Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

Lecture Series Offers "Voice of a Child" in Preventing Abuse

"The university is a natural forum for people learning about how we can all be part of preventing child abuse and neglect," said Carol S. Kelly, a CSUN child development professor. "People who come to the sessions will have an opportunity to get their questions answered and get materials about the resources available for supporting the needs of children."

Starting "The Voice of a Child" series will be a presentation on Wednesday, April 7, by Kathy Van Antwerp, a CSUN alumna and author of "I Can't Come To School Today... My Mom's in Prison and I Don't Have a Ride."

Van Antwerp, a child mental health specialist who teaches a course at Northridge and Moorpark College, will talk about how to "Listen with the Heart" to what children are saying is happening in their lives. The talk will be at 7 p.m. in the University Student Union's Grand Salon on the east side of the campus, 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

Stacy Becker, a CSUN alumna and director of the child and adolescent programs at West Valley Mental Health in Canoga Park, will talk about preventing child abuse in her presentation at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the Shoshone Room of the Satellite Student Union at the corner of Lassen Street and Zelzah Avenue.

CSUN child development instructor Nancy Petry, Rosa Gomez, a child protective services worker, and Kristen Tepelmann, a child mental health specialist, will talk about their careers and how to be competent in preventing child abuse at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, in the Santa Clarita Room of the USU.

CSUN professors Scott Plunkett, Linda Sansarino and Shari Tarver-Behring will talk about "Touching the Lives of Children" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, in the Grand Salon.

For more information about the series, call CSUN's Department of Child Development at (818) 677-3385.