LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim May 6, 2010, as Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, The citizens of the State of New York are committed to ensuring
the safety and well-being of our most precious resource, our children,
and to protecting them in every facet of their daily lives; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor
David A. Paterson to proclaim May 6, 2010, as Children's Mental Health
Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the obser-
vance of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day; and
WHEREAS, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a day for
everyone to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery,
and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children
and youth with serious mental health needs and their families; and
WHEREAS, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day raises aware-
ness of effective programs for children's mental health needs; demon-
strates how children's mental health initiatives promote positive youth
development, recovery, and resilience; and shows how children with
mental health needs thrive in their communities; and
WHEREAS, On Thursday, May 6, 2010, National Children's Mental Health
Awareness Day will mark its 5th Anniversary, as well as a first-time
focus on the topic of early childhood; and
WHEREAS, Communities across the country will observe the day with
events, youth demonstrations, and social networking campaigns to raise
awareness about the importance of mental health and increase understand-
ing of the mental health needs of children and their families; and
WHEREAS, The National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day initi-
ative is comprised of the following three activities: The Post NOW E-vi-
ral Campaign, "My Feelings Are a Work of Art" Art Action, and "When I
Grow Up" Youth Action; and
WHEREAS, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2010 will
specifically focus on increasing basic awareness of the importance posi-
tive mental health has on a child's healthy development, with the key
message being "positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy
development from birth"; and
WHEREAS, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day efforts will
encourage the following actions: integrate mental health into every
environment that impacts child development from birth; nurture the
social and emotional well-being of children from birth; and look for and
discuss milestones of a child's social and emotional development from
birth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim May 6, 2010, as Chil-
dren's Mental Health Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.