Women On The Brink hosts forum on children in poverty and mental health

Women On The Brink: Elgin Area offers its 2023 fall forum, "Elgin's Children in Poverty: Focus on Mental Health" on Thursday, Oct. 19. It will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.

It is a committee of individuals and representatives from different community organizations whose vision is to empower women to break through the barriers of poverty through nurturing, non-judgmental educational and financial initiatives in order to support themselves and their families,

"Children's mental health is as critical as their physical health in achieving overall well-being," said Patricia Chamberlain, WOTB member. "Healthy social and emotional development is a necessary underpinning for learning, school success, relationship development and positive interactions with their environment."

There is no centralized data center that houses all relevant data for child, youth, and family mental health in Illinois, so it is impossible to identify the true depth of the children's mental health challenges in Illinois.

However, recent evidence emanating from the pandemic describes a uniquely challenging time for the mental health and wellness of Illinois children and families.

• 1 in 6 children aged 2-8 years (17.4%) in the United States have a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder;

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Illinois youth (ages 10-19) and young adults (ages 19-24);

• 56% of Illinois youth with major depression do not receive services.

"WOTB believes we can't do everything, but we can do something," states Jennifer Ford, WOTB chair. "We offer these fall public forums to help educate and to encourage every attendee to take action to solve the problem, depending on their ability or skill."

"More than 10% of people in Elgin, IL are living in poverty," Chamberlain said. "Of those individuals, over 18% are under 5 years of age, and 26% are under 18 years old; this means

children at all levels of education – from early childhood through high school are impacted."

The level of poverty — household or neighborhood — and its duration modify the relationship between early poverty and childhood outcomes. Poverty has cumulative effects that undermine health, learning, and social-emotional development.

Women On The Brink invites community members, leaders, and others to hear experts present trends in mental health impacting young children and families in Illinois, but more specifically, Elgin.

The focus will be on the impact of poverty on young children's mental health.

"The forum includes local experts in mental health, as well as a local panel discussion focused on what is being done and what still needs to be done to help children living in poverty in our

community, who also experience mental health challenges," Ford said.

Forum participants will be challenged to take action—through advocacy, financial, and other donations, volunteering, and more.

The Fall Forum supports the mission of moving women on the brink, from poverty to possibility.

The forum is sponsored by Women On the Brink, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, YWCA Elgin, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin Partnership for Early Learning, and Well Child Center.

Registration can be found at #8221;http://attend.gailborden.info/event/8717056">gailborden.info.

More information about WOTB can be found at #8221;https://www.facebook.com/womenonthebrink.elgin">.facebook.com/womenonthebrink.elgin.