To Promote Children´s Mental Health Awareness
The Helena Area Kids Management Authority (KMA)
Would like to invite youth to participate in an art show
All work will be displayed the week of May 6th – 11th at ExWorks
DEADLINE: Art and attached Entry Form must be received by
Friday, May 2.
THEME: Thriving in the Community
Purpose: The Helena Area KMA is co-sponsoring an Art Show featuring youth art that raises awareness and/or
reduces stigma around children´s mental health disorders and captures or depicts the importance of youth,
especially those with a mental health problem, thriving in the community. (See pg. 2 for more details about our program)
Every child's mental health is important.
The Helena Area KMA is proud to co-sponsor this art show for youth to have an opportunity to be
involved in our efforts to reduce stigma.
Thank you for encouraging your youth to participate!
The Helena Area KMA, a Rocky Mountain Development Council program, is part of the Montana System
of Care through a grant from the Children´s Mental Health Bureau. The System of Care is a proven,
national model that effectively helps youth with a serious emotional disturbance and their families
work toward recovery. In Montana, the System of Care is developed and implemented at the local level.
Local community teams are called a KMA (Kids Management Authority) and they partner with the family.
The teams include any public or community agency the family requires services from. They work in partnership
to identify, integrate, deliver, and evaluate a tailored set of services and supports that meet youth
and family needs.
National statistics released in 2006 reveal that children make substantial improvements at home, at
school and in the community when served through a System of Care that provides community-based services.
Data released by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration show that children
and youth enrolled in a System of Care:
spend less time in inpatient care
make improvements in their overall mental health
perform better in school & higher attendance
experience fewer arrests
The overarching goal of a System of Care is to empower the individual and family to successfully
manage the mental illness, strive towards recovery, and go on to live fulfilling, productive lives.
- Mental disorders in children are just as real, common and treatable as they are in adults.
- Many children have mental health problems
- These problems are real, painful, and can be severe
- Mental health problems can be recognized and successfully treated
- Left untreated, children's mental health disorders can lead to problems at home, trouble in school
and in the community, substance abuse and even suicide.
- By working together, caring families and communities can help
- Stigma associated with mental illness should no longer exist.
Complete Entry Form. Attach/affix to artwork.
Wrap carefully & mail or deliver to:
BY MAIL – RMDC – Attn. Pamela Helms KMA
P.O. Box 1717 Helena, MT 59624
BY PERSONAL DELIVERY – 50 Park Ave., Helena, MT
