our Keynote Speaker) has just for youth based on his own experience. Words of encouragement, support and restoring hope.
All this happens on Friday, May 8, 2009 at the Buffalo Convention Center in downtown Buffalo where we’ll host our 1st ever Children’s Mental Health Awareness Conference & Luncheon ceremony -- starting at 7:30 am with a Continental Breakfast to lunch in the afternoon. The day will be filled with education and learning in the morning and rejoicing in the afternoon.
Family Voices Network of Erie County is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA. Since the initiative’s establishment in 2004, the Wraparound Process has helped transform the way in which treatment and care are provided to children with mental health needs and their families. The work of Family Voices Network is part of a national effort by SAMHSA to fulfill the action steps set forth in the Federal Action Agenda.
Date: Friday, May 8, 2009
Time: 7:30 am
Location: Buffalo Convention Center
