Topic

Speaker(s)

Description

Friday

May 16

Time: 9:15 to 10:15 AM

Opening Keynote:

Resiliency: Risk and Protective Factors in Terms of Implications for Practice 

Mary P. Van Hook, Ph.D., ACSW, LMSW

Professor Emeritus, University of Central Florida School of Social Work 

Research Associate, Center for Community Partnerships, University of Central Florida

The keynote address will include a description of resiliency, the types of resiliency and research findings regarding risk and protective factors. The presentation will also describe ways in which a resiliency assessment can guide clinical decision making regarding the selection of intervention strategies.

Workshops

(choose one)

Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

1. Hierarchies and Coalitions and Triangles, Oh My! Family Therapy Concepts for Human Services Professionals

Megan L. Dolbin-MacNab, PhD, LMFT

Assistant Professor

Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Program

Department of Human Development

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Because family therapy attends to individuals within the context of their primary relationships, it is a very useful treatment modality for children and families. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn the theoretical underpinnings and history of family therapy. Participants will also learn about the effectiveness of family therapy with various presenting problems. For the majority of the workshop, participants will be introduced to family therapy concepts that they can use when assessing and intervening with families.

Workshops

(choose one)

Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

2. Classical Chinese Medicine: A Healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit Across the Lifespan

Robert Smith, M. Ac., Dip. Ac.

Licensed Acupuncturist

Developing a new paradigm of proactive and interactive health, from childhood right up to what can be our golden years: using the eight principles of I Ching classical Chinese medicine, meditation, nutrition/lifestyle, Oigong, Bodywork, Cosmology, Feng Shui, Herbology, and Acupuncture. All of us can attain a healthy mind, body and spirit.

In our stress-based culture, we are now seeing small children on antidepressants and our seniors using the same drugs, women on the birth control to hormone replacement therapy cycle. People taking more supplements and vitamins than they are eating healthy foods, all of us searching for a way out of the emotional turmoil of our modern society.

A Chinese saying relates this so well, in its description of modern medicine and its approach to health, ‘its like digging a well when you are thirsty”, it’s too late!!...Let’s explore some solutions together.

3. Caring for Grace

Janet Brennend, Ombudsman New River Valley Agency on Aging

This presentation focuses on the challenges that families may face when caring for an aging parent while maintaining a professional career, strengthening family life, and rearing children. This will include a discussion of the various roles that family members may have when an elderly parent/family member comes to live in the home.

4. Who could do such a thing?

Adam Thompson, Detective

Special Investigator

Roanoke County Police Department

The focus is on who commits child sex crimes and some basic statistics behind it. He will present two case studies from initial investigation through case closure.

(Choose one)

Time: 1:00 to 2:30 PM

5. I’m not black like that: The challenges and joys of a transracial family

Teresa Love O’Bannon, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism

Radford University

Parents fostering and adopting a child form a race different from their own must be aware of a variety of issues unique to transracial families. Participate in the workshop to hear a firsthand narrative of life in a transracial family. The white adoptive parent of a black American child shares her tribulations and joys. She’ll explain how she and her family have handled a myriad of questions, comments, and concerns, from her daughter and from complete strangers.

(Choose one)

Time: 1:00 to 2:30 PM

6. Creative Selfishness

Alice King-Ingham, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and BSW Coordinator

Radford University

School of Social Work

This presentation will cover the background of vicarious trauma study very briefly, will discuss symptoms of secondary trauma, and then move into methods of dealing with the response we all have to working with client’s telling us about their lives and troubles. The emphasis will be mental, physical, and behavioral responses to the work we do, and on self-care.

7. Inside the Medicine Cabinet: Exploring the Multifaceted Issue of Prescription Drug Abuse

Jo Brocato, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and MSW Coordinator

School of Social Work  and

Patricia S. Conklin, Assistant Professor School of Nursing Radford University

This presentation is intended to engage participants in an exploration of prescription drug abuse in our communities. The presenters will provide information regarding the role of pain, pain management, and the use of sound assessment tools by the healthcare team and family to insure responsible use of prescription drugs. Additionally, guidance on assessing for potential prescription drug abuse and/or addiction and effective intervention methods to support individuals and families will be provided. Plenty of time will be provided for Q&A!

8. Preying on the Elderly: Crime Prevention Strategies in the Fight against Fraud and Scams

Master Deputy James R. Bowyer

Crime Prevention Specialist

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

The focus of this presentation will be to recognize a variety of fraud schemes and fraudulent scams and strategies senior citizens can use to resist becoming a victim of those that prey on the elderly. Topics to be discussed include the Elements Necessary to Prosecute Fraud, Telemarketing Fraud, National Do Not Call Registry, Home Improvement Scams, Detection Techniques, What to do if you are a victim of a scam or fraud, Recovery Room Scams, Mail Fraud, and Internet Scams.

Closing

Keynote

Time: 2:45 to 3:45 PM

Mary P. Van Hook, Ph.D., ACSW, LMSW

Professor Emeritus, University of Central Florida School of Social Work  Research Associate, Center for Community Partnerships, University of Central Florida

The closing keynote will pull together the themes identified in the breakout sessions, especially the challenges and paths to resiliency as they relate to cultural variations, life cycle demands, and trauma.