One-day Conference sponsored by ORTHO (The The American Orthopsychiatric Association) & The Sparrow Lake Alliance

Friday, October 3, 2003, 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Metro Hall,
55 John Street (just south of King),
Toronto, Ontario

THEME: “Helping Children Who Live in Toxic Situations”

This conference will be of special interest to professionals who work with children: social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, lawyers, and judges. The presenters are professionals who have extensive experience working with children who live in toxic situations. ORTHO is an international, interdisciplinary group of mental health professionals, with a 50-year history of promoting progressive practice and social advocacy for service users. The Sparrow Lake Alliance (Ontario) is a voluntary coalition of 12 professions, 7 service sectors, that advocates for an environment that is more nurturing to children’s development.

Keynote Address:
David (Dan) R. Offord, CM, MD
Director, Canadian Centre for the Study of Children at Risk

Workshop Leaders:
Elsa Broder, MD, FRCP(C),
Hincks-Dellcrest Centre: Breaking the cycle: Use of expressive arts.

Marlinda Freire, MD, FRCP(C),
Hospital for Sick Children: Child survivors of extreme situations (war, displacement).

June Maresca, LLB, LLM,
Lawyer and Mediator, and Hanna McDonough, MSW, RSW, Child Psychiatry Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: Children involved in protracted chronic conflict between their parents.

Denise Martyn, PhD Candidate,
Director, “Growing Together” (Joint program of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre & the Dept. of Public Health, Toronto): Early intervention with parents and children 0-6, living in a high-density, high-risk community.

Cheryl Milne, LLB,
Justice for Children and Youth: Street-involved Youth.

Susan Penfold, MB, FRCP(C),
Dept. of Psychiatry, UBC: Children who live with parental violence.

Nitza Perlman, PhD (Psychology),
Director of Children & Youth Division, Surrey Place: Children with no secure home or attachment figure.

Ruth Stirtzinger, PhD (Psychology),
George Hull Centre: Treating aggressive children within the school system: An ecological program that partners mental health with education.

James R. Wilkes, MD, FRCP(C),
Consultant Psychiatrist, Toronto Catholic CAS; Staff psychiatrist, Shoniker Clinic:
Truth or consequences: Children who lack knowledge of their history and families.