Mark your calendar for 

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day at  The Capitol 

May 4, 2017  8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sue L. Smith, Ed.D.
Letter from Sue L. Smith, Ed.D., 
Chief Executive Officer

Happy Spring!

Thinking back to my youth, I'm always reminded of this saying as spring begins:

April showers bring May flowers.

But what happens when everything has already bloomed?

The Legislators have departed Atlanta for their homes after what seemed like one of the calmest session in a long time. It feels that we are all holding our collective breaths waiting to see what will happen in Washington. To quote one of my favorite singers, and now Noble Prize Winner for literature.
"The times they are a-changing" - Bob Dillon

As the season changes, There are several things I want to mention this month.

Please join us in welcoming Jewell Gooding as the new CEO of Mental Health America one of our partners in advocacy.

Art submissions for the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Art and Poetry Contest are due to Sheena Biggerstaff by April 15.

May 4th is Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capitol. Be sure to mark your calendars and come on down for breakfast. Registration will be at the door this year. There you will receive a t- shirt and goodies. We are planning a wonderful and exciting fun-filled morning. See you all there!



Children's Mental Health Awareness Day at The Capitol


May 4 , 2017  | Freight Depot  | 8:00 am - 12:30 pm

 
Join Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc. and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities as we bring the community together to raise awareness about children's mental health. This is a FREE EVENT.


The Georgia Freight Depot
65 Martin Luther King Junior Drive Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30303

8:00 AM Registration & breakfast at The Depot.
9:00 AM Children's Mental Health Awareness Day Rally & Raffle!
9:30 AM Walk to Liberty Plaza for presentation.
10:30 AM Return to The Depot for a panel discussion.
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Panel discussion - Voices for Georgia's Children.


To learn about additional events across Georgia that are happening during Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, please visit our website at gpsn.org
 Download Entry Form Here
Monthly  Meeting Date Changed! 


Youth M.O.V.E. Logo
DROP IN DURING OUR 
MONTHLY MEETING!


Wednesday, May 3, 2017
    12:00 PM - 2:00 pm

1381 Metropolitan Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30310




M.O.V.E forward with Youth M.O.V.E. Georgia during our monthly meetings the first Wednesday of every month.  Join youth and young adults from around Georgia as we enjoy lunch while sharing our accomplishments and collaborate on how to making positive changes in our communities.   
F or more details contact Kiara Sims or Cameron Cochran.
 

Youth Silhouette

 Updates & Opportunities from Youth M.O.V.E. National



Direct Connect National Learning Community for Young Leaders 
Thursday, April 12th, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ET


Calling all youth advocates! Are you leading youth engagement efforts in a System of Care / Healthy Transitions community or a Youth M.O.V.E. Chapter? Are you a youth or young adult who wants to develop professional skills while also connecting with peers who are using their lived experiences to make systems change? Join us for the fifth convening of the Direct Connect National Learning Community for Young Leaders - more details to come!

Register here: https://theinstitute.adobeconnect.com/e13ei9aytpb/event/event_info.html


piggybank_bills.jpg
Receive $50 for two hours of your time participating in a new foster care focus group
Deadline: Friday, April 21

Youth MOVE National is partnering with Rutgers University on a research project aimed at learning more about how states are monitoring the use of anti-psychotic medications for youth in the foster care system. An important aspect of this project involves learning about the experiences and preferences of young people who were prescribed anti psychotic medications during their time in foster care. In order to do this, the Rutgers team will be hosting several web-based focus groups with foster care alumni from across the country. Youth MOVE National is helping to find young adults with lived experience in the foster care system as well as with anti-psychotic medications who are interested in sharing their feedback. All information gathered will be used to support system leaders in making much-needed improvements in the foster care system.

Apply by contacting Kristin Thorp at  [email protected] or 
(202) 559-1528


All-Chapter National Children's Mental Health Awareness Call: Whole Health, Whole Self
Thursday, April 27, 6:30 pm - 7:30pm ET  

As part of our MOVE It Forward 2017 campaign, have your voice heard in our national community conversation process to help the Youth MOVE network build a policy briefing paper on youth and young adult mental wellness in the workplace. 

Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc.