MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST F

POSITIVE AGING INITIATIVE: MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE POSITIVE POTENTIAL OF LATER LIFE BY DISCOVERING AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS. THE THREE PRIMARY GOALS SHOULD BE:- TO ENABLE OLDER PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS TO LIVE WHERE THEY PREFER, GENERALLY IN THE COMMUNITY - TO "AGE IN PLACE."- TO ASSURE ACCESS TO CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE, CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT CARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN CONGREGATE LIVING SETTINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED MORE HELP AS THEY GROW OLDER.- TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO AGE WELL BY HELPING THEM TO PRESERVE THEIR MENTAL AS WELL AS GENERAL HEALTH AND SENSE OF VITALITY AND FULFILLMENT AS THEY AGE.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESSGOLLEE GATOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM: OUR MASCOT FOR THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM, GOLLEE GATOR, WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGHOUT OUR REGION INFORMING CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ABOUT MENTAL WELLNESS TO SUBSIDE FEARS AND STIGMATIZATION. PART OF THIS WILL INCLUDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS TO SPEAK ON SUCH TOPICS AS BULLYING, STRESS, ETC. TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. FURTHERMORE, GOLLEE GATOR WILL DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS/CARETAKERS. TODAY'S CHILDREN REALIZE THAT LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. PRESSURE TO WIN, TO BE LIKED, TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY, OR TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL MAY CAUSE A YOUNG PERSON TO EXPERIENCE STRESS. THE GOLLEE GATOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY CHILD'S MENTAL WELLNESS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN AND DEFINE MENTAL HEALTH, TEACH CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS, PROVIDE CHILDREN AN INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TALK WITH TRUSTED ADULTS.SHOOTING FOR THE STARS BASKETBALL CLINIC: TODAY, MENTAL FITNESS IS AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL FITNESS. IN FACT, THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND! AS SUCH, THE NONPROFIT MHASWFL IS PASSIONATELY DEVOTED TO HELPING OUR YOUTH BECOME MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY FIT SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY BALANCED, HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, AND ONE IN TEN CHILDREN HAVE A DISORDER OF SUCH SERIOUSNESS THAT IT INTERFERES WITH THEIR FUNCTIONING AT HOME, AT SCHOOL, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. EACH CLINIC WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 100 KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8-17. ANY CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE, BUT WE ARE TARGETING CHILDREN FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED HOMES, KIDS WITH EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL DISTURBANCES, FOSTER KIDS, AND KIDS FROM MULTI-CULTURAL HOMES. WALI JONES (FORMER PHILADELPHIA 76ER'S) CONDUCTED THE CLINICS FEATURING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TRAINING EMPHASIZING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, PROBLEM-SOLVING, REFUSAL SKILLS, INCREASING SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-ESTEEM AND PROMOTING TEAMWORK. KIDS ALSO WORKED ON FUN AND EXCITING FUNDAMENTAL ATHLETIC SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF BASKETBALL DRILLS, VIEWING OF FILMS, FOULD SHOOTING CONTESTS AND MORE!CHILDREN'S DIVORCE EDUCATION PROGRAM: PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST; MHASWFL HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING THE COURT MANDATED PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST (PCF) PROGRAM FOR DIVORCING PARENTS. THE PCF PROGRAM IS A FOUR HOUR CLASS DESIGNED TO RAISE PARENTS' AWARENESS OF THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN OF BREAKING UP THE FAMILY. PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN EFFECTIVE CO-PARENTING SKILLS TO MINIMIZE THE FALL-OUT ON THEIR CHILDREN. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT WAYS TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AS WELL AS COPING STRATEGIES FOR ADJUSTING TO THE CHANGED FAMILY STRUCTURE. BOTH PROGRAMS FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN DIVORCING FAMILIES AND ARE LEAD BY TRAINED FACILITATORS.ONE CHILD AT A TIME: THIS PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO AFFORD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE CHILD WILL RECEIVE AN INITIAL EVALUATION SESSION AND IF NEEDED UP TO TWELVE COUNSELING SESSIONS. OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO EXTEND THEIR PRO BONO SERVICES IF THE CHILD SHOULD NEED MORE THAN TWELVE SESSIONS.