Erie County support "National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day" by
Celebrating the Success of our Families at a luncheon held at the Buffalo Convention Center on May 9, 2008 from 11am-1pm.
At this luncheon we will for the first time in Erie County recognize youth in our schools who are making changing in their lives to become more positive and productive young people in our society. Nominate Youth in grades 7-12 for the 1st ever Youth Recognition award.
As a society, we continue to read and hear in the media about a youth with mental health, in special Ed, violent, those with bad attitudes, tempers, not attending schools, and poor performance. When some of our youth make a turnaround it seems to be very private and no one really reports on the positive changes those youth have made in their lives. Privately, we applaud their efforts.
Now, for the first time Family Voices Network of Erie County has created a section within our programming to support those youth who have made significant changes in their live. We encourage you to nominate these youth and let's show them as a community we're proud of the positive changes they have made and encourage our youth to continue on their path.
Encouragement very early in the progress of a youth's life is so important. So, send in your nominations and show your support for our youth who are in the Erie County area.
Parents and schools this is your opportunity to recognize the youth living in your homes, attending your schools to receive credit for their efforts as soon. Youth who are attending churches should be recognized as well. Some churches work with parents through counseling, training programs, provide support and outreach ... you can identify a youth making progress as well. Any one in our community who want to encourage youth have an opportunity to do just that this year.
Our youth is our future and we're not helping them to make changes in their lives now, what kind of adults will we have to contend with later. It's up to us to make a change. I know many might not agree with Michael Jackson but he has this one song that is on the money ... some lyrics to that song - The Man in the Mirror.
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Lyrics:
I'm Gonna Make A Change
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right...
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
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It's time that we in our society with the power to make changes put that power to work to help our children, youth and families who are struggling with their everyday lives to make changes and to create a better world for our next generation.
It's your turn, what will you do. It's in the little things in life where we hold the key to give someone hope and let them know we believe in their. Support
"Celebrating the Success of our Families" and
take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, and say "I can encourage and support a youth today through my nomination"!
Visit our website for details on
the MVV Nominations form and identify a Youth.
http://www.familyvoicesnetwork.org/en/mvv_awards.php
or send an email to:
marketing@familyvoicesnetwork.org to nominate a youth.
Be sure to include the students name, school and grade in your nomination. A brief paragraph will suffice with the nomination. No additional details will be announced on Awareness day. We need to know the students name, school and grade to produce recognition award.
Awareness Day Goal is to:
"Raise Awareness! Promote Mental Wellness"
www.familyvoicesnetwork.org - look under Events for more detail for the day's activities.