L.A.'s "Children's Mental Health Awareness Day" Efforts To Reach 1.5 Million Spanish Language Readers in May

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Councilmember Bernard Parks led the City Council today in declaring May 9th "Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in the City of Los Angeles," with focus this year on building resilience in children dealing with trauma, and on reaching new audiences in Spanish. 

"For too many local youth, untreated trauma leads to serious psychological problems in childhood and in adulthood," said Councilmember Parks, who was joined by Councilmember Jan Perry in introducing today's proclamation.  "When left undiagnosed, trauma leaves youth more vulnerable to substance abuse, depression, and academic failure. This month, we call on adults throughout the City to learn how to recognize early signs of trauma and seek assistance from community resources, and to build resilience in children through praise."

Councilmember Parks acknowledged this year's efforts by Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic and El Clasificado – the most accessible free Spanish language publication in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area – to jointly bring awareness efforts to 1.5 million El Clasificado weekly readers in May.

El Clasificado and Clinic staff developed an interactive promotion for readers to explore, designed to encourage adults to build childhood resilience through praise.  Through a "word search" contest focused on positive phrases adults can use with children, readers submit completed puzzles for prizes promoting family interaction – including bilingual refrigerator magnets with "100 Ways to Praise a Child."

"El Clasificado's team is expert at mobilizing Spanish language readers through interactive contests," said Cesar Portillo, VP of Advancement for Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic. "This promotion - donated by El Clasificado - joins our expertise with theirs to build community wellness across language barriers."

"El Clasificado and our new monthly El Punto were created as tributes to all Latino families who seek help to better their lives and that of their children," said El Clasificado CEO Martha de la Torre.  "We are happy to partner with the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic to inform, educate and enlighten our community in a Spanish friendly manner on how to deal with children and their mental health."

Free, bilingual "100 Ways to Praise A Child" refrigerator magnets are available at the Clinic's website, www.lachild.org. See the El Clasificado ad at www.facebook.com/LAChildGuidance.

SOURCE Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic