Dear System of Care Communities,

The date for the celebration of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) will now be May 8, 2006.

As you know, one of the reasons why last year’s Summit Day pilot initiative was so successful is because it complemented the activities already underway by family and mental health organizations in local communities. From its inception, we envisioned this day as taking place in May Is Mental Health Month, first celebrated by the National Mental Health Association 50 years ago as a way to further elevate awareness of children’s mental health.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Awareness Day is a direct outgrowth of the hard work undertaken by system of care communities across the country during last year’s pilot initiative, as well as Oklahoma System of Care Initiative’s “Oklahoma Children’s Behavioral Health Summit” held in October 2003. One of the best ways to ensure continued success is to have Awareness Day activities play a complementary role to those happening during Children’s Mental Health Week. Established by the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Children’s Mental Health Week gives SAMHSA-funded communities and grantees the opportunity to partner with the numerous family and mental health organizations who are holding events during this time.

For this reason, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day has been moved from the first week in May to the first “full” week in May and the national activities will take place on May 8, 2006. By moving the date, Awareness Day will better complement the activities being undertaken within communities, as well as build on long-standing May Is Mental Health Month and Children’s Mental Health Week traditions of mental health and family organizations.

In particular, we see substantial opportunities will exist for systems of care communities to partner with their local statewide family network (SFN) organizations. These organizations have been collaborating with the Federation of Families on Children’s Mental Health Week events for the past 10 years, and they will be an invaluable resource for Awareness Day.

Please join us on a conference call to launch National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2006 on Thursday, March 2nd at 3:30 to 4:30 PM (EST). You can join the call by dialing 1-800/985-7366 and entering the pass code: 4009 “#”. We look forward to sharing the latest Awareness Day news and hearing your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Gary Blau
Chief
Child, Adolescent and Family Branch
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration