South Central Alabama Mental Health officials hope to start a new tradition next week by holding an event in recognition of children’s mental health week, each year.

“This is the first year we are doing this,” said SCAMH Marketing and Training Director Staci Wilson. “We hope to do something like this every year in recognition with children’s mental health week.”

This year’s event will be a family funfest on Thurs., May 9 on the Court Square from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“We just want to raise awareness to better the lives of the children who suffer from emotional disorders,” Wilson said.

Among the activities at Thursday’s festival will be games, a children’s art gallery featuring art from some of the SCAMH children, bouncy houses, snow cones and grilled hot dogs.

Wilson said children’s mental health highlight is that SCAMH has implemented a program in which therapists go directly into schools.

“Children don’t have to come to the mental health center,” she said. “We’re going to them in their own environment.”

Wilson SCAMH has contracts in all three school systems.