In Honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Day: Project ABC Launches "TODDLERS EXPLORE" PSA

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Children's Institute, Inc.; Project ABC (About Building Connections)

May 05, 2016, 04:36 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Relationships matter, even before they have words. This is one of the key messages for parents and caregivers of young children in a new Public Service Announcement, called "Toddlers Explore." The PSA was produced by Project ABC (About Building Connections), an innovative, federally funded program designed to optimize the social and emotional development of children in their earliest years, as well as strengthen a community-based, cross-cultural system of care to support their mental health.

Project ABC launches third PSA in the "Relationships Matter" Campaign to highlight the importance of the relationship between young children and their caregivers. The "Toddlers Explore" PSA is targeted toward parents of children 24-36 months old.

Project ABC (About Building Connections) Logo

"Toddlers Explore" is the third PSA in a series called "Relationships Matter" that reminds parents of children ages 24-36 months old that toddlers have big feelings, but don't yet have the tools or the developmental capacity to manage their emotions. The PSA is designed to help parents understand that toddlers' behavior is their language and that, "What you do next is what matters."

"The Relationships Matter PSAs are a call to awareness, reminding adults what kids do at different stages, and emphasizing the value of attunement and how it can influence our reactions," says Adriana Molina, Project ABC's Director of Social Marketing and Violence Prevention. "This PSA is about sharing the skills that help caregivers make shifts in parenting to support Early Childhood Mental Health, as well as understanding how to manage their own emotions to better help children manage theirs."

Created in collaboration with the non-profit organization Picture Alternatives, "Relationships Matter: Toddlers Explore" is available in three languages: English, Spanish, and Khmer. The PSA is a valuable tool for raising family and community awareness; building skills among professional audiences; and informing the general public. It can be used in a variety of multi-media environments, including websites and Social Media with the hashtag #RelationshipsMatter.

Project ABC is a collaboration of Children's Institute, Inc., For The Child, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Pacific Asian Counseling Services, TIES for Families, and the USC School of Social Work. Project ABC is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). projectabc-la.org

Children's Institute, Inc. (CII) helps children in Los Angeles's most challenged communities heal from the trauma of family and community violence, build the confidence and skills to break through the barriers of poverty, and grow up to lead healthy, productive lives. Established in 1906, CII now serves more than 28,000 children and families in Los Angeles County through treatment, youth development, family support and early childhood services. We also inform the larger child welfare field through the research and professional training efforts of the CII Leadership Center. childrensinstitute.org

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SOURCE Children's Institute, Inc.; Project ABC (About Building Connections)