Wear Green!

      Tuesday, May 3rd is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day and I'll be wearing green! Why? It's the color that proudly says "I support Children's Mental Health." This year, SAMHSA is focusing on trauma and resiliency in children's mental health, but creating awareness and spreading the message of diagnosis and treatment is equally important.
     Statistics show that a child you know (1 in 5 children) has an undiagnosed mental health disorder that will impede academic success and social growth. Most mental health issues can be treated or managed as effectively as diabetes or asthma -- however, the stigma of a mental health label prevents many parents from seeking treatment.

     That's what has to change and it's up to ALL of us. No more judgement. No more pity. No more avoidance of the issue or the person. Encouragement is what helps. Support is what produces change. And acceptance is the foundation of it all. Educate yourself about children's mental health disorders and awareness day by visiting www.samhsa.gov/children. And... WEAR GREEN!

In the Spirit of Love and Pagentry...

     A young woman by the name of Jenna Harner, age 20, combined two very strong forces in her life to create a unique gift for women in need. Those two strong forces were her love for pageantry and the love she has for Angel's Cove of The Illinois Baptist Children's Home and Family Services. Jenna has competed in area pageants over the last few years and is a definite success. She also has a sister whom she loves very dearly that was adopted by her parents through Angel's Cove. Combining the two meant creating a pageant called the Illinois Snow Angels Pageant which would donate all proceeds to Angel's Cove. If you are like me, you're probably thinking 'what an amazing young lady' -- and let me tell you, she is beyond amazing.

 

    The inaugural Illinois Snow Angel Pageant crowned two 2010 winners on December 5. Miss Illinois Snow Angel  is Tabitha Lirely and Miss Teen Illinois Snow Angel is Olivia Gordon. A total of 21 very gorgeous and sweet young ladies competed for these titles. AND... in addition, the pageant raised a total of $2,500.00 to be donated to Angel's Cove in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

     Meeting Jenna has been a true blessing for me. The way in which we met was by only God's design which I marvel at most often. Jenna and I had never met, but through Facebook, Jenna sent me a message asking that I please consider agreeing to serving as the pageant emcee. Of course, my thought immediately was yes because of my love for pageants, but as I read more of her message about the benefit of the pageant I actually couldn't type a message back to her fast enough to say YES! OF COURSE! The amazing part of the entire situation is that Illinois Baptist Children's Home is very near and dear to my own heart and my own life's work - and Angel's Cove is part of their ministry. For the two of us to connect and have the same forces in life driving us is something only the Lord could orchestrate.
     Congratulations Jenna on a pageant well done. Can't wait to do it again!

Welborn Baptist Foundation Dinner

The Welborn Baptist Foundation serves counties in Southwestern Indiana, Southeastern Illinois, and Western Kentucky and has awarded a total of seventy-four grants to area not-for-profit organizations, totaling approximately $3.24 million for programs within the Foundation's target areas of Promotion of Early Childhood Development, Promotion of Healthy Adolescent Development, Faith-Based Initiatives, Improvements in Commuity Health Status and School-Based Health Programs.

Being an award recipient of this foundation is an extremely high honor. Our children's grade school is an award winner this year and is participating in the HEROES (Healthy, Energetic, Ready, Outstanding, Enthusiastic, Schools) Coordinated School Health Initiative. Paul and I are proud to serve on the local committee for the grant and were fortunate in being selected to attend the awards ceremony held on November 9, 2010. I was also able to spend time with good friend and fellow therapist, Elizabeth Tharp, who is now a part of the Foundation serving as their Evaluator for funded programs. In the short time that NCO Grade School has had in participating already, some very great changes are in the works for a healthier school and community -- adults and children alike.

Celebrate Freedom

In April 2010, I was fortunate to be asked to particapte in a production called "Celebrate Freedom" written and directed by Mike Phelps. It takes a look over the years at the various events in America's history that show cause for celebration regarding the men and women who have fought for our rights as a nation. My role, along with two friends, Courtney Neal and Gretchen Sutton, was to portray The Andrews Sisters and to perform their famous song Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. We had an absolutely fabulous time being in character but also in appreciating the depth of emotion surrounding so many of the scenes portrayed in "Celebrate Freedom". With today being Veteran's Day, I felt it was a perfect opportunity to share this video that I neglected to post earlier in the year. Thank you to our Veteran's for our ability to celebrate everyday!

A Child's Mental Health Starts In the Womb

How to Have a Happier, Healthier, Smarter Baby
Upon reading this article (click on link above) posted on Yahoo from US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, a particular section caught my attention.

About 20 percent of pregnant women experience mood or anxiety disturbances, and at least 10 percent develop full-blown depression, according to your book. How does this affect the fetus?

Pregnant women who are depressed are more likely to deliver early and have babies with a low birth weight. The mother's emotional state can also influence the fetus's developing brain and nervous system, and potentially shape the way the baby will experience and manage its own emotions. Plus, babies born to depressed mothers are more likely to be irritable and have trouble sleeping. Pregnant women should be screened for depression, just as we screen for gestational diabetes.

When I talk to different groups about mental health, I try to stress that mental illness is just as diagnosable and treatable as physical illnesses like asthma or diabetes. What a concept... to think that we could truly avoid future mental health issues for our children just by recognizing a mother's own pre-natal depression. Gestational diabetes screening is a standard screening during pregnancy. What needs to be done to make depression screenings standard? I'll do some checking into that very idea.

Carmi Kiwanis learns about Children's Mental Health

http://www.carmitimes.com/news/education/x272786933/Project-Success-targets-childrens-mental-health