UCLA Pritzker Center: New Speaker Series Focuses on Child Welfare and Domestic Violence
UCLA and Los Angeles County experts share interconnections between domestic violence and education, men and fathers, housing stability, health care.

January 7, 2021
Originally featured in Ampersand

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The Pritzker Center for the Strengthening of Children and Families will present a series of talks on “Exploring Child Welfare & Domestic Violence,” which began on Jan. 6 with “Health Care and Domestic Violence,” focusing on how domestic violence comes up in medical settings and how care providers can respond with the whole family in mind. Speakers included Taylor Thaxton and Mariam Khan, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Susie Baldwin, MD, L.A. County Department of Public Health; Shannon Thyne, MD,  L.A. County Department of Health Services and UCLA Health; and Shanica Davis, NP, L.A. County Department of Health Services.

On Jan. 13, a session on “Engaging Men and Fathers” will explore how men and fathers can be engaged in supporting the whole family in preventing, treating and healing from domestic violence. Confirmed speakers include Laura Alongi, MSW, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs; Jimmy Urizar, Para Los Niños; and Dennis Smeal, JD, Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers.

An exploration of “K-12 Education & Domestic Violence” will take place on Jan. 20, with a look at how domestic violence comes up in classrooms, and what educators and school personnel can do to support and serve families. Questions around mandatory reporting and the connection between social services and education will be discussed. Confirmed speakers include Christine Shen, Ed.D, Mann UCLA Community School; Pia V. Escudero, LCSW, Los Angeles Unified School District; and Michele Bowers, Ed.D, Jullie Eutsler, and Trish Wilson of the Lancaster School District.

Finally, on Jan. 27, “Housing & Domestic Violence” will be discussed with perspectives on family stability and concepts relating to failure to protect. Confirmed speakers include Renee Williams, JD, National Housing Law Project; Barbara Kappos, LCSW, East LA Women’s Center; Danielle Rivera, MSW, L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services; and Patsy Moore, JD, Children’s Law Center of California.

All events take place 12:00-1:15 p.m., PST, and are free and open to the public with registration on Zoom. Click here to attend each event and for more information.

Click here to download PDF event flyers in English and Spanish.

For more information about the UCLA Pritzker Center for the Strengthening of Children and Families, visit this link.