News

The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health, housed in PSU’s School of Social Work, will host a national conference on strategies to promote mental health and thriving for underserved children and families, May 31–June 2, 2007.

The conference, “Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and Their Families,” targets family members, researchers, advocates, administrators, service providers and policy makers, on how to best provide accessible, effective, and culturally appropriate services to children with emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges.

“One of the most exciting things is the energy created by the conference participants,” said Barbara Friesen, director of the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health. “When youth, family members, practitioners, agency staff, and researchers all come together to address a common purpose, a synergistic ‘whole’ emerges.”

The conference themes will be addressed by invited experts and through the presentation of individual papers and symposia. In addition, the conference will promote programs and practices that increase family and youth participation and empowerment; family-centered, youth-guided, and culturally competent services; and the capacity building of communities to support children and families. The conference will also hold family-friendly youth activities and networking opportunities (some require a nominal fee) including a pizza get-together, “American Idol” contest and a trip to the Oregon Zoo. For more information visit www.rtc.pdx.edu/conference/pgYouthActivities.php.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 30, 1:30—6 p.m.
Pre-Conference Workshop: “Driving Transformation with Family Leadership in Systems Evaluation,” by Shannon Cross-Bear, Gwen Palmer, and Elaine Slaton of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health.

Thursday, May 31, 8 a.m.—5:45 p.m.
Keynote Address: “Wicked Problems and Collective Solutions: Reducing Disparities in Mental Health Care for Underserved Populations,” by Larke Nahme Huang, senior adviser on children, Office of the Administrator, in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this position, she provides leadership on federal policy pertaining to mental health and substance abuse issues for children, adolescents and families.

Friday, June 1, 8 a.m.—7 p.m.
Research Plenary: “Cultural Competence in Effectiveness Research: Finding ‘What Works’ Across Diverse Groups,” with panel chair Mareasa Isaacs, executive director of the National Alliance of Multicultural Behavioral Health Associations.

Saturday, June 2, 8 a.m.—12:15 p.m.
Youth Panel Plenary presented by members of Youth MOVE (Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience) and First Nations Behavioral Health Association.

The conference is co-sponsored by the National Alliance of Multicultural Behavioral Health Associations and the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. It will be held at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Portland, Ore. (921 S.W. Sixth Avenue). Registration costs for all-day passes range from $200–$415 and $25 for Saturday only. To register, visit www.rtc.pdx.edu/conference/pgMain.php. For more information, contact Sandra Swart, conference coordinator, at 503-725-5558 or bfsconference@pdx.edu.

The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health
The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health was established in 1984 at Portland State University with funding from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education, and the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Center is dedicated to promoting effective community-based, culturally competent, family-centered services for families and their children who are, or may be affected by mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. This goal is accomplished through collaborative research partnerships with family members, service providers, policy makers and other concerned persons.

The School of Social Work at Portland State University

The School of Social Work at Portland State University is among the top schools of social work in the nation, and offers the only accredited Master of Social Work program in Oregon. The School’s mission is to prepare social work professionals to meet the critical education, research and service needs of children and families in the region and state. The School trains and prepares social work professionals to address issues including homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, child abuse and neglect, unemployment, disability, chronic and terminal illness, poverty, and challenges associated with aging. In addition, the school’s outstanding research helps advance social work knowledge and practice locally and nationally.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#07-067)

Source: Ariel Holman (503-725-2785)
Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health