CHOC Mental Health Awareness Month Art & Word Contest

The CHOC Mental Health Art & Word Contest is intended to inspire, inform, reflect and heighten community awareness around mental health, while also reducing stigma.

Rules & guidelines

• Contest is open to any school-age student from pre-K to grade 12, starting April 1, 2021.
• Participants may enter by mail or email, any form of original artwork, including but not limited to poetry, essay (no longer than 300 words), drawing, painting, graphic design, photography or collage.
• Entries must address the 2021 theme: “Checking In” defined as supporting the mental health of ourselves, family, friends, neighbors, persons who are isolated or frail, caregivers and others who serve our community by “checking in” on them.
  • How do you “check in” with yourself?
  • What are ways we can we “check in” with others during this time?
  • What does “checking in” look like to you?
• Artwork must not be larger than 9 inches by 12 inches.
• All submissions must be appropriate for viewing by general audiences and should not feature personal, identifying information, such as names, addresses, etc.
• Some entries may be shared at CHOC and other community locations, on CHOC’s website, and in social media and other promotional materials. Submitting an entry gives permission for entries to be displayed at CHOC and community locations, on line, or in other media.
• Mailed submissions will not be returned.
• Each submission will be judged on originality, creativity and how well the entry expresses the contest theme. CHOC Mental Health Advocacy Committee volunteers and CHOC staff will select the top submissions for each category and age group.
• Entries may be mailed or emailed. For email, still images must be submitted as high-quality jpegs. Email submissions must include an entry form and at least one jpeg for still images.
• Email submissions and entry form to: MentalHealthAwareness@chocchildrens.org
• Mailed submissions and entry form must be postmarked by April 30 to:
  • CHOC Mental Health Awareness Month Art & Word Contest
    Attn: Dr. Adrienne Matros
    P.O. Box 10309
    Newport Beach, CA 92658
• The Committee is not responsible for technical or other issues affecting mail/email delivery.
• Winners will be announced on choc.org/checkin on May 14. Prizes will not exceed $100 each in value.
• Winners will be selected in two categories — artwork and writing — from each of the following age groups:
  • Elementary (pre-K – grade 5)
  • Middle School/Junior High (grades 6-8)
  • High School (grades 9-12)
• Mailed entries must include entrant’s name and contact information on the back of the piece along with a completed entry form.
• It is our intention to showcase a selection of eligible artwork submitted in this year’s contest to kick off next year’s contest in May 2022.
• Please submit any questions to: MentalHealthAwareness@chocchildrens.org or call 714-509-8682.