The American Orthopsychiatric Association Symposia
at the Institute on Psychiatric Services
October 11th-14th, 2007
New Orleans
The Role of Mental Health Professionals in Re-Building Communities: From Practice to Policy
Saturday, October 13, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Studio 7, Second Floor, New Orleans Marriott
Chair, Diane, J. Willis, PhD
“Rebuilding of Communities Disrupted by Natural Disasters”
Howard Osofsky, M.D., PhD
“Experiences of Children and Families in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina”
Joy Osofsky, PhD
“From Alienation to Efficacy: Building Strong Communities to Keep Kids Safe”
Robin J. Kimbrough-Melton, JD & Gary B. Melton, PhD
“American Indians: The Forgotten Race -- Rebuilding Indian Communities”
Diane J. Willis, PhD
This symposium will focus on re-building communities after a myriad of disruptions in the lives of children and families. Four topics will be discussed including the re-building of communities after a natural disaster, re-building families caught in the criminal or juvenile justice system, re-building of community as a critical ingredient in family support and prevention of mental health problems, and the re-building of communities and related support for Native Americans. A focus will be on mental health issues, effective practice with diverse groups, and policy ideas that practitioners can implement at the local, state, and/or national level.
Followed by
The American Orthopsychiatric Association Awards Ceremony
Saturday, October 13, 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Studio 7, Second Floor, New Orleans Marriott
Each year, Ortho presents several awards that recognize distinguished contributions to mental health and social justice
Chair: Gary B. Melton, Ph.D.
Past President of American Orthopsychiatry Association
Professor & Director of Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life
Clemson University
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
Recipient: Charles Zeanah, M.D., Professor, Tulane University
Presentation: “Infant Mental Health Services: Towards a Comprehensive Approach”
HAYMAN AWARD
Recipient: Carlinda Monteiro, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Christian Children's Fund-Angola
Presentation: Culture, Community & Healing: Lessons from Angola
A social worker, Dr. Monteiro has pioneered in the integration of African and Western approaches to the treatment of war-affected children and families. She has written sensitively about the delicate balance between "forgiving" and "forgetting" during reconciliation. She has paid special attention to the significance of community rituals in facilitating this process, and she has been a leader in developing strategies for re-integration of child soldiers into the community. Dr. Monteiro was a principal participant in examining the issues related to the rights of children in zones of armed conflict when the World Summit on Children was held several years ago.
LANGER AWARD
Recipient: M. Brinton Lykes, MDiv, PhD, professor of community psychology, associate director, Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Boston College; formerly chair, Department of Psychology, University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Presentation: Toward a Psychology of Liberation & Transformation: Scholarship, Activism, & Pedagogy
Dr. Lykes describes her scholarly interests as follows: "gender, culture, and theories of the self; effects of state-sponsored terror and organized violence; human rights policy and mental health interventions; participatory action research and community-based strategies for change." With a central focus on the development of a psychology of liberation, Dr. Lykes has published prolifically on the survival of people in Guatemala and South Africa under former repressive regimes and of citizens' management of change during periods of transition.
Click here to Read more about the annual Ortho Awards Program, including descriptions of past winners.