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SSWAA Participates in National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

Monday, May 10, 2010

SSWAA Participates in National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day -  SSWAA president Rochelle Leiber-Miller joined Myrna Mandlawitz, SSWAA Government Relations Director, in Washington for the 5th annual National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services. SSWAA has been a regular supporter of this celebration, which this year had 80 federal agencies and national organizations as sponsors and supporters. The "5th birthday" celebration focused on early childhood and the importance of social and emotional development of young children. The American Art, Music, and Dance Therapy Associations -- partners of SSWAA through the National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO) -- brought in some of their members to demonstrate with an adorable group of 3, 4, and 5 year olds how to use the arts with young children as a means of expressing their emotions, building their self-confidence and self-awareness, and learning to relate to others. The day was capped off with two panels of nationally known early childhood experts and a special recognition award to Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. Our own Myrna Mandlawitz was acknowledged as an "Ambassador," a special support category she shared with Joanne Cashman, Director of the IDEA Partnership, for her work in helping to increase participation over the last four years in this annual recognition of the importance of children's mental health.

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