March 12, 2008

Mercy Details Program for Early Childhood Mental Health Conference

The Mercy Child Advocacy Center, a service of Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City, and the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership will host an Early Childhood Mental Health Conference on Friday, April 18 from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sioux City Convention Center.

The educational conference is geared toward professionals who work with young children and their families, and will examine the principles and strategies of infant and early childhood mental health and reflective practice.

Marit Appeldoorn, MSW, LICSW, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, and Jodi Hennessey, who is completing a MSW degree at the University of St. Thomas and College of St. Catherine, will lead sessions on “Implications for Practice—Preschool (3 to 5 years).”

Appeldoorn will also lead a free community program on Thursday, April 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Sioux City Convention Center. Her community program on the night before the conference will be geared toward parents, childcare providers and preschool educators. She will discuss “Relationship-Based Work in Group Care Settings.” The evening session will be free of charge, and no registration will be required.

Michele Fallon, MSW, LICSW, a clinical social worker for the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota, will teach a workshop on “Implications for Practice—Infant and Toddler (0 to 3 years). Fallon will also lead a session on the topic of “Relationship Base Work with Young Children and Their Parents: Changing the World One Relationship at a Time.”

Dorothy Lifka, EdD, LMSW, a preschool classroom consultant for Child Guidance/Orchard Place in Des Moines, will address conference attendees on “Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Young Children.”

Continuing education credit will be awarded for healthcare professionals, those in the field of mental health services, and social workers.

The program fee for the conference is $25.