Communication Strategies and Media Recommendations

In December 2004, the ECAN Steering Committee developed communication strategies and media recommendations. Please view the attachments.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

May 3, 2011

Awareness Day 2011: A Big Strategy for Small Voices

As resilient as children may be, they can - even at an early age - experience trauma that can have long-term effects on their behavioral health. Research shows that when exposed to traumatic event, even children as young as 18 months can develop serious psychological problems later in childhood and in adulthood. As they grow, these children take with them the effects of traumatic events, and are more likely to experience problems with substance abuse, depression, and stress management as a result.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day began in 2005 as a grassroots initiative designed to demonstrate that children with mental health needs can thrive in their communities. Over the past six years, Awareness Day's grassroots activities have continued to flourish; in 2010, nearly 11,000 children participated in Awareness Day events nationwide and the number of national organizations collaborating on this public awareness effort has risen from four in 2005 to 88 in 2011.

A national Awareness Day event complements the widespread work going on locally and is now part of SAMHSA's overall strategy to raise awareness that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth. In 2011, the national theme is Building Resilience for Young Children Dealing with Trauma, which will be featured as part of an event in Washington, DC, on Awareness Day, Tuesday, May 3. The event will include an art exhibit managed by the American Art Therapy Association and a program paying tribute to youth who have demonstrated resilience despite experiencing trauma at a young age.

Communities around the country also will be holding Awareness Day events. SAMHSA also will release its annual short report on data demonstrating the effectiveness of Systems of Care National Child Traumatic Stress Network grantees in treating children with trauma.

To learn more, visit www.samhsa.gov/children or email AwarenessDAy2011@vancomm.com  

Children's Days at the Roundhouse

January 24-26, 2011

Dan Ritchie, Early Childhood Educator with the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children, reported on the events of the Children's Days at the Roundhouse, January 24-26, 2011 in the attached documents.

Baby Sign Language

A new site, Baby Sign Language, has been launched which will be a tremendous resource for sharing knowledge on the topic. The site is a collection of free resources created to help parents teach baby sign language.

The site www.BabySignLanguage.com has:

• Series of free tutorials
• Video dictionary
• Flash Cards that parents can print
• Wall Chart

2nd Annual Spirit of Hope Celebration

New Mexico Voices for Children will be honoring individuals who have committed themselves to bringing about positive change in their communities. You are invited to nominate someone.

Awards include:

• the Alice King Public Service Award
• the Patty Jennings Citizen Advocacy Award
• the Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Awards (two award categories: ages 13-18 and 19-26)

For more information go to www.nmvoices.org or call 505-244-9505.

The deadline for nominations is August 16, 2010 for the Alice King and Patty Jennings Awards.

 

Governor Richardson Proclaims May Mental Health Month

May 6 is Dedicated to Children's Mental Health Awareness

Governor Bill Richardson has proclaimed May, 2010 as Mental Health Month and has dedicated May 6, 2010 as Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in New Mexico.

Attached are Governor Richardson's proclamations. For more information about Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, go to the Events page. 

New Mexico Early Childhood Coordinator

Annjenette Torres, the New Mexico Early Childhood Coordinator (ECC), has been meeting stakeholders from across the state and working to align early childhood services in New Mexico. The ECC publishes a monthly New Mexico Early Childhood Newsletter that is a resource for sharing successes, facilitating dialogue around early childhood issues, and announcing upcoming opportunities for training and growing the early childhood network.

H1N1

Fior the latest news and resources related to H1N1 go to http://nmhealth.org/H1N1/index.shtml

 New Mexico Healthier Weight Council

Physical Activity and Nutrition Resource Kit for NM Schools and Communities

The New Mexico Healthier Weight Council (HWC) Education Systems Advisory Group is pleased to announce the release of a new tool, "Physical Activity and Nutrition Resource Kit for New Mexico Schools and Communities." This resource kit was developed by a collaborative group of public and private partners working together to improve the health and quality of life for New Mexicans.

The Resource Kit:

• Provides a list of the nutrition education and physical education activity programs and curricula (elementary and secondary audiences) that are known to or used by HWC members.
• Provides an evaluation tool that can be used to help determine if a program is appropriate for particular needs.
• Provides definitions of Evidence-Based Practice, Best Practice, and Promising Approach to help users understand terms when clairms are made

The resource kit is not all-inclusive. There are many other worthwwhile programs that might fit particular needs. It is not an endorsement of any one program but rather a resource to help schools and communities select a program. 

To learn more about the Healthier Weight Council visit www.healthierweight.org

See the attachments below for reports and pictures from Dan Ritchey.

For more information regarding the New Mexico Children's Cabinet, go to  http://www.nmchildrenscabinet.com/

Fifth Annual Family Leadership Conference will be held in Albuquerque at the Embassy Suites on April 3 and April 4, 2009.

This year's conference will offer strands on:

• Early Childhood
• Health
• General Education
• Special Education
• Post Secondary Education (Spanish Only)

The conference offers opportunities to:

• Learn more about family involvement, NCLP & IDEA
• Gain insight and tools to navigate the medical system
• Network with other families around the state
• Make family voices count! 

For further information: 

For more information or room accommodations please call:

1-505-247-0192

 

 

 

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and Training would like to announce two upcoming Summits on Early Childhood Mental Health Standards of Care.  The first one will be in Moriarty on October 6th, 2008.  It will be held at the Moriarty Civic Center.  The second will be in Window Rock on November 13th, 2008.  This one will be in conjunction with the Navajo Nation Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services Parenting Conference.  A third, in Las Vegas, will be scheduled soon.

Thank you for your advocacy!!!

The New Mexico Legislature ended a special session this afternoon after passing several bills that will help people living in poverty in our state!  These bills were part of the package of legislation that Gov. Richardson asked the legislature to consider during the special session.  These bills, listed below, addressed several issues that are included in the ECAN Early Childhood Agenda.

• HB 7 (Rep. Rhonda King) allows the use of $7.2 million from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant fund to be used to restore child care assistance eligiblity to 200% of the federal poverty level and to avoid a waiting list for child care assistance.  We have been working toward this goal since August of 2001.
• HB 4 (Rep. Ed Sandoval) increases the Working Families Tax Credit from 8% to 10% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  This increased appropriation of $7.8 million for the state tax credit builds on the very successful federal EITC
• SB 21 (Sen. Richard Martinez) provides an additional $1.9 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income people with their heating bills.
• SB 22 (Sen. Mary Jane Garcia) provides $20 million to enroll more currently eligible children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program;  $10 million to enroll more individuals with developmental disabilities in the medicaid waiver program; and $2.5 million for direct behavioral health services for children.

Please call or write Gov Richardson (505.476.2200 or email) and the following legislators to thank them for their leadership in passing these important bills that will help people living in poverty in New Mexico.   

 

Senate President Pro Tem:  Sen. Tim Jennings

P.O. Box 1797, Roswell  88202

Home:  (575) 623-9378

 

Senate Majority Leader:  Sen. Michael Sanchez

3 Bunton Road, Belen  87002

Home: (505) 865-5583

E-Mail: senatormssanchez@aol.com

 

Senate Minority Leader:  Sen. Stuart Ingle

2106 West University Drive, Portales  88130

Home: (575) 356-3088

E-Mail: stuart.ingle@nmlegis.gov

 

Speaker Ben Lujan

05 Entrada Celedon Y Nestora, Santa Fe  87506

Home: (505) 455-3354

E-Mail: ben.lujan@nmlegis.gov

 

House Majority Leader:  Rep. Ken Martinez

P.O. Box 730, Grants  87020

Home: (505) 285-6421

E-Mail: mlo1@7cities.net

 

House Minority Leader: Rep. Thomas Taylor

5909 Rinconada, Farmington  87402

Home: (505) 325-9828

E-Mail: tom@tomtaylor.net

 

Sen. John Arthur Smith

P.O. Box 998, Deming  88031

Home: (575) 546-8546

E-Mail:  john.smith@nmlegis.gov

 

Rep. Henry “Kiki” Saavedra

2838 2^nd St. SW, Albuquerque  87102

Home: (505) 242-9582

 

Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela

1709 Callejon Zenaida, Santa Fe  87501

Home: (505) 982-1292

 

Rep. Rhonda S. King

P.O. Box 6, Stanley  87056

Home:  (505) 832-4603

 

Sen. Linda Lopez

9132 Suncrest NW, Albuquerque  87121

Home: (505) 831-4148

 

Rep. Ed Sandoval

5016 12 st. St. NW, Albuquerque  87107

Home: (505) 344-8449

E-mail: edward.sandoval@nmlegis.gov

 

Sen. Richard Martinez

P.O. Box 762, Espanola  87532

Home:  (505) 753-8027

E-mail:  richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov

 

Sen. Mary Jane Garcia

P.O. Box 22, Dona Ana   88032

maryjane.garcia@nmlegis.gov