2011 Family Strengths Symposium

We are pleased to welcome you to the University of Houston-Downtown's Center for Family Strengths 2^nd Annual Symposium on Family Strengths theme of "Strength in the face of Challenges".

This Symposium affirms UHD's commitment to families and diversity in all of our educational, service and research endeavors. Families are the heart of our city and nation. And families are at the center of our work, whether it is through public or private agencies' services to families with neglect and abuse, mental health needs, developmental delays, or justice, substance abuse or violence issues. Our goal is to save families for children and each member.

As you will see through all the workshops, we have the social technology, research and knowledge to keep families together (in most cases), and we should. Many sessions are led or co-presented by family experts who share with professionals what works and what doesn't. Our keynote speakers will affirm the principles of how to recognize what is right in each family and how to build on these strengths.

This Symposium could not have happened without the dedication and insight of many people, beginning with our planning committee listed in this program. All of our wonderful presenters and their agencies have graciously donated their expertise and time to share their work with us. Dean Susan Ahern, Dr. Adolfo Santos and Dr. Jo Bailey of The Social Work program and its students have implemented the vision of this Symposium. Many individuals have spent endless hours to bring this conference to you, including Mary Rodriguez, Courtney Branch, Rene Salinas and Kai-cheng Chen in the President's Office, Cherilyn Pearson, Dr. Pat Mosier, and Rita Thomason in the Office of the Dean, Vanessa Aranda and Keisha Harewood administrative staff in the Department of Social Sciences, Courtney Lundgren in the Office of Admissions, LaToya Carter and Mirna Medrano in CFS, and the BSW students. Special thanks to our university president Dr. Bill Flores for all he has done to give this beneficial symposium a home for many years to come.

Please enjoy the Symposium and the UHD campus and do engage our students, as they are our future. We are sure the presentations will help continue the important work you do every day with families. We appreciate your dedication and service and are glad you chose to join us! Have a great Symposium!