"How are the Children?

Improving Child Well-Being in Vulnerable Communities"

Coalition for Hispanic Family Services is proud to celebrate 25 years of culturally competent, community based services to families of color in New York City.

In the spirit of "giving back" we have elected to celebrate our 25th Anniversary by contributing to the field of human services and holding a one day symposium that will examine the current challenges faced by children and families of color in vulnerable urban communities. Speakers will also present effective strategies to address these challenges and improve well-being. Workshops will focus on theoretical frameworks for understanding child well-being, implementation of evidence-based program models with proven results, community-school partnerships that effectively engage children and families, understanding and integrating policy in the practice of child welfare, and other relevant topics.

This symposium offers the opportunity for dialogue amongst those who care about and are committed to improving well-being for New York City's vulnerable children and families of color, those who inform and contribute to the field and expand our knowledge base, those who develop policies and programs and those who are implementing new practice models. Through dialogue with the day's speakers and presenters our commitment to improving well-being for children and families of color will be reaffirmed. We will be informed, we will be inspired and we will move forward with the desire to create positive change.

In the spirit of partnership this symposium is funded by Casey Family Programs, the nation's largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America. The conference is co-sponsored by Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA). We are grateful for their support and contributions to the success of this symposium.

Featured Speakers:

William Bell, Ph.D., MSW. President and CEO of Casey Family Programs since 2006, he is ultimately responsible for the vision, mission, strategies and objectives of the foundation. Dr. Bell has more than 30 years of experience in the human services field. Prior to joining Casey, he served two-and-a-half years as commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS).

Mimi Abramovitz, DSW. Bertha Capen Reynolds Professor in Social Policy and Department Chair of Social Welfare Policy at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Dr. Abramovitz is an internationally recognized expert on race, gender and social welfare policy.

Pegine Echevarria, MSW. CEO of Team Pegine, Inc., a think tank, training and consulting firm specializing in leadership, team building, inclusion engagement and training. Nationally renowned motivational business speaker, and member of the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame.

Workshops:

Participants will attend two workshops. Workshop topics include:

• “Introducing Evidence Based Models to the Community: Maintaining Fidelity While Finding the Right Fit"
• “Disproportionality and Disparity in the Child Welfare System: Potential Pathways and Resolutions to Achieving Equity, Access, and Fairness”
• "Children Don’t Always Talk About Their Feelings: Using Art Therapy in Community- Based Programs”
• “Partnerships that Work: Community Based Services in Public School Settings"
• “The Importance of Integrating Policy and Practice in Child Welfare”
• "First Steps/Primeros Pasos: A Primary Prevention Program for At-Risk Families with Young Children"
• "Family Success Centers: A Community Based Response to Supporting Families at Risk"
• "Non-Traditional Strength-Based Models for Engaging Adolescents -at- Risk"
• "Measuring Risk to Child Well-Being in New York City’s 59 Community Districts"

As the conference date approaches, registered participants will be instructed to go online and choose their workshop preferences. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 150 PARTICIPANTS.