M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. Trusted Adult Youth Art Contest
Thank you to all the youth who participated in the M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. Trusted Adult Youth Art Contest and contributed to the Trusted Adult Campaign!
We asked Whatcom and Skagit county youth to think about what a Trusted Adult means to them, and to use art to express it. The contest ran through the fall and winter of 2020 and closed on Friday, December 11, 2020. We received 57 entries from 38 youth across Whatcom and Skagit counties.
We are so grateful to each of you who participated in our contest and shared your wonderful ideas about what a Trusted Adult means to you. All the art is truly inspiring, uplifting, and creative!
Congratulations to everyone! Y’all are all winners! It was extremely hard to choose the top three winners because all the art is exceptional and unique. Our entire M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. team viewed the art, and four Youth Influencers with the CONNECTED Youth Mental Health Project served on the committee to decide the top three winners. The M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. team is SO excited to see your ideas about Trusted Adults and to use your art to uplift our message of HOPE and care in our community.
Your voice is helping us raise awareness around the importance of youth going to Trusted Adults for support, and for adults to know how important it is to show up as Trusted Adults for youth. This is a HUGE impact that we will make in our community because of YOUR contributions! Your voice and art are true gifts to M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. and to youth everywhere!
After viewing all the incredible art with the team, we have chosen the top three winners for the contest…
CONGRATULATIONS to:
- Lauren Seely Wallach
- Annika Brockett
- Sydney Fitzgerald
AND Congratulations to all youth who submitted art!
All the artists have truly given us a gift, to help us build on the Trusted Adult Campaign by creatively spreading the word about how important Trusted Adults are to youth wellness! We appreciate you and thank you for your amazing contributions to our community.
A special shoutout to Alyssa Pavitt from the Whatcom County Health Department for providing some wonderful prizes for all participants, and to the National Council for Behavioral Health for their support in this project.
Send your trusted adult an E-Card!
Below are the three winning designs. Click on the image you would like to use for sending your Trusted Adult an e-card.
There are also tips, instructions and a sample you can use for your card.
Enjoy sending your Trusted Adult a note!
Ecard Instructions:
Ideas of what you could include in your Ecard:
Favorite memory with your Trusted Adult
Appreciation for their support
Think about how your Trusted Adult supports you and how that has impacted you
Share a time when they helped you through a challenge/listened to you/provided support, etc.
Share how they can get more information about Trusted Adults and the Trusted Adult Campaign by sharing this link: http://kristis5.sg-host.com/trusted-adult/
Trusted Adult Ecard Example Template
Take a look at an example of what you could send to your Trusted Adult!
Dear _________ (name of your Trusted Adult),
Thank you for supporting me! I know that you’re always there for me and I can reach out to you whenever I need help, that’s why you’re my Trusted Adult! I remember that time when _________ .
Check out this link for more information about Trusted Adults and the Trusted Adult Campaign.
Thank you for always being there for me.
Sincerely,
__________ (Your name)
Need help NOW?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1.800.273.8255 (TALK)
Collage of Entries
Take a look at these collages of art submitted to the contest! Collages prepared by CONNECTED Project, National Council for Behavioral Health Youth Influencer, Kiera Hillaire
Trusted Adult Stories
Art contest participants were invited to share an optional story about their Trusted Adult when submitting art for the contest. Check out these incredible stories from the youth artists!
Trusted Adults
Trusted Adults are incredibly important to youth mental well-being. Whatcom youth have shared that a Trusted Adult is someone they feel comfortable going to in times of need, someone they can count on to listen and help them no matter what! By hearing from youth what a Trusted Adult is to them, adults can learn to become a Trusted Adult and support the youth in their lives.
Make a Difference
All youth have the power to make a difference, and we would not be able to do this work without the contributions of the youth in our community. If you would like to share your art with us, make a video for a M.A.D.-H.O.P.E. training, or get involved in another way, please reach out to us at madhope@wfcn.org.
Your voice is helping to increase awareness around how Trusted Adults can support youth mental health and well-being, by encouraging youth to go to a Trusted Adult to ask for help and by encouraging more adults to be there as Trusted Adults.
Check out this resource for more information about the Trusted Adult Campaign.
Thank YOU for making a difference in your community!
M.A.D. ~ H.O.P.E.
making a difference – helping other people everywhere