The Kids Count project collects quality-of-life data on each child in Virginia, and then Voices for Virginiaâs Children advocates for public policies (i.e. in the domains of early childhood care and education, foster care, alleviation of child poverty, and pediatric health -- especially mental health) that will improve outcomes for Virginiaâs children. Margaret Nimmo Crowe, Acting Executive Director of Voices for Virginia's Children, is leading the organizationâs Children's Mental Health Campaign, which has 60 participating organizations as well as grassroots education and outreach programs. Statistics show that 1 in 5 children will struggle with a mental illness, and in Virginia, thatâs 100,000 children and their families who will face not just the illness itself, but the stigma and the lack of services. The campaign also sees systemic social issues -- like entry into the juvenile justice system, substance abuse, homelessness, and school dropout -- as a frequent consequence of child and adolescent mental illness. Evidence shows that itâs most effective for the child and for society to provide appropriately comprehensive treatment when they first develop the illness. One state-funded pilot program will increase the level of community-based support services for childrenâs mental health, and here in Richmond includes a six-bed crisis center at St. Josephâs Villa. The campaign aims to increase the quality and reach of services and find solutions for these children, but also to change the public presentation of this issue and mobilize the voting community and lawmakers to effect policy changes that promote better care for kids struggling with mental health. For more information, visit www.vakids.org and www.1in5kids.org.
Elaine Summerfield, host Andrew Hawes, sound engineer
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