Youth Mental Health
During our Monday, March 30th event, United Voices for Children will focus on youth mental health advocacy efforts and teach how to talk with children and youth. We will hear from experts at Rosecrance, NAMI, and Children’s Advocates for Change as they share best practices and resources on how to be better advocates. At United Voices for Children, we are acutely aware of the struggles of children and youth in our community. We are focusing our advocacy efforts on mental health, particularly how the times we are in affect our youth and how we can be more informed advocates. We are excited to host experts from Rosecrance, NAMI, and Children’s Advocates for Change as we share how we might better understand and support children and youth in our communities.
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2025 Raising Our Voices –
2025 UVC Focus: Youth Mental Health
Click on video above to watch the Raising Our Voices clip from September 18
On Thursday, September 18, at 10 am at Community United Methodist Church, 20 Center Street, Naperville, IL. Our 2025 Raising Our Voices event focused on Youth Mental Health and highlighted a special performance of Life Out Loud from Chicago’s award-winning About Face Theatre. We also presented the annual Child Advocate Awards, and heard Federal and State Legislation Updates from Children’s Advocate for Change. Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann, Prairie Central District Superintendent, presented the Child Advocate Awards this year.
Event Flyer for Raising Our Voices event – September 18:
Contact nik@unitedvoicesforchildren.org with any questions.
To show interest of upcoming nominations for annual Child Advocate Award, click here.
During our September 18th event, 2025 UVC Focus: Youth Mental Health, Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann presented six awards.
The Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt Child Advocate Award was awarded to:
U.S. Congresswoman Delia Catalina Ramirez, the first Latina United Methodist and the first Latina from the Midwest elected to Congress. She is a dedicated advocate for children, youth, and families facing social and economic challenges.
Lisa Rogers, has been the Youth Director at First United Methodist Church Elmhurst for over 18 years. Through her leadership with the Northern Illinois Conference Commission on Race and Religion, Lisa has been a bold and faithful voice, raising awareness of the very real harm caused by current racial and immigration policies.
The Katherine B. Greene Child Worker Award was awarded to:
Dr. Maricruz Ramos, a member of Our Redeemer’s United Methodist Church in Schaumburg, previously a therapist at Kids Above All, dedicates her life’s work to healing, empowerment, and hope. She has provided individual and family therapy to children and adolescents facing a wide range of behavioral health challenges, including trauma and complex emotional needs, modeling respect in helping to bridge the gap between English-speaking children and Spanish-speaking parents.
Jennifer Crick, a developmental therapist, and through Early Intervention (EI) she worked with children aged birth to three. She is the president of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association, guiding other developmental therapists in their work and advocacy, especially helping babies and toddlers to meet their milestones. She works with other Early Intervention groups and organizations throughout the state of Illinois to help ensure equity and access for these families.
The Rev. Margaret Ann Williams Service Award was awarded to:
Michelle Curiel, member of Wesley United Methodist Church and former Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry at Wesley UMC in Aurora, recruited older adults to cook dinner for the Wednesday Night Gatherings and Summer Art and Soul Camps for six years. Michelle provided activities at the park on Thursdays when the Northern Illinois Food Bank handed out free lunches. Michelle is currently a school social worker in Oswego, IL, having discerned her call to serve beyond the church.
Joanne Rae, has worked for nearly a decade with kids at the Allendale Association, an agency in Lake Villa, IL that provides residential treatment for youth who have experienced severe trauma. As a registered nurse, since 1995 in Scotland and the USA, she works with people with developmental disabilities. Her involvement in youth ministry and LGBTQUI ministries at the United Methodist Church of Antioch is outstanding.
To see full biographies and for more information about the awards, visit https://unitedvoicesforchildren.org/awards/
Advocacy Training for Greater Action Impact: Addressing Youth Mental Health and Accessibility
Click on video above to watch the training video from February 10
During our February 10th event, United Voices for Children held an event entitled Advocacy Training for Greater Action & Impact in 2025: Addressing Youth Mental Health and Accessibility. UVC invested in addressing continued needs for children and youth along with our policy partner Children’s Advocates for Change. This event welcomed community workers, mental health professionals, UMC laity and clergy, school administrators, teachers, and other interested persons. During this event Children’s Advocates for Change, the policy partner for UVC, reviewed steps for advocating to elected officials, techniques for putting together effective messages, and action steps for legislative issues impacting children as it pertains to mental health. We also welcomed Sarah Gray — Executive Director of NAMI, Laura Fine — State Senator, Anna Moeller — State Representative, Tasha Cruzat — President of Children’s Advocates for Change and others.
Event Flyer for Advocacy Training event – February 10:
