The work of five young artists from Child & Family Center of Santa Clarita Valley was featured in a free art showcase sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to celebrate its 50 years of providing services in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys.
The showcase featured the work of artists who have benefited from local mental health services. The theme of the artwork was “Celebration” and the show included more than 80 pieces, such as paintings, drawings, mixed-media, poetry and rap music. Artists included both children and adults.
“Events like the showcase are very important in helping to remove the stigma of mental health,” said Darrell Paulk, Child & Family Center’s president/CEO, “Art has long been part of our treatment process for children – and the featured young artists have shown themselves to be very talented.”
The art showcase was held on Friday, October 15 at 23501 Cinema Drive in Valencia. The event was open to the community and included a resource fair where people in need of help could find information about mental health issues.
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health fosters hope, wellness and recovery, making it possible for adults and children living in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys to receive the help they need in their own community. Mental health services enable people to live healthy and complete lives, keep families together, assist workers so that they can contribute to society and make communities safer for everyone. It is the largest county-operated mental health department in the United States, directly operating 75 program sites and more than 100 co-located sites.
Child & Family Center is the community mental health center for the Santa Clarita Valley that contracts with the LAC DMH to provide services for children, teens, and adults. For 34 years C&FC has been changing the lives of thousands in the SCV through its counseling, education and support programs. Many of the children and families served are in crisis and require extensive care and therapy. Others are simply provided education and guidance to address current challenges.
Last year alone, more than 4,500 local children and adults received treatment for depression, anger, anxiety, abuse, thoughts of suicide, and drug and alcohol addictions. In addition to its three locations, Child & Family Center also has therapists on elementary, junior high and high school campuses throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
For further information regarding Child & Family Center, visit www.childfamilycenter.org.