HDFS Communicator, Winter 2009/10 - Human Development and ...

Center for the Study of Culture, Health, and Human Development (CHHD)
Members of the Center are continuing their collaboration with the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) to evaluate the extensive
training it gives to staff for Nurturing Family Networks (NFN), CTF’s premier program for preventing child abuse and neglect.
Also currently under evaluation is the effect on the culture and climate of community agencies themselves when their staff
participate in the 80-hour Family Development Training course (a certificate program developed in collaboration between CTF
and what was then the School of Family Studies). These evaluation projects are proving valuable in the development of
“evidence-based” programs to protect vulnerable children, a growing mandate on the national scene. Center members have
been meeting with other researchers from Yale University and the University of Hartford (including HDFS doctoral graduate
Marcia Hughes) to pool their findings on CTF programs. Some of the results were recently presented to the State Legislature
during hearings on Governor Rell’s budget proposals, which included virtually eliminating the CTF. Post-doctoral Fellow
Caroline Mavridis gave live testimony in Hartford, and Professors Sara Harkness and Charles M. Super each wrote letters
informing legislators about the programs’ value. Included in their written testimony is the fact that each case of child abuse
prevented by the NFN program cost the State about $4,000, whereas unprevented, that case would be picked up by the
Department of Children and Families at the cost of about $30,000 per year, and would likely have additional costs in later
years through the police, judicial, and penal systems.
(Frederick G.) Humphrey Clinic for Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy (MFT)
The Humphrey Clinic for Individual, Couple and Family Therapy (THC) has had a busy
semester. We have expanded our promotional endeavours, creating a poster for the Eastbrook
Mall, ads in the local Willimantic Chronicle and UConn’s Daily Campus, and targeted
correspondence to local school principals, guidance counsellors and school psychologists. This
has been part of the impetus behind an increased level of referrals of new clients for the year; a
fact about which we’re very proud and excited.
We also designed our own holiday cards to send as a Thank You to our referral sources for
their continued support during 2009 and into 2010- it’s always crucial to thank those who
continue to support and help us grow.
It has also been a busy time for in-service training for our staff, faculty and students. Two of
UConn’s finest police officers came on-site and trained us in two programs offered by their
Department: Workplace Violence; and Active Threat Training. We hope we never have to use
any of the skills, but if we do- we hope we’re prepared!
Also on the training agenda, we had in-service training from staff from UConn’s Counselling
and Mental Health Services (Rob Goodwin, MD, Susan Grace, APRN, Perry Mandanis, MD,
Donna Webber, APRN). Our marriage and family therapy (MFT) students received some excellent training on Psychiatric
Medications.
THC also participated in the annual UConn Student Services student health fair, where we were blown away by the
response. Literally. The wind blew over the tent and we have to wait until next year to participate.
The MFT Program was also well-represented at the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
conference. MFT doctoral student Louisa Baker, MA and Assistant Professor Shayne R. Anderson both presented posters.
Professor Sandra Rigazio-DiGilio and Clinic Director Doris LaPlante presented the Approved supervisor Refresher course
(see page 1).
The MFT faculty are also meeting regularly to develop the portfolio for our Master’s Program and expansion of doctoral
portfolio, also to develop an evaluation of our students that takes in to account the core competencies developed by AAMFT.
Ronald and Nancy Rohner Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection (CSIAR)
Ronald P. Rohner, Director of the Center, has been asked by the Executive Council of the International Society for
Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection to serve a second two-year term as Past President of the Society. He agreed to do
this while at the same time continuing to serve as the Society’s Executive Director.
Also, Ron Rohner has accepted an invitation to serve as Consulting Editor for the Pakistan Journal of Social and
Clinical Psychology published by the Department of Psychology, GC University in Lahore, Pakistan.
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