
Minneapolis Convention Center, MN
We are sorry to announce that the Symposium planned for August 12, 2020 has been cancelled due to Covid-19. We know so many parents and teachers look forward to the Symposium each year. We plan to be back in 2021. We hope you and your families are well. Thank you for your support and understanding!
Audience
The Symposium is designed to help parents, educators, administrators, and professionals better identify and address mental health and learning disabilities in children and youth.
Goal of the Symposium
The symposium will provide high-quality professional and parenting development regarding:
- Children’s mental health and learning disabilities
- Effective treatment planning
- Proactive, positive teaching strategies and interventions
Speaker Presentations and Materials
Title | Speaker | Resources |
---|---|---|
Keynote - Trauma Informed Family Engagement Practices | Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., President and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence and Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colo. | Allen_Trauma-Informed-Family-Engagement |
Keynote - When the World Feels Scary: Why Parents and Teachers Matter Now More Than Ever | Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., L.P., Lindahl Leadership Professor in the Department of Family Social Science and the Institute of Child Development, and Director of the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health at the University of Minnesota. | N/A |
Keynote - Learning and Behavior | Richard G. Petty, M.D., Psychiatrist, Neurologist, and Internal Medicine Specialist, Atlanta, Ga. | |
Technology and the Brain | Richard G. Petty, M.D., Psychiatrist, Neurologist, and Internal Medicine Specialist, Atlanta, Ga. | Petty_Technology Workshop |
Surviving and Thriving the Middle School Years | Joyce Ratner, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in private practice, Minn. | |
Working Effectively with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families | Hassan Samantar, Bonnie Jean Smith, Jesús Villaseñor, Dao Xiong, Multicultural advocates at PACER Center, facilitated by Sharman Davis Barrett, Project Director of the Minnesota Statewide Family Engagement Center at PACER Center | Hassan_WorkingwithDiverseFamilies |
What Every Parent Wants to Ask a Pediatrician When Starting Treatment for ADHD | Robert Karasov, M.D., Park Nicollet Clinics, Minn. | Karasov_AskingaPediatricanADHD |
I Don't Remember Signing Up for This! Coping Strategies When the Challenges Seem Overwhelming | Naomi Oxman, MSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), private practice at Center for Developmental Psychopharmacology, Minn. | |
Getting it Right: Mental Health and Special Education | Renelle Nelson, Coordinator of the Mental Health and Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project, PACER Center, and Maleenia Mohabir, Parent Advocate and Children's Mental Health Specialist, PACER Center | RenelleMaleenia_GettingitRight |
Overview of Language-based Learning Disorders and Their Relationship with Executive Function | Ethan Schwehr, Ph.D., L.P., Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Lead at Groves Academy and Ellen Engstrom, M.A., Director of Curriculum at Groves Academy, Minn. | EngstromSchwehr_OverviewLanguageBased |
When the World Feels Scary: Helping Children Stay Calm in an Anxious World | Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., L.P., Lindahl Leadership Professor in the Department of Family Social Science and the Institute of Child Development, and Director of the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health at the University of Minnesota. | Gewirtz_WhenTheWorldFeelsScary |
Trauma and Resilience in Young Children | Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., President and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence and Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colo. | Allen_Trauma-and-resilience |
A Pain Too Deep for Tears: Understanding Non-suicidal Self-injury | Joyce Ratner, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in private practice, Minn. |
Keynote Presenters

Richard G. Petty, M.D., is a world-renowned authority on the brain and an accredited specialist in psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine, and nutrition.

Rosemarie Allen, Ed.D., serves as president and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence, the lead agency for ensuring equity in educational practices throughout the country. She is also an assistant professor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University in Denver.

Dr. Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., L.P., is a professor in the Department of Family Social Science and the Institute of Child Development and is also the director of the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on parenting, trauma, and child adjustment.
Clock Hours
The 6 clock hours offered are designed to meet the requirement for Minnesota teachers renewing their teaching license in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and adolescents. Local re-licensure committees, however, have final approval.
Break Out Session Topics:
- Learning and Behavior
- When the World Feels Scary: Why Parents and Teachers Matter Now More than Ever
- Technology and the Brain
- Helping Children Stay Calm in an Anxious World
- Trauma Informed Family Engagement Practices
- Executive Functioning and Dyslexia
- Surviving and Thriving the Middle School Years
- Self-Harm and Injury
- Getting it Right: Mental Health and Special Education
- What to Ask Your Pediatrician When Starting Treatment for ADHD
- More to come!