Which in Michigan of course means our shining sun, budding trees and greening grass occasionally appear as a scene in a slow falling snow globe and in some places under 15 feet of snow! No matter what the local forecast holds. Spring is always hopping with activity here at ACMH as we prepare to honor National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day;  Traditionally with a large scale event to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and shine light on current needs and issues of Michigan children and youth with mental health challenges and their families. If s ..read more

  Yesterday, we celebrated Labor Day. A day set aside to pay tribute to all those who work to make the world go round. A fitting time to shout out a heartfelt thank you to all of our partners and providers in children’s mental health who work tirelessly every day to support children and youth with mental health challenges. As well as the countless families across our state whose endless work supporting and advocating for their kids’ mental health needs and ensuring they have access to the services and supports they need often feels like or is a full time job… Labor Day also marks the unof ..read more

ACMH’s statewide staff recently had the opportunity to spend an entire day at Kalamazoo Nature Center learning about the important connection between nature and mental health from Dr. Brian Forist. Staff also had the opportunity to work with artists from Treewhisperers an ongoing, international, multi-generational collaboration that allows participants to share their personal stories and connection to trees through art that is then part of a traveling exhibit. The setting was beautiful the information was eye opening and the retreat was a great opportunity for all to learn and reconnect!  ..read more

  Each year during Children’s Mental Health Awareness month, ACMH hosts a special event to highlight the importance of mental health and raise awareness about the needs of children, youth and young adults with mental health challenges and their families. This year ACMH is hosting #Worth1000Words a virtual event throughout the month of May and invites families, youth, parents/caregivers and those who support them to share their stories through photography. Click here to learn more and join us today! ACMH has always understood the importance of children’s mental healt ..read more

  As parents it is often difficult to know how to best support our kids when they are exposed to, hear about or experience traumatic events in the world, community or even their school. We know that feeling safe and secure is critical to positive mental health. Recent events such as the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas, War in Ukraine, the Oxford School shooting, gun or other violence in communities, as well as, ongoing incidents of racism and social unrest across our state and nation has highlighted the need to share quality information and tools families can use ..read more

Back-to-school was always a time of excitement and fresh beginnings for most kids and families, even for those who experience a little anxiety or have some trouble adjusting at first. Last year left many of us longing for those good old days and as it finally came to end the families we spoke to were overjoyed to be putting the 2020-2021 school year in the rearview mirror. Many had contacted us with concerns about what might have been lost over the last year including academic, social or mental health gains, but most were also looking ahead to getting a good plan in place for the upcoming ..read more

The sun is shining, the air warming, the snow melting and the grass showing; And March 20 which marks the beginning of the season of renewal and new beginnings is less than 2 weeks away! Its arrival couldn’t come a day too soon for many of us here at ACMH…and probably most of you. 2021 has been off to a busy start at ACMH and information about recent happenings, new activities and family leadership opportunities on the horizon including an upcoming Parent Leadership Series in April can be found here on the ACMH homepage. We had hoped to start 2021 with a clean slate and an open door ready ..read more

The Association for Children’s Mental Health exists to provide help and hope to families by empowering them with the information, resources and support they need especially during times of crisis.  As a statewide family organization we know that supporting our kids & family’s mental health needs can be challenging even in the best of times and access to quality information is essential! Since we do not have health/mental health professionals on staff  to answer many of the questions that are coming our way, we have gathered the a list of links and information that ..read more

Youth Peer Support is a part of Michigan’s public mental health system service array intended for middle school and high school aged youth and provided by a young adult with their own lived experience with mental health challenges. This unique and groundbreaking service supports youth in finding hope, understanding that they’re not alone, and build skills to effectively use their voice in their mental health treatment. Youth Peer Support Specialists (YPSSs) strategically share their stories of resiliency with those that they serve to bring about hope and a sense of empowerment. The Youth Pee ..read more

Purposeful Pitch is a podcast facilitated by Joe DiBenedetto and is focused on initiating positive change and addressing socio-economic challenges facing communities across the country.  Conversations feature school leaders, CEOs of not-for-profit organizations and public policymakers, among others. .Click the link below to hear the Purposeful Pitch podcast and view Joe’s description of the podcast below. https://anchor.fm/purposeful-pitch/episodes/Caring-for-children-with-mental-health-concerns-e5hlnf During this episode of Purposeful Pitch, Joe speaks with Jane Shank, ACM ..read more