April 2019 Newsletter
April 2019
Families
Empowering Families
In this issue: 
A message from the director
April is Autism Acceptance Month
2019 Children’s Mental Health Day Events
Leadership Opportunity Announcements
Planning for Spring Break
A Message From the Director
 
Dear friends, 
 
April is upon us and so is spring! I am truly enjoying the sunshine as the days are slowly getting longer and warmer. 
 
In April we are busy preparing for Mental Health Awareness month in May. Be sure to let us know what fun activities you are planning! Congratulations to NCSS & LMCH who were the first two awardees of the six mini grants available for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day activities. We have extended the deadline to Wednesday, April 17
th
. Please consider applying today! This is a great way to reduce stigma, network, partner, and have fun with the children and families in your region. Be creative and send us your ideas! 
Download the application here. 
The SAMSHA theme for Children’s Mental Health Week is
Suicide Prevention: Strategies That Work. Next month we will share lots of resources around Suicide Prevention on our Facebook and Instagram. 
 
Also, this month we learned how to be more respectful to the autism community by celebrating Autism Acceptance month instead of Autism Awareness month. As a parent of an adult son with Autism also a family member of a niece, nephew and step daughter on the Autism Spectrum the learning and growing never stops. I love that we are all on a learning journey and can learn from each other how to be more respectful, accepting, and value each other. As a family run organization, we are a “judgement free zone”, we meet each other where we are at, and continue to learn and grow each and every day. 
 
Happy April and celebrate Autism Acceptance Month with us!
 
~Cindy
Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month! April is often referred to as Autism Awareness Month but there’s been a movement to change it to Acceptance Month since 2011. Here are the reasons given for the change from the
Autism Acceptance website
.
  • Because autistic people are your friends, family members, children, partners, co-workers, fellow-citizens, customers, and neighbors.
  • Because autism is a natural part of the human experience.
  • Because autistic rights are human rights.
  • Because autistic people can speak for ourselves, and we want you to listen to us.
  • Because we aren’t going anywhere.
  • Because this is our world too.
  • Because there are all kinds of minds, and this world is big enough for all of us.
You can learn more about Autism Acceptance at the Autism Acceptance website listed above or in this
blog post
.
Get ready for May Mental Health Awareness Month!
Congratulations to the recipients of our Children’s Mental Health Week Event Grants!
Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS)
will be hosting their 3rd Annual Health and Wellness Day for the students at SOAR Learning Center in partnership with Rise VT to promote the Mental and Physical health and wellness in families, children, and youth inFranklin and Grand Isle Counties
.
Lamoille County Mental Health (LCMH) will be hosting their Annual Children’s Wellness Day.
This day is held is to families and clients reduce the stigma around mental health services by creating fun, healthy, and engaging activities that help families and their children learn and practice essential skills to help foster resiliency. It’s LCMH’s hope that clients and their families are able to have fun in a safe and healthy environment together, so that families can help support their kids in accessing these skills across settings.

Who else is partnering the VFFCMH for Children’s Mental Health Awareness month? We’re extending the deadline for applications until next Wednesday April 17th!

Download the application here
.

Rutland Mental Health’s Children’s Standing Committee
with will be hosting for workshop for all families “How to Survive and Thrive in the Children’s Mental Maze” led by VFFCMH on May 7, 2019 5-7pm.
VFFCMH
will be at the Waterbuy AHS lobby all week May 6-10th and on Church Street in Burlington on Thursday April 9th from 10am-1pm. Come visit us and learn more about our services and how to support children’s mental health!
SAMSHA’s theme for 2019 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is
Suicide Prevention: Strategies That Work”. Find out more about their Awareness Day activities by
clicking here
.
Leadership Opportunities!
Want to help families like yours? We have leadership opportunities for parents who want to be Local Interagency Team Parent Representatives or Parent Support Providers or both!
We are looking for Parent Support Providers in the St. Albans and Brattleboro regions and Local Interagency Team Parent Representatives in the St. Johnsbury, Newport, and Springfield regions. If you’re interested please contact us for more information at 1-800-639-6071 or vffcmh@vffcmh.org.
Spring Break!
It’s Spring Break time! Looking for ideas to fill the time with your children? Here’s some ones we’ve found:
Here’s
seven ideas
from verywellfamily.com including going outside. Our favorite idea is going outside. Research has shown that spending time in nature can
improve mood
.
Visit
Kids VT
for a schedule of kid family events happening all around Vermont!
A message from your Vermont family run organization

 

Posted by on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019 @ 8:54PM
Categories: News

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