5th Annual Kalamazoo Wraps National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Carnival

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds (Hazel Gray Building)

4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Each year the Kalamazoo Wraps National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

Carnival is bigger and better. Over 1,200 were in attendance last year!

As in years past, this year's event will focus on education regarding children's

mental health issues and awareness of the services available for youth and their

families, within our system of care. This event also serves to reduce the stigma

of receiving mental health services and having mental illness.

In addition, we will also focus on: the positive effects/results of youth who receive

the mental health and substance abuse services they need, thereby increasing

graduation rates and decreasing their involvement with the juvenile justice system.

The carnival also provides a rare opportunity for parents, youth, families, service

providers, community members, and business owners, to spend time together in a

relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, promoting better communication, while building

relationships and trust within our system of care.

The event is open to the public and is entirely FREE: Attendance, Food, Games,

Prizes and Entertainment. We serve hotdogs, cotton candy and popcorn. A clown, who

makes animal shapes, hats and jewelry out of balloons, walks around throughout the

event, delighting everyone... KIDS LOVE THE BALLOON MAN. There are "bouncy

castles", professional face painters, and "experiential" games, organized by the

KCMHSAS Adventure Group staff, on the lawn. In addition, each organization that

participates has a game, or some fun activity, at their booth. Each year we have live

music and dancing, and "entertainment with a purpose" activities like instrument petting zoos.

For more info: http://www.kalamazoowraps.com/