Dear Editor:
I am proud to announce that Children’s Friend and Family Services will be joining more than 1,100 communities across the country on May 7 to celebrate the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day to highlight the importance of positive mental health from birth. This year marks the tenth anniversary of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
For 178 years, Children’s Friend and Family Services has offered young children, youth, and young adults with mental health challenges in Essex County the services and supports they need to meet their goals at home, at school, and in the community.
Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to both educate and celebrate the positive impact that we can have on the lives of children, youth and young adults when we are able to integrate positive mental health into every environment. When we focus on building resilience and social-emotional skills in young children from birth, we can help young children, youth, and their families thrive.
I invite you to visit our website at www.childrensfriend.net to learn more about Children’s Friend and how we support over 3,000 children and their families from Essex County each year with programs focusing on Mental Health Counseling, Wraparound Services, In Home Therapy, Therapeutic Mentoring, Juvenile Court Services, Teen Parenting Program, and Volunteer Youth Mentoring. Children’s Friend is one of the oldest and largest community-based counseling organizations for children and families. Our offices are located in Salem, Lynn, Lawrence and Gloucester. Let’s stop for a moment and think about how we can make a positive impact by helping children and their families. It is never too early to address the issue mental health. Today is a good day to begin.
Thanks for making a difference,
Carla M. Saccone
President and CEO
Children’s Friend and Family Services