As part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, NAMI-NYS is proud to partner with the Early Care & Learning Council and the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy to present Reaching All Children: Exploring Mental Health and Awareness, on Thursday, May 5th, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Albany Public Library, Main Branch, 161 Washington Ave. The event is free of charge, and refreshments will be served.

The event will include presentations on a wide range of children’s mental health issues designed to create enhanced awareness for children’s advocates, parents, policy makers and school administrators. Together we will explore mental health issues that affect children from infancy to adolescence. There will also be a focus on particular mental health issues facing children in foster care, the juvenile justice system and in military families.

Presenters and Topics:

Marsha Basloe, Executive Director, Early Care & Learning Council- Setting the Foundation with Early Care and Education.

Paul Klein, Program Director, NAMI-NYS, and Mary Beth Honsinger, NAMI Basics Facilitator for Albany-Awareness of Mental Illness in Children and Taking the Right Steps-An Introduction to NAMI Basics & Parents and Teachers as Allies.

Laura C. Payack, MA, Director, Community Outreach and Public Education Bureau, New York State Office of Mental Health-Talk, Listen, Connect: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Children of Military Families.

Jenn O’Connor, Senior Policy Associate, The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy and Paige Pierce, Executive Director, Families Together in New York State-Reaching Across Systems: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Cross System Kids.

Lorraine McMullin, Director of the Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities Initiative/Co-Director of Building Connections, Mental Health Association in New York State-Identifying Trauma in Children.

Janet Susin, President, NAMI Queens/Nassau, Breaking the Silence: Incorporating Mental Health Awareness in Schools.

John Richter, Director of Public Policy, Mental Health Association in New York State-Introducing Legislation to Incorporate Mental Health Awareness in School Curriculum.