October 20, 2004

Orthodox Union’s Positive Parenting Conference Returns To Los Angeles: Parenting The Elementary School Age Child

Emek Hebrew Academy
Teichman Family Torah Center
15365 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA
Sunday, November 14, 2004
8:45 AM – 1:00 PM

As a follow-up to last year’s highly successful Positive Parenting Conference, which concentrated on high school age students, the West Coast Region of the Orthodox Union, in conjunction with Emek Hebrew Academy, has planned another program, this time focusing on elementary school age children.

The conference will be held at the Emek Hebrew Academy, Teichman Family Torah Center, 15365 Magnolia Blvd in Sherman Oaks on Sunday, November 14 from 8:45 a. m. to 1:00 p.m.

The event is being cosponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

The upcoming conference is the latest example of the OU’s increasingly significant priority of offering programming on behalf of the Jewish family. “Whatever can be done to strengthen the Jewish family will help to ensure the stability of our community in the years to come,” declared Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, OU Executive Director for Programming. “The parent/child relationship represents the very essence of Jewish family life.”

Prominent Los Angeles professionals in the field of psychology and social work will address the distinctive 21st century challenges that arise when parenting young children, including:

• Religious conflicts between school and home;
• Conflict resolution within the family;
• The consequences of overindulging children;
• Setting limits on Internet access;
• Monitoring after school activities and friends;
• Understanding the emotional and academic issues linked to learning disabilities;
• Effective responses to anger in children.

Susan Belgrad, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Education at California State University, Northridge, will deliver the conference’s keynote address on setting healthy limits for our children. Dr. Belgrad served as Director of the Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership program at Roosevelt University in Chicago; facilitated the redesigning of curricular and instructional goals to help schools meet the diverse learning needs of their student and parent bodies; and co-authored the book, Portfolio Connection.

Participants can look forward to obtaining invaluable knowledge and skills through informative lectures, workshops and a PBS video presentation – “How Difficult Can This Be?” – addressing the issues that arise when children struggle with learning disabilities.

“Raising children is one of life’s greatest pleasures and responsibilities,” said Rabbi Alan Kalinsky, Director of the OU West Coast Region. “We invite parents to benefit from these vital programs, as they learn how to strengthen their parenting skills from leading experts in the field.”

These experts include:

Darla A. Dunlop, Ph.D is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice with more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field. She has served on the Board of Directors of the LA County Psychological Association and the San Fernando Valley Psychological Association. Former Director of Development at the Alcott Center, she currently serves as the Director of Development at the Switzer Center, a school for children with learning and emotional problems. As a member of the graduate psychology faculty at Mount St. Mary’s College, Dr. Dunlap teaches education programs for families of those challenged by mental illness, learning disabilities, and developmental disorders.

Sharon Garret, LCSW, BCD runs a thriving private practice for children and their families, while providing clinical and academic consultation to Emek’s parents, children, and staff. She has taught elementary and middle grades; development classes on the college level; conducted numerous in-service workshops for parents and professionals; and developed innovative programs for children with special learning challenges.

Shirley Lebovics, LCSW is in private practice in Beverly Hills, where she offers counseling to adults, families and children. Her area of expertise is in the field of domestic violence, trauma, and anger management and she has written extensively on these topics.

Ernest R. Katz, Ph.D. is director of the Behavioral Sciences Section in the Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. Dr. Katz and his staff assist children and teenagers suffering from serious health problems in their adjustment to illness and treatment. As Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Dr. Katz is also a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in the care of children, adolescents, and families.

Rabbi Steven Weil, spiritual leader of Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills for the past four years, has already attracted almost 300 new families to the synagogue. He previously led the Young Israel of Oak Park in Michigan and served on the faculty of the Frisch School in Paramus, NJ. Active in a myriad of community activities, Rabbi Weil continues to initiate innovative educational and social programs for the growing Beth Jacob community.

Admission is $10 in advance (via mail) and $15 at the door. For reservations and information, call (310) 229-9000, Ext. 6.

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The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 275,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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