Childhood Matters
2015 Conference
A Conference of It's About Childhood & Family, Inc.
Storer Auditorium - Onondaga Community College
A 1 Day Symposium for Educators, Clinicians, Parents, and Child Care Providers
TOPICS - Play/Playfulness and Trauma, NHA, SEL, Functional Medicine/Nutrition, Music Therapy, Play Therapy, PAX/Good Behavior Game, Restorative Justice, and More
6 CEUs available (psych, SW, Counselor, MFT, CASAC)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Steve Gross M.S.W. is Director of Playmakers™. Steve has devoted his career to the service of our most vulnerable children. A pioneer in utilizing exuberant, joyful play to promote resiliency in children and their caregivers, and a leader in the field of psychological trauma response, Gross is committed to the healthy development of children facing the most challenging circumstances. Steve’s talents have been called upon to respond to some of the greatest catastrophes of our time, including the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, and the 2012 Newtown school shooting. The vision of the nonprofit he founded is a world where all children grow up feeling safe, loved and joyful. In order to make this vision a reality, the Life is good Playmakers partners with frontline professionals – such as teachers, social workers and child life specialists – who dedicate their lives to helping children overcome poverty, violence and illness. These Playmakers use the power of play to build healing, life-changing relationships with the children in their care. This foundation of playfulness allows children to engage the world with passion and joy while giving them the courage and creativity to see possibilities and solutions in the face of adversity.
OTHER SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Wendy Pidkaminy LCSW-R is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University, Nurtured Heart Specialist, and the Author of two books: Parenting Challenging Children with Power, Love and Sound Mind and Jimmy and Julia's Rainforest Adventure. Wendy owns and operates Nurturing Life Concepts, LLC, a counseling, consultation, professional and parent coaching organization dedicated to leading people of all ages, throughout the world, to realize their life's passion, purpose and vision.
Michael Gilbert Psy.D. has worked in human services for the past 25 years, including foster care, group home, and hospital settings. In addition, he has worked as a school psychologist within Syracuse City Schools as well as adjunct professor at local colleges. In 2000, he founded "It's About Childhood & Family, Inc.," a not-for-profit clinical and resource center to provide families an alternative to the traditional mental health system. In addition to lecturing extensively he has advocated for non-medication and non-labeling approaches for families with children exhibiting challenging behaviors often diagnosed as ADHD, ODD, and Bipolar. Dr. Gilbert is on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP) as well as the annual conference chairperson. Dr. Gilbert received the NYASP Friend of Children Award (2011), NY State Psychologist of the Year (2014) and the Spirit of Huntington Award (2014).
Amy Doyle MSACN is a functional nutritionist whose passion is to give people a better quality of life and lead them through a process of healing by utilizing specialized nutrition. She has also spoken on the topics of nutritional therapy for anxiety and depression, women’s health issues, autoimmune diseases, behavioral disorders, food sensitivities and gastrointestinal conditions. Amy has written for Syracuse Woman magazine and provides educational workshops as well as private consultations. She has a MS degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from the New York Chiropractic College and has pending certification as a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Specialist. You can contact Amy by phone at 315-527-1453 or via email: whitestonewellnesscny@gmail.com
Colleen Bennett is the co-founder of the Keys Program, a non-profit organization delivering music, hope and smiles to all kids in need of healing, through our music outreach, education and advocacy programming. We provide music therapy assistance, bedside music, family respite days and sibling support programs to families who have a child battling cancer and families in need of healing.
Jacob Hedges MS received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from SUNY Oswego in 2011, and received his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Oswego in 2015. Jacob is working toward earning Child-Centered Play Therapy credentials through NIRE (National Institute of Relational Enhancement). Jacob is also working to attain the Trauma Studies Certificate through SUNY Oswego’s Interdisciplinary Trauma Studies Program. He is interested in seeing all age groups and is passionate about Narrative, Sandplay, and Play Therapy.
Jahleh Mohammadi MS LMHC CCPT NCC received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Binghamton University in May of 2010 and in May 2012 received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Oswego, with a certificate from the Play Therapy program. She is a certified Child-Centered Play Therapist through the National Institute for Relationship Enhancement (NIRE). Jahleh is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) through the state of New York. She also became a Nationally Certified Counselor in early 2015.
for more details email mgilbert@iacaf.org Purchase Orders Accepted (use pay by check option when registering)