Guest Faculty

On-Going Guest Faculty and Special Guest Faculty 2003-2006

Books that Inspire…

Ada Alden, Ed.D, CFLE, has coordinated Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs in suburban Minneapolis since 1974. She is currently Director of Family Educational Services for the Eden Prairie School District and is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University. She holds a master's degree in adult education with a minor in psychology. She is also a Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota Educational Leadership. Her doctoral research focused on parent-teacher conferences. She is a past President of the Minnesota Council on Family Relations.

Ada reviews parenting books and has written articles for local newspapers. She works with parent and family educators, consults with school districts on parent involvement and effective teacher-parent relations. She has given many presentations on parenting and human development issues throughout the United States for groups such as Head Start, child care providers and staff from the corporate and medical fields. Her book, Parenting on Purpose: Red Yellow Green Framework for Respectful Discipline, helps parents (and others who care for children) think about how they parent and guide children.

Contact: Eden Prairie Family Center, 8040 Mitchell Rd., Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2230. (952) 975-6990. email: aalden@edenpr.k12.mn.us

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Better Partners, Better Parents -- Parenting As a Team

Laurie Jenkins Anderson, M.Ed., LPE, is a Research Project Coordinator with Dr. William Doherty for the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. She earned her B.S. from the University of Minnesota and her M.Ed. from Hamline University. She taught parent education classes for ten years prior to joining the University.
Much of Laurie's professional attention has been devoted to family life education. Currently her professional position involves researching the rise in non-marital births of low-income parents. As a researcher/practitioner, Laurie has studied the changing role of fathers in families, the transition to parenthood, and the importance of co-parenting in family life.

Laurie has developed and conducted workshops in the corporate and educational sectors. She has developed numerous curricula on family-related issues, served on the board of the Minnesota Council of Family Relations, and is currently revising a publication due out in 2006 on the importance of group cohesion in successful parent education.

Contact: 5404 Mayview Rd., Minnetonka, MN 55345. email: LJANDERS@che.umn.edu

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Better Partners, Better Parents -- Parenting As a Team

The Rev. Mary Kaye Ashley, M.Div. , is an enthusiastic pastor and teacher who loves working with growing people of all ages. She holds a Master's degree in Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, MN; Youth Ministry Certification from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA; a B.A. in home economics education from the College of Saint Catherine in Saint Paul, MN, and Minnesota parent/family education licensure, and was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America in 1998.

Recently called as the associate pastor of Como Park Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, MN, she has responsibilities in children's, youth and family, education, and social concerns ministries, in addition to preaching. In ministry, she hopes to assist others in recognizing the presence and blessing of the Holy in their lives. Also, she is adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Catherine in Saint Paul, MN in the Family/Consumer and Nutritional Sciences Dept. She has worked as a parent/family educator, most recently in ISD #108, (Norwood Young America/Cologne/Hamburg/Plato) but also in the Burnsville/Eagan/Savage, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Cambridge/Isanti school districts in Minnesota. In teaching, she employs strength-based ways for families to grow.

Mary Kaye enjoys collaborative work that produces quality improvements in children, youth and families' lives, including being part of the team that produced Better Partners/Better Parents. She enjoys working with parents and children in a variety of life situations. She also wrote a section on nurturing spiritual growth in the context of faith communities for Jean Illsley Clarke & Connie Dawson's most recent edition of Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children. Some of her recent work has included a "varieties of prayer" evening for the confirmation sacramental preparation ministry at the Catholic Community of Saint Thomas Becket in Eagan, MN, and speaking with her teaching partner Cynthia Sampers on "Spiritual Self-Care for Mothers and Others who care for children" at the 2005 Minnesota Mothers of Multiples state conference. With joy, she is also married and the mother of three sons; a young adult, and almost 15-year-old identical twins. Mary Kaye believes "there's almost always a way."

Contact: Pr. Mary Kaye Ashley, Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 Hoyt Ave. W., Saint Paul, MN 55108-2300. email: carimae24@aol.com

Money Management for Teens...

Rebecca Baer, M.S., is an Extension Educators specializing in Family and Consumer Sciences and Community Development, Ohio State University Extension, Meigs County. She Earned her B. S. and M.S. from Ohio University. She taught secondary family and consumer sciences at Meigs High School, Pomeroy, Ohio for 16 years prior to joining the Extension Service.

Her work in the community includes developing programs that address critical issues in child care, family life, parenting, adult development and aging, nutrition, food safety, money management, jobs and family. With a specialization in money management, Rebecca has developed lesson plans, programs and news articles on youth and family financial issues, such as the innovative “public service announcements” for youth that will be featured in Family Information Services this year. In addition she has worked with Job Club clients, Early Start parents, University and ABLE students, Community Housing Improvement Program applicants and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, and 4-H Fashion Board members around issues of personal and family financial management.

Contact: Ohio State University Extension – Meigs County, P.O. Box 32, Mulberry Heights, Pomeroy, OH 45769. Phone: 740.992.6696 Email: baer.29@osu.edu

Working on Our Marriage…

Julie Baumgardner, M.S., CFLE, is the Executive Director of First Things First, a one of a kind, grassroots organization dedicated to strengthening families in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The success of the FTF initiative has sparked interest in duplicating the FTF model in cities across the country. First Things First strives to reverse the current trends of divorce, out of wedlock pregnancies and fatherlessness by laying out a blueprint for strong families. We have three goals: to reduce divorce and out of wedlock pregnancies by 30% and to increase father involvement in the lives of their children by 30%.

Julie received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Transylvania University and her masters degree in Community Agency Counseling from the University of Tennessee. Julie has worked in the fields of marketing and counseling for nearly 16 years. Prior to joining First Things First, she was the marketing director at East Ridge Hospital and Valley Hospital where she was also a social worker and program director for the child and adolescent program. Julie frequently speaks on family issues, including time management, problem solving, dealing with change, parenting, and marriage relationships. Her weekly column on family issues in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press reaches thousands. Julie serves on the boards of a number of community organizations. She and her husband Jay have been married almost 13 years and they have a nine-year-old daughter, Ashley.

Contact: First Things First, 419 N. Market Street, Suite 200, Chattanooga, TN 37405. (423) 267-5383 email: julieb@firstthings.org

Family Fun...

Suzanne S. Bond, Ed. D, is currently an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership department at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle Washington where she supports school leaders in their personal and professional growth and development. Prior to this, she served as a school superintendent, high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher in the K-12 public school system.She is a Certified Program Administrator for the Parents As Teachers Program which she was involved in establishing in Washington. Dr. Bond holds an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from Seattle University.

Dan N. Bond, MSW, currently holds the position of Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for Snohomish County, Washington. Previous to that he was with the Office of Children's Affairs and was responsible for leadership and coordination of many projects of the Snohomish County Children's Commission, with a primary emphasis on delinquency prevention. He has also provided direct services to families, focusing on work with youth at risk including sexual abuse victims, evaluations for out-of-home placements of adolescents, and cases involving emotionally disturbed adolescents. Dan holds an M.S.W. from Portland State University and a Certificate in Human Services Management from the University of Washington. He is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (A.C.S.W.).

Contact: P.O. Box 1588, Coupeville, WA 98239 (360)678-5142 email: su.dan@verizon.net

People & Programs: Finding Hope and Healing When Dreams Are Lost

Ted Bowman, M.Div., is a trainer, educator, and consultant who specializes in change and transition, whether it occurs in families, an organization, or the community. Ted has also taught Family Education courses at the University of Minnesota since 1981. From 1985-1996 Ted was Senior Trainer for the Wilder Foundation, a large endowed human service agency, located in St. Paul, Minnesota. He assumed that position after directing educational programs at Family Service agencies in Charlotte, NC and Minneapolis, MN for the previous twelve years. He was an adjunct faculty member of the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, KY from its beginning through 1992 and United Theological Seminary from 1989 through 1996. He will be an adjunct teacher at the University of Saint Thomas in spring of 2006. He is also the author or co-author of booklets published by Family Service America, Allina Hospitals and the 3M Company. His two booklets, Loss of Dreams: A Special Kind of Grief, published in 1994, and Finding Hope When Dreams Have Shattered, published in 2001, have sold more than 35,000 copies.

He is a frequent trainer, consultant, and speaker with many groups throughout Minnesota, across the United States, and other countries. In addition to his regular trips to the UK where he has worked since 1989, Ted has also spoken or led workshops in Uruguay, Taiwan, Russia, Moldova, and Canada. Ted was a member of the on-going guest faculty of Family Information Services from 1989-1993, sharing his insights and experience regarding group leadership.

Contact: 2111 Knapp Street, St. Paul, MN 55108-1814 (651 645-6058) Email: bowma008@umn.edu

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: From Stepfamily to “New Family” (referenced in Briefs & Notes)

Annette T. Brandes, Ph.D., earned her doctorate from the University of Chicago. For the past thirty-five years, she has been primarily involved in psychotherapeutic and educational endeavors with families - the most recent eighteen of those years being spent as a licensed psychologist in Minnesota specializing in work with all types of new-family.

Annette is the author of Stepfamily Life Can be Hell but it doesn't have to be! 7 Steps to Recreating Family. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Minnesota Society of Clinical Hypnosis. She holds certification in interactive guided imagery from the Academy for Guided Imagery in Mill Valley, CA. In addition to being a psychologist, Annette is also a freelance writer. She and her black Labrador, Louie, live in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Brandes has been a keynote speaker and featured presenter at workshops on new-family. Her work has been featured at guest appearances on radio and television.

Contact Annette through e-mail at atbrandes@msn.com, by telephone at (763) 722-0139, FAX: (651) 846-6220, or via the Internet at www.abrandes.com

People & Programs feature: The Three Types of Overindulgence

David Bredehoft, Ph.D., L.P., CFLE has been involved in the fields of psychology and family life education since 1974. He started the Psychology Program at Concordia University, St. Paul in 1976 where he now professor and chairperson of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. He holds academic degrees in the areas of psychology, educational psychology, and family social science. David is also a licensed Psychologist in the State of Minnesota, a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, and has had thirty years of experience in both research and therapy.

David has published over 70 articles in journals and magazines and has presented papers at national conventions all relating to interests in psychology, parenting, and families. David is co-author with Michael Walcheski of Family Life Education: Integrating Theory and Practice and coauthor with Jean Illsley Clarke and Connie Dawson of How Much is Enough? Everything You need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children – From Toddlers To Teens. In 2003, David was named “Certified Family Life Educator of the Year” by the National Council on Family Relations. In addition to writing, David serves as the lead researcher and webmaster for the Overindulgence Project (www.overindulgence.info).

Contact: Concordia University St. Paul, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 275 Syndicate St. N., St. Paul, MN 55104. (651) 641-8827. email: bredehoft@csp.edu

People & Programs feature: Helping Children Cope With Fears and Stressful Events

Dr. Doris Brett is a clinical psychologist from Melbourne, Australia, and author of Annie Stories: A Special Kind of Storytelling and More Annie Stories. She has traveled throughout the world training parents and professionals to use stories and metaphors to help children and adults work through their unspoken feelings and resolve their anxieties. She also maintains a private counseling practice.

Dr. Stella Chess, noted professor of child development and expert on children and temperament lauded Ms. Brett's work, stating that "she has succeeded in capturing the developmental steps through which children grow and the worries that children have about the continuous changes and new events that occur in their lives. Without being prescriptive, she has offered parents an effective method to help their children meet and master what is ahead."

When she was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, she began writing a private journal that grew into her most recent book, Eating the Underworld: A memoir in three voices. This memoir explores the intricate dynamics of family, truth and memory using three voices - the diarist, the poet, and the voice of fairytale and myth.

Contact: 56 Almond Street. Caulfield VIC 3162 Australia. email: doris@imber.com.au

Christian Family Perspectives...

Mike Brock, M.A., LPCI, is a Dallas-area counselor, educator, and seminar leader who speaks to thousands of people yearly. He has given presentations and workshops throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico and Central America, on a variety of issues ranging from parenting concerns and educational leadership to personality styles and spirituality. Mike is the author or co-author of several books, including Positive Discipline in the Christian Home, and Victoria’s Mountain: A Journey of Heart, Mind, and Soul (to be released in March 2005).

Mike received his B.A. in philosophy from the University of Dallas in 1970. He holds master's degrees in history from Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT and in counseling from Amberton University, Garland, TX. In addition, he has done extensive graduate work in education administration. He works for a Dallas counseling agency and a Dallas middle school and expects to complete his counseling internship by the summer of 2005.

Contact: email: mlbrock@gte.net

Negotiating Conflict...

Scott Brown, J.D., is a nationally known expert on negotiation and conflict resolution. He was a founding member of the Harvard Negotiation Project, and the past president of Conflict Management Group, a leading international consulting firm on public conflict resolution where he worked behind the scenes on a wide variety of conflicts and issues, including ethnic conflicts in the Former Soviet Union, the border conflict between Peru and Ecuador, and constitutional negotiations in Canada. Mr. Brown has conducted negotiation training programs for numerous Fortune 500 companies and has acted as a mediator in several prominent legal cases, including the deregulation of the telecommunications system of New York State, the first telecom deregulation settlement in the country.

Mr. Brown is the author of three books and numerous articles on negotiation and conflict resolution, including his most recent book, How to Negotiate With Kids…Even When You Think You Shouldn’t, which won the 2003 Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award. He has spoken nationally on family conflict resolution and the impact of family conflict on children. He leads parenting seminars locally and lives in Hanover, New Hampshire with his wife and four children.

Contact:email: scottsbrown@VALLEY.NET

Living with the Active Alert Child…

Linda Budd, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist who specializes in parenting issues. She has written Living with the Active Alert Child, the published product of over 30 years of research into a specific temperament in children.
A practicing psychologist since 1976, Linda has become a leading consultant nationally, regarding parenting. Her unique combination of training in child development, family systems, family therapy and parenting development has been instrumental in the development of her work with active alert children and their families.

In addition to her private practice, she is an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches graduate courses on parenting and family relationships. She received the University's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992 and the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Distinguished Service Award in 1999.

Contact: 2301 Como Avenue, Suite 204, St. Paul, MN 55108. (651) 644-8235.

Parent-to-Parent...

Marsha Cherington, M.Ed., provides Family Services for an Early Childhood Program in a public school district in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. A certified school counselor, she has worked with college students, junior high students, preschoolers and parents. In her work for the school system, she holds parent meetings, makes home visits and distributes a monthly newsletter to parents and child care providers. Another aspect of her work involves helping to create a true partnership between parents and schools when children enter kindergarten. She teaches community leadership trainings and is preparing to teach a communication skills course to child care providers through the local Community College.

Marsha weaves her experiences as a child, a grandchild, a sibling and a parent of adult children into letters and stories that support and encourage parents and those who work with and love children. She delights in the growing relationship she has with her own children and finds that they remain her very best teachers. She contributes to local newsletters and offers workshops to parents, childcare providers and community members around the topic of family well-being.

Contact: Caledonia North Supervisory Union, P.O. Box 107, Lyndonville, VT 05851. (802) 626-5262. email: mcherington@cnsu.k12.vt.us

Self-Esteem Ideas & Activities…
and People & Programs feature: The Three Types of Overindulgence

Jean Illsley Clarke, Ph.D., CFLE, is a nationally known author and designer of workshops on over-indulgence, self-esteem, child and adult development, family strengths and team building. She has keynoted conferences and given workshops across the U.S. and abroad, most recently in Iceland, England, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Russia. Ms. Clarke holds a master’s degree in Human Development from St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN, and an honorary doctorate of human services from Sierra University, Santa Monica, CA and an honorary doctorate of letters from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. Her publications include the award winning Self-Esteem: A Family Affair (and leaders guide); Who Me, Lead a Group?; Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children (and leader’s guide); The Help! Books for Parents; Help! for Kids and Parents About Drugs; Time-In: When Time-Out Doesn’t Work and Connections: The Threads that Strengthen Families. For the past several years her research has focused on overindulgence and her most recent book, How Much is Enough? Everything You need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children – From Toddlers To Teens.

Jean edits a self-esteem newsletter and also directs a program for advanced training in Transactional Analysis. She received the Distinguished Service to Families Award from the Minnesota Council on Family Relations; the International Eric Berne Memorial Award for Applied Transactional Analysis in Parent Education in 1996; the Distinguished Alum of the Year (1999) and the Larry Wilson Award (2001) from the College of Education and Human Ecology, University of Minnesota. Her book on Time-In is a recent winner of the Parent’s Choice Award for 1999. Jean serves on the Family Information Services National Panel of Advisors.

Contact: Self-Esteem Center, 16535 9th Avenue N., Minneapolis, MN 55447. (763) 473-1840. email: jiconsults@aol.com

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: Dads Are Important Too!
Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Exploring Marriage As An Option for My Future

Dawn Contreras, Ph.D. has been with Michigan State University Extension for 23 years. In her current position of Program Leader she provides statewide leadership for several human development programs, including 2 parent education programs, an immunization project, and a secondhand smoke education program. Dawn has an adjunct appointment with the Department of Family and Child Ecology, where she teaches several classes.

Contact: Email: contrera@msue.msu.edu

Activities for Working with Couples...

Martin Covey, Ph.D., CFLE, is an Associate Professor for Spring Arbor University's Adult Studies program, teaching Family Life Education and Family Studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He graduated from United Wesleyan College in 1981 with a degree in Mission Aviation. He also earned his Commercial and Instrument pilot certificates. Martin was ordained as a minister in the Wesleyan Church in 1985 and have served in churches as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and district youth president, and Assistant District Superintendent for the North Michigan District of the Wesleyan Church.

He received his Master's Degree in Family Studies from Michigan State University in 1991 and completed his Ph.D. in Family and Child Ecology from MSU in 1996. In addition to his university teaching, Martin is the co-founder of Creative Family Concepts, through which he provides workshops on a wide variety of marriage and family life education topics.

Contact: Spring Arbor University, Grand Rapids, 1550 E. Beltline, SE, Suite 240, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (800) 968-0023 email: mcovey@arbor.edu

Let's Get Moving...

Lynn Cox, M.S., earned her B.S. in Education from Wittenberg University and her M.S. in Education from the University of MN. She has been an educator for over forty years in the area of motor development of children. She has taught elementary, middle school, and senior high school physical education and developmental/adapted physical education (DAPE). In the last fifteen years she has worked at the preschool level as a DAPE teacher in an early childhood special education program. Her vast experience as a trainer of teachers and parents/caregivers in movement activities has included numerous presentations to groups such as Head Start teachers, Early Childhood Family Education teachers and parent groups, state and regional professional conferences, and as a guest speaker at college and university classes.

Lynn is the recipient of the MN State DAPE Leadership Award and the George Hanson DAPE Award of the MN Association of Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance for contributions and distinguished service and the MN District 279 2003 Investment in Youth Award. She has been on writing teams on early childhood movement curriculums for school districts and for the MN State Department of Education, has been a contributor to newsletters and co-authored the book, Make It Take It- Creating Movement Challenge Kits for Play at Home or School. Lynn’s enthusiasm as an educator is sparked not only from the children she teaches, their families, and teaching colleagues, but also from the support of her husband, three children and the joy of two grandchildren who are always “moving to learn and learning to move.”

Contact: email: glcox@ties2.net

People & Programs (audio interview): Helping Children Deal with Disappointment

Elizabeth Crary, M.S., founded Parenting Press in 1979, to publish books that build competence and promote well-being in parents and children. She is also the author of 28 books, including Without Spanking or Spoiling (more than 150,000 copies in print), Love & Limits, Pick Up Your Socks, two of the titles in the Tools for Everyday Parenting series (365 Wacky, Wonderful Ways to Get Your Children to Do What You Want: Magic Tools for Raising Kids and Practical Tips and Tools: Understanding School-aged Children.) Her most recent book (2003) is Dealing with Disappointment: Helping Kids Cope when Things Don't Go Their Way.

Elizabeth holds a master's degree and has studied Adlerian counseling, Parent Effectiveness Training, and Transactional Analysis. She speaks often for groups such as National Head Start, La Leche League, and NAEYC. She has been interviewed on more than 350 radio and television stations, including the Oprah Winfrey show. She also teaches a class for parents of toddlers and preschoolers at North Seattle Community College. She continues to work on the development of the STAR Parenting model and facilitator training.

Contact: Parenting Press, P.O. Box 75267, 11065 5th Ave NE, Suite F, Seattle, WA 98125. Phone: (800) 992-6657. email: ecrary@parentingpress.com website: www.parentingpress.com

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren...(co-authored with Dr. Andrea B. Smith)

Linda L. Dannison, Ph.D., CFLE, is Professor and Chairperson, Familiy and Consumer Sciences, Western Michigan University. She holds a master's degree in Family and Child Development, and a Ph.D., in Adult and Occupational Education from Kansas State University. Her professional experience includes teacher education at North Dakota State University and Western Michigan University, secondary education in Kansas and Michigan. Clinical experiences include working as a counselor at Grand Rapids Job Corps Center, directing an Infant Stimulation program for teen mothers at Park School in Grand Rapids, and teaching incarcerated teenagers at Waalkes Juvenile Center in Kent County.

Recent articles have appeared in Intergenerational Programming Quarterly, Children and Schools, Contemporary Education, International Pediatrics, Journal for Specialists in Group Work, Childhood Education, Human Ecology Review, Initiatives, Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, and Family Relations. She co-edited a curriculum for Custodial Grandparent support groups called The Second Time Around: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and is developing a curriculum for use with grandchildren in grandparent-maintained homes. Linda's partner for 31 years, Rusty also a CFLE, practices law in Grand Rapids and is an adjunct professor (family studies) for Western Michigan University. He collaborates on the legal aspects of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Contact: Western Michigan University, Family and Consumer Sciences, 3018 Kohrman Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. (616) 387-3704.

People & Programs feature: The Three Types of Overindulgence

Connie Dawson, Ph.D., began her professional career teaching fifth and sixth grade and serving as a school programs consultant for the Johnson Institute in Minneapolis. After moving to the West Coast, she continued to work with schools and as adjunct instructor at Portland State University. Asked to join the faculty, she taught in the counselor education program while pursuing doctoral studies. While at the University, she helped to develop the Classrooms as Families model in the Graduate Teacher Education Program. After leaving the university, she established a private practice in counseling, specializing in the treatment of adoptive families, most recently at the Attachment Center Northwest in Kirkland, WA.

Connie has served on the boards of the American Adoption Congress and the Attachment Disorders Institute. Now retired from the practice of psychotherapy, she is affiliated with the Family Support Alliance of Island County, WA, where she lives. She continues to lecture and teach workshops to parents and educators, particularly on the topic of her most recent book, How Much is Enough? Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children – From Toddlers To Teens about the long-term effects of parental overindulgence, co-authored with Jean Illsley Clarke and David Bredehoft. She also co-authored Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children with Jean Illsley Clarke.

Contact: 4966 S. Carlie Drive, Langley, WA 98260. (425) 889-8524. email: cdawson@whidbey.com

The Intentional Marriage...

William J. Doherty, Ph.D., CFLE, is a Professor and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. He continues his practice as a marriage and family therapist - as he has done for the past 22 years. He was immediate recent past president of the National Council on Family Relations.

A sought after public speaker, Bill offers lectures and workshops across the country on family life issues presenting a message that "cuts across ideological lines." He has authored numerous journal articles and several books including Soul Searching: Why Psychotherapy Must Promote Moral Responsibility (Basic Books, 1995), and for parents, couples and families; The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties (Avon, 1997) and Take Back Your Kids: Confident Parenting in Turbulent Times (Sorin Books, 2000), and Take Back Your Marriage: Sticking Together in a World That Pulls Us Apart (Guilford, 2001). He has worked with parent and family educators to develop a model on "Levels of Involvement in Parent Education" (published in Family Relations, 1995, vol. 44, pp. 353-358). He is currently creating a "families and democracy model" to encourage families to work together to improve their communities (in Family Relations, August, 2000). His most visible project in this area is Family Life 1st, which aims at "taking back family life from overscheduled family hyperactivity and the consumer culture of childhood." (http://familylife1st.org)

Contact: Department of Family Social Science, 290 McNeal Hall, 132 Buford Avenue, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. (612) 625-4752. email: bdoherty@che.umn.edu

Family Matters...

Roslyn Ann Duffy, B.Ed., is a counselor, author speaker and teacher. She began one of the first all-day Montessori Child Care programs in the United States, directed it for 17 years and has taught children and adults of all ages. She earned her B.Ed. in K-12 education adn holds an American Montessori Pre-primary Certificate from Seattle University. Roslyn has written numerous books, including Positive Discipline: The First Three Years; Positive Discipline for Preschoolers; Positive Discipline: A Teacher's A-Z Guide, all co-authored with Jane Nelsen and others (Random House). She also has written The Parent Report Card, with Elizabeth Crary (Parenting Press) and produced the video: Preschool Class Meetings (Better Living Institute). She has additional books due out soon.

Roslyn writes the column From a Parent's Perspective for Child Care Information Exchange magazine and works and travels internationally with the World Forum on Early Care and Education. She lives and maintains a private counseling practice in Seattle, WA.

Contact: www.roslynduffy.com

Nathan Dungan is the founder and president of Share Save Spend, LLC an organization that helps people of all ages develop and maintain healthy financial habits. He is the author of Prodigal Sons and Material Girls: How Not to Be Your Child’s ATM. Since 1990, Nathan has been creating and presenting values-based financial workshops. At conferences and events, Nathan offers insight drawn from his highly successful Share-Save-Spend approach to money, and offers convincing examples to help participants build healthy financial boundaries. He consults nationally with families and organizations related to this topic.

Prior to founding Share Save Spend, LLC Nathan was a top-performing financial advisor and vice president of marketing for Thrivent Financial — a Fortune 500 financial services company. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN with a BA in Speech-Communication and Music. He also completed the Executive Education Program at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Nathan is also an active volunteer. He is vice-chair of both the National Institute on Media and the Family and Minneapolis based YouthCARE (Cultural Appreciation & Racial Equality) boards.

Contact: ndungan@sharesavespend.com Website: www.sharesavespend.com

Growing Concerns...

Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D., having served as the first director of the Children, Youth, and Family Consortium at the University of Minnesota from 1991 to 2003, now is Senior Fellow with the Consortium, co-chairing the university's Presidential Initiative on Children, Youth & Families and spearheading the development of the Center of Excellence in Children's Mental Health. She is one of the developers of STEEP (Steps Toward Effective, Enjoyable Parenting), a preventive intervention program for high-risk parents and infants. A developmental psychologist, Marti speaks and consults throughout the U.S. and abroad on parent-child attachment, child abuse prevention, and community-based approaches to strengthening families. Marti has worked with former Vice President Al Gore on family policy issues, co-chairing his annual family policy conference, Family Re-Union. She is a board member for Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Institute on Media and the Family and the National Council on Family Relations.

Marti appears regularly on KARE-TV (Minneapolis/St.Paul) as a child and family expert. She is author of many journal articles, book chapters, and the weekly syndicated parenting column Growing Concerns. She also is author of the book Infants, Toddlers, and Families: A Framework for Support and Intervention (Erickson & Kurz-Riemer, 1999, Guilford Press). As part of the STEEP program, she developed a strategy for using videotaping and guided self-observation to enhance parental sensitivity. To introduce other professionals to that approach, Marti has produced a training video and companion manual, Seeing is Believing™ (Erickson, 2000, University of Minnesota).

In addition to her professional activities, Marti writes music and is lead vocalist with Free Spirit, performing at professional conferences and community events to raise awareness about child and family issues. Free Spirit has released three CDs and donates proceeds to programs that support parents and young children. Marti serves on the Family Information Services National Panel of Advisors.

Contact: CYFC, University of Minnesota, McNamara Alumni Center, Suite 270A, 200 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-2002. (612) 625-7596. www.cyfc.umn.edu

The Art of Parenting...

Cheryl Erwin, MA, MFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, author, and speaker. She has co-authored seven books with Dr. Jane Nelsen, including several books in the Positive Discipline series and Parents Who Love Too Much: How Good Parents Can Learn to Parent More Wisely and Develop Children of Character. She is also the co-author of How to Turn Boys Into Men Without a Man Around the House: A Single Mother's Guide with Dr. Richard Bromfield, a clinical psychologist on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Cheryl is a frequent workshop and conference presenter and also has a weekly parenting program on her local public radio station. Cheryl and her family live in Reno, Nevada.

Contact: 835 N. Rock Blvd., Sparks, NV 89431. (775) 355-7722. email: clerwin@thoughtstream.net

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: It Happened to Me: Children Coping with Crisis
Youth Development Focus Issue: I Can't Believe This Happened to Me: Teens Coping with Crisis

Donna Fiedler, Ph.D., LCSW, FAAETS, CFLE, ASCW, is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Field Practicum at La Salle University's BSW program. She completed her MSW and Ph.D. from Rutgers University. She is a member of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She is recognized as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania, a Fellow in the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (FAAETS), and a member of the Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute. In addition, she is a member of a denominational response team for sexual ethic violations and is active as a mental health volunteer in the American Red Cross.

Donna's private practice includes consultations regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) work, and providing training on Post Traumatic Stress Debriefing. She has presented at numerous professional conferences including those sponsored by Family Service America and the United Methodist Church at the national and regional levels. She continues also to give workshops and presentations nationally and serves on the Family Information Services National Panel of Advisors.

Contact: LaSalle University LaSalle University, Social Work Program, Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199. Phone: (215) 951-1117. email: fiedler@lasalle.edu

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: Parenting the Newly One- and Two Year Old
Basic Parenting Focus Issue: Parenting the Newly Three- and Four-Year-Old

Delores Otsea Fletcher, M.A., piloted one of the first Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs in Minnesota and continued to be a leader with new outreach efforts to reach all families with young children for over 30 years. She was Program Director of the Parent-Child Center, Robbinsdale Area Schools, Robbinsdale, MN prior to her retirement from the district. Her responsibilities included coordination of the Early Childhood Family Education, Early Childhood Screening, and Even Start programs for the district. She holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mankato State University and received Gestalt methods training at New England Center, Amherst, MA.

Delores also taught college courses in Early Childhood and Parent Education and Administration for St. Cloud State University and Macalester College. She was a validator for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, wrote several curriculum guides in the field and served on the ECFE Evaluation committee for 25 years. She continues to be active in the field and is involved in various volunteer activities. She is currently the chair of the Jones Harrison Residence Board of Directors, and has been instrumental in attaining funding for research and the development of state-of-the-art health and wellness services for their elderly residents. She also chairs the state bylaws committee for Delta Kappa Gamma.

Contact: 6105 Lincoln Drive Apt 129, Minneapolis, MN 55436-1619 Email: getfletcher@msn.com

Keeping in Touch - While We're Apart...

Carole Gesme, M.A. CFLE, holds a master's degree in Human Development from Saint Mary's University. She is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), a chemical dependency counselor and a former elementary school teacher. She is an adjunct professor at Concordia University and Saint Mary's University teaching in the areas of family systems and human development. She is also an advisor to graduate students in Saint Mary's Human Development program.
Carole has created several therapeutic and educational games and tools which she markets through her company, I Wanna Be Me. These include The Love Game; Ups & Downs With Feelings; Feeling Faces Paper People; The Self-Esteem Calendar; Capture A Feeling; Remembering Christmas; The Family Puzzle; Keyed-Up For Being Drug-Free and Time Together. She is the author of While We're Apart: Ideas and Activities for Creating and Maintaining Closeness and Communication with Kids While Living Apart; Help For Kids! Understanding Your Feelings About Moving and Help For Kids! Understanding Your Feelings About Having a Parent in Prison or Jail. She has co-authored Affirmation Ovals; 139 Ways to Give & Get Affirmation; Help! For Kids and Parents About Drugs with Jean Illsely Clarke, and Life is A Celebration with Dr. Russell E. Osnes.

Carole has taught parenting within the Minnesota Correctional System for more than 20 years and teaches self-esteem, parenting and assertiveness classes for HealthSystem Minnesota. She is a trainer for the Minnesota Child Welfare Training System in effective parenting skills and the effects of abuse and neglect on child development.

Contact: I Wanna Be Me, 112 Edgewood Court, Wayzata, MN, 55391. (952) 938-9163. Email: cgesme@aol.com

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Signs, Symptoms and Ways to Help

Colleen Ghasedi is a faculty member at Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) in the Parent Education department in Albany, OR. She currently teaches Live and Learn with your Infant and Live and Learn with your Toddler classes for LBCC. Colleen has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Oregon State University and is currently completing her Master's degree in Counseling at George Fox University.

She has worked as a Research Assessor at the Oregon Social Learning Center, a Child and Family Advisor at a child abuse assessment center, a Victim Advocate for the District Attorney's office and a Family Advocate for low-income families. She has also worked in Lane Community College's Child Development Center — a lab training program for Early Childhood professionals. In her church and the community she has coordinated and taught after-school programs, summer camps, Bible clubs, drug prevention programs, Healthy Lifestyle classes, and American Red Cross Health and Safety courses. Her research interests include at risk youth, early childhood issues, spirituality and developmental assets.

Contact information: colleenghasedi@hotmail.com

People & Programs:
Between Parent & Child: Emotionally Intelligent Parenting

H. Wallace (Wally) Goddard, Ph.D., CFLE, serves as an Extension Family Life Specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He develops programs and provides training on parenting, marriage, youth development, and family relations. He earned degrees at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, in physics, math, and education before teaching high school. After teaching school for 12 years, he returned to college attending Utah State University, where he earned his doctorate in Family and Human Development.

Wally served as an Extension Specialist at Auburn University in Alabama for six years. During that time he studied teen behavior, developed a widely-used parenting program, participated with a national team to develop a model of parent education (The National Extension Parent Education Model), and created a respected youth development program called The Great Self Mystery. He is also working with his colleague, Dr. Steve Dennis, on an internet-based Parent Self-Assessment tool, and is co-author (with Dr. Stephen Duncan) of a new textbook Family Life Education: Principles and Practices for Effective Outreach (2005, Sage). Wally took leave from Auburn University to help Stephen Covey write The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. He also taught courses for Utah State University. He returned to work as an Extension Specialist, at the University of Arkansas Extension Service. He has worked with public television to develop a series entitled Guiding Children
Successfully that has aired all over the United States and worked with Haim Ginott’s widow, Alice Ginott, to revise the classic parenting book, Between Parent and Child.

Contact: University of Arkansas, 2301 South University Ave., Box 391, Room 301L, Little Rock, AR 72203 (501) 671-2104. Email: goddard@uaex.edu website: www.arfamilies.org

People & Programs (audio interview): The Power of Play: How Young Children REALLY Learn

Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D. holds the H. Rodney Sharp Chair in the School of Education at the University of Delaware and is also a member of the Departments of Psychology and Linguistics. She directs the Infant Language Project, whose goal it is to understand how children tackle the amazing feat of learning language. The recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (among other awards), she is frequently quoted in newspapers and magazines and has appeared on Good Morning America and many East Coast regional morning shows. She also speaks around the world about children’s development, urging parents to trust their instincts and let their children enjoy play.

Dr. Golinkoff has published nine books including How Babies Talk: The Magic and Mystery of Language in the First Three Years of Life (with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek). Her latest book, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less (also with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek) was awarded the Books for a Better Life prize in the Psychology division in 2004. She has written dozens of professional articles, and presented over 100 papers at professional conferences. She has also held leadership roles in several scientific organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Jean Piaget Society, and the International Society for Infant Studies. She has served on the panels of federal, Israeli, and Canadian funding agencies. Roberta is presently on the editorial or advisory boards of several journals in her field: Child Development, Infancy, and Language Acquisition.

Contact: School of Education, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716. (302) 831-1634. Email: roberta@udel.edu

Caregiving...

Janet Gonzalez-Mena, M.A., has been a preschool teacher, childcare director, ESL teacher of adults and community college teacher. She retired from Napa Valley College in Northern California in 1998 and is now a consultant and freelance writer. She studied at Pacific Oaks College and interned with Magda Gerber in the 1970s. She has written many articles and books on early childhood education. Her most recent book is Foundations: Early Childhood Education in a Diverse Society. She also wrote Dragon Mom: Confessions of a Child Development Expert, and Multicultural Issues in Child Care.

Contact: 5348 Suisun Valley Road, Suisun, CA 94585. (707) 427-2291. email: gmena@community.net

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Young Couples and Money Issues

Nancy Granovsky, M.S., CFP®, C.F.C.S, (no photo available ) is Professor and Extension Family Economics Specialist for Texas Cooperative Extension at Texas A&M University. Nancy has responsibility for Extension program development in family economics and financial planning and management education. Her current projects include employee financial management education; retirement planning; the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program®; Consumer Decision Making Judging Event; Financial Security in Later Life; financial planning for college; financial planning for women; Operation READY; and gender and development. She is a frequent presenter on financial planning topics and on topics related to international development, and she is the author of numerous Extension publications and curricula in financial management education.

Nancy holds a B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota in Home Economics Education. Her M.S. degree in Family Economics and further post-graduate studies are from Kansas State University. She is a Certified Financial Planner® certificant and is certified in Family and Consumer Sciences. She is fluent in Spanish. She is past president of Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Zeta Chapter of the International Federation for Home Economics, Texas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Texas Cooperative Extension Specialists Association. In December 2002, Nancy was designated as one of seven Regents' Fellows by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Contact: Texas Cooperative Extension, 311 Melbern Glasscock Building, 2251 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2251 phone: 979.845.1869 e-mail: n-granovsky@tamu.edu

Parenting Teens…

Randy A. Hayes, M.S., CFLE, LCPC, has been teaching parenting and doing therapy with parents and adolescents for the last 25 years. He has been employed at Sinnissippi Centers, a four county rural Behavioral Health Center in northwestern Illinois for the last twelve years. Prior to this, he worked as Clinical Director and Senior Therapist for the Stephenson County Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse for 13 years. He has also done employment counseling and worked with developmentally delayed children. Randy has primarily been responsible for Quality Assurance reports and trainings at Sinnissippi Centers. He has also specialized in working with children with ADHD and their families and has done numerous trainings in this area.

Randy has a BA in Anthropology, and an MS in Community Mental Health. Randy is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He is licensed in the state of Illinois as a Clinical Professional Counselor. He works as a lay pastor in the United Methodist Church. Randy published the book, A Handbook of Quality Change and Implementation (C&R Publications) in 2001 and recently published, The Evidence Based Practice, published by John Wiley & Sons. He also writes and lectures for the Joint Commission Resources. His agency is the 2002 winner of the JCAHO Codman Award and the 2003 APA Psychiatric Services Award.

Contact: 401 N. Congress, Polo, IL 61064. (815) 288-6611 email: rahayes@essex1.com

People & Programs (audio interview): The Power of Play: How Young Children REALLY Learn

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. is an internationally respected scholar in the areas of human development, language development, and infancy. As the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Professor in the Department of Psychology at Temple University, she serves as Director of the Infant Language Laboratory and as the Director of the psychology department honor’s program. Kathy received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her Ph.D. at University of Pennsylvania. Kathy has written seven books. Her popular press book with Dr. Roberta Golinkoff entitled How Babies Talk, has been translated into Italian, German, French and Spanish. Her recent book, Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less, (also with Roberta Michnick Golinkoff) won the prestigious Books for Better Life Award as the best psychology book in 2003. She has published 100 professional articles and has given over 80 invited lectures around the world. Her research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and Human Development. She is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. She will serve as the Associate Editor of Child Development, and as treasurer of the International Association for Infant Studies.

Though much of her research is in the area of early language and cognitive development, Kathy also serves as Co-Principal Investigator on the NICHD Study of Early Child Care, a national longitudinal project investigating variations in early child care in infants and toddlers, and the effects of these variations on social, emotional, and intellectual development. In her work on the “hurried child” (Rescorla, Hyson, & Hirsh-Pasek, 1991), she has studied a wide variety of preschool programs and examined how children’s experiences in these programs affected their development.
Kathy has a strong interest in bridging the gap between research and application. To that end, she has been a spokesperson on early development for national magazines (Parent’s Magazine, Parenting, Newsweek) and on national and local radio and television (Good Morning America, 20/20, NPR, ABC News, CBS Morning Show). She serves as one of the American Psychological Association media specialists. She is also the co-founder of the Center for the Improvement of Resources for Children’s Lives that translates research into practice. Finally, she is co-founder of An Ethical Start, a curricular program in moral development for children ages three through five. This program, created for the Jewish Community Centers of North America was funded by Stephen Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation.

Contact: College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th St. (265-67), Philadelphia, PA 19122-6085. (215) 204-3103. Email: khirshpa@temple.edu

Reflections of a Parent Educator...

Harriet Heath, Ph.D., is a Licensed Developmental Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist, Parent Educator, and mother of three. She is the founder and director of the Parent Center at Bryn Mawr College and has worked extensively with parents in many settings.

She has evolved an approach to parenting out of her own experiences as a parent, her professional work and her strong commitment to the belief that parents are the people best able to plan for and guide their families. Her manual for parents, Planning: A Key to Mastering the Challenge of Parenting, gives direction to parents as they seek to work out how they want to nurture and guide their children. Her discussion series, Parenting Creatively, leads parents through the planning process as they discuss their issues and concerns. Basic to planning are parents' values. Harriet's book, Using Your Values to Raise Your Child to Be An Adult You Admire (Parenting Press, 2000), guides parents as they seek to integrate their values into their family life. She is currently writing book in which she develops a theory of parenting. Her theory is an expanded version of Erik Erikson's generative stage. Supported by current research, the theory documents the dynamism of the role. Parents, Who Are They? is from the first chapter of that book. Harriet's work in parenting has also led her to investigate how people learn to care. Her experiences teaching caring in schools and other settings gave her the background for writing the curriculum, Learning How to Care. She now leads workshops and trains leaders nationally and internationally in both the parent and school programs.

Contact: The Parent Center, Bryn Mawr College, 223 Buck Lane, Haverford, PA 19041. Phone: (610) 649-7037. email: harriet_heath@hotmail.com

The Power of Two...

Susan Heitler, Ph.D., received her B.A. from Harvard University, her M.Ed. from Boston University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. She is currently in private practice in clinical psychology at Columbia/Rose Medical Center in Denver and serves as an adjunct professor with the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver.

Susan has published the ground-breaking book, From Conflict to Resolution, an audio-tape program, Working with Couples in Conflict and a video, The Angry Couple: Conflict-Focused Treatment which reenacts and analyzes a six-month course of therapy with an angry couple, for use by therapists. She was chosen as a master therapist for Newbridge Communications' video series Assessment and Treatment of Psychological Disorders. She has recently completed a chapter for a book, Psychology of Terrorism (in press), Terrorism as Large Scale Domestic Violence in which she highlights the importance of parenting and marriage education. She has also authored a series of three audio-tapes for therapists and the general public: Conflict Resolution for Couples, Depression: A Disorder of Power, and Anxiety: Friend or Foe. She is founder of The Power of Two Workshops and provides train-the-trainer workshops for therapists and marriage educators, based on her book, The Power of Two: Secrets to a Strong & Loving Marriage. She speaks nationally and internationally at professional conferences and continuing education workshops.

Contact: 4500 East 9th Ave., Suite 660-S, Denver, CO 80220. (303) 388-4211. email:drheitler@therapyhelp.com. Her materials are available at www.TherapyHelp.com or by calling (800) 919-8899.

New and Newly Discovered Books...

Susan Hoch, M.A., is our expert on books for parents and children. She has owned and operated Oleanna Books for over 20 years. She specializes in books for parents and children. Over the years, Susan has become a valuable resource to parent and family educators as well as early childhood educators and parents. She consults with educators about current books in the field within the popular press and has contributed to several projects for Minnesota's Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE).

Susan has made this convenient and specialized mail order book service available to members of Family Information Services since 1989. Members of Family Information Services can also earn gift certificates toward books from Oleanna through our Refer-A-Colleague program.

Contact: Oleanna Books, PO Box 141020, Minneapolis, MN 55414. (612) 722-5861.

Positive Discipline Experiential Activities...(co-authored with Dr. Jane Nelsen)

Mary Hughes, M.H.R. With a B.S. in Child Development and Masters of Human Relations, Mary’s 36 year career includes teaching young children in child care centers and preschool situations while also training students at Iowa Western Community College. Her current full-time position is with Iowa State University Extension as a Family Life Specialist in ten Southwest Iowa counties where she provides research-based parent education, training for child care providers, and support for families and professionals working with families through the life cycle.

In addition to being a Certified Positive Discipline Lead Trainer, Mary is a certified trainer in the Program for Infant-Toddler Caregiving, an NAEYC Accreditation Validator, and a trained assessor for the Environment Rating Scales series. As the co-chair of the Family Education section of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, Mary works to further the advance of Alfred Adler’s impact on parent education and on the field of human relationships in general. Mary and her husband Gary facilitate Positive Discipline workshops together through their business, Enrich-Abilities, inc. ™ for parents and teachers. They also teach families in their church on a variety of family life topics. My Toolbag©, a set of visual metaphors for teaching positive discipline, was created by Mary as a way to make learning more engaging and fun. Mary writes regularly for Family Information Services with Jane Nelsen, and is the co-author of one of the books in the Positive Discipline series, Positive Discipline in the Christian Home. In 2000, Mary revised the Teaching Parenting Preschool Supplement for Positive Discipline and expanded it to include experiential activities for professionals who work with young children 0-8 years of age.

Contact Information: Work Phone: (712) 366-7070 email: mhughes@iastate.edu Home phone: (402) 291-2280 email: enrich3726@aol.com Website: www.positivediscipline.com/workshops/Associates.html

The Parent Trip…

Harry Ireton, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist who is interested in the development of young children, the development of parents and the development of people who work with young children and their parents. He was educated at the University of Minnesota and taught there for thirty years. His major research interest has been appreciating the development of young children by obtaining parent reports of their children's developmental skills. The Child Development Chart, Child Development Review and Child Development Inventory tools resulting from this research are used for screening and assessing young children's functioning and needs.

His interest in parents' development led to articles and workshops for parents, including “The Parent Trip,” “Encouraging our Children and Ourselves” and “Appreciating Children's Development.” Over the years, he has been involved in training Early Childhood Family Education professionals, Parent Warmline volunteers and professionals involved in Early Childhood Screening. He is interested in contributing to the development of parent-friendly systems that benefit parents, children and families. He is the author of three books on screening and assessment and numerous articles related to his interests.

Contact: Child Development Review, Behavior Science Systems, Inc., Box 1951, Minneapolis., MN 55419-9998 Phone: 612-850-8700 email Child Development Review: Heidi@childdevrev.com, email Harry: ireto001@tc.umn.edu

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Better Partners, Better Parents -- Parenting As a Team

Jeffry Jeanetta-Wark, M.A., LICSW earned his Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work in 1991 from The University of Chicago. He combines effective clinical practice for individuals and families, with community-based education through presentations, trainings and workshops. Jeffry has worked as a psychotherapist in the Twin Cities since 1991. In November of 2004, he opened the Center for Integrated Well-Being, Inc. where he works as a psychotherapist helping children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. He also facilitates groups for youth with Asperger's Syndrome, and groups for adolescent males, and for men.

He is a national presenter, a curriculum trainer and an advocate related to fathers and families. Jeffry is a former site coordinator for the Father's Resource Center. He has been an ECFE parent educator and a classroom instructor with at-home fathers. Along with being the co-founder of the Minnesota Young Fathers' Network, Jeffry has been a curriculum Trainer for both, the Dads Make A Difference Project, and the curriculum of the National Center for Fathering. He consults to caseworkers and does counseling with young dads from inner cities. Jeffry had been a trainer for Parenting Together, a research study overseen by Dr. William Doherty at the University of Minnesota.

As a presenter and consultant, Jeffry instructs employees within corporations, agencies, and hospitals to use stress management and lifestyle wellness by incorporating sound ancient and cutting edge techniques. Jeffry teaches constructive conflict to people in families and in various workplace locations. Jeffry and his wife, Wendy, are the proud parents of two young boys, Niccolo and Angelo.

Contact: Center for Integrated Well-Being, 1449 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. (651) 698-0768 Email: jjwark@infionline.net

The Spanish Connection...

Maria M. Jimenez, M.S., holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Bilingual Education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. For the past fifteen years, she has worked for the Corpus Christi Independent School District (Corpus Christi, TX) First she was at the campus level working as parent liaison and now is working as a parent ombudsman in Title 1 schools for entire district.

Born in Mexico, Maria is fluent in English and Spanish and has translated into Spanish Help for Kids! Understanding Your Feelings about Having A Parent in Prison or Jail, and Understanding your Feelings about War and Terrorism. She also does live simultaneous translating for at various conferences in her locale. She also translates parent and family education materials for Family Information Services.

Maria serves on the Planning Committee for the Texas Education Agency Parent Involvement Conference, and has translated, both written and oral, documents and assessment tools for numerous local and state conferences.

Contact: 422 Naples, Corpus Chrsiti, Texas, 78404. email:MMJimenez@admin.corpus-christi.k12.tx.us

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Better Partners, Better Parents -- Parenting As a Team

Lowell Johnson, B.A., M.S., is an educator, speaker, and trainer in the areas of parent education, male involvement, and early childhood development. Lowell earned is Master's Degree in Family Education from the University of Minnesota. He is the co-author and co-editor of Working with Fathers: Methods and Perspectives, and has spent the last 20 years working with groups of fathers and with organizations interested in promoting healthy male involvement in families. His current interests are encouraging fathers' participation in early literacy learning and promoting positive male socialization across the life span.

Contact him at 4441 20th St. Fort Ripley MN 56449 (218) 828-6233 email: johnsonlowell@yahoo.com

Basic Parenting Focus Issues...

Nancy Kristensen, M.A., is currently a parent educator for the Minneapolis Public Schools working with inner city adolescent parents. She is an adjunct faculty member for the University of Minnesota. She has been in the field of parent education for 30 years, working with a variety of populations. She directed an Early Childhood Education Program (ECFE) for 18 years and has been involved in leadership within ECFE, including writing the Guide for Developing Early Childhood Family Education Programs, contributing to the statewide ECFE Evaluation Committee and working with Dr. Bill Doherty to apply his Levels of Family Involvement Model to parent education.

Nancy received her master's degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. She is a popular speaker and trainer on a wide variety of parenting, child development and parent education topics. She has developed a number of curriculum materials, several focusing on families who have experienced abuse. She has received several distinguished service awards for work in the community including Winona's 1998 Adith Miller Community Service Tribute. Nancy has written several Focus Issues for Family Information Services and coordinates and writes the Basic Parenting Focus Issue, expanding its applicability for community-based parent education programs, for home visiting and for working with teens, teen parents and other youth studying about parenting and family relationships. Her most recent passion is that of being a new grandmother!

Contact: 241 Cecil St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. (612) 379-1825. email: m.kristensen@worldnet.att.net

Building Faith Foundations...

Marilyn Spaw Krock, M.S.Ed. received her bachelor's degree in Sociology/Psychology and her Master of Science Degree in Education from Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles, CA. She spent the early years of her marriage raising children and being active in community, and parish/school affairs.

In 1979, she attended training for Early Childhood Catechesis (ECC) with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and found her passion! After establishing a thriving Sunday school program for preschoolers in her parish, she and her husband (a pediatrician) became strategic members of the ECC Advisory Board for the Archdiocese where they remain active still. She also worked five years as Early Childhood consultant in the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese, writing weekly columns for The Tidings, the Archdiocesan newspaper. Believing that parent education is the essential component of faith development of children, in 1995 Marilyn established a consulting business, Caring Family Resources, to provide materials, speakers, and references to those wishing to help parents learn appropriate techniques for enhancing the all-around development of their children, making parenting a more enjoyable, fun-filled vocation! With the help of her "brilliant, computer-savvy" son, a website was created to assist in the dissemination of information - www.childfaith.com. Her first book, Building a Family: A Handbook for Parenting with God, has been published by Paulist Press, released December, 2002.

Contact: PO Box 6758, San Pedro, CA 90734. (310) 325-4118. email: caringfamily@mediaone.net

People & Programs: Working with Parents of Spirited Children; Kids, Parents & Power Stuggles; Sleepless In America

Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, M.A. is a best selling author and internationally recognized lecturer and parent educator. Her books Raising Your Spirited Child, Raising Your Spirited Child Workbook, Kids, Parents and Power Struggles and Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving or Missing Sleep have been translated into nine languages. The Director of Parentchildhelp.com, Mary provides training nationally and internationally for families and professionals, including medical personnel, educators and social service providers who serve families.

Mary holds a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science and a B.S in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State University. Licensed as a parent educator and early childhood teacher, she has pioneered efforts to bring temperament, neuro-biology, the importance of sleep and emotion coaching into homes, schools, medical practices and businesses. A former Director of one of Minnesota's largest Early Childhood Family Education programs, Mary is the founder of the “Spirited Child” and “Kids, Parents and Power Struggles” workshops. She also provides individual parent consultations for families and professionals. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, National Public Radio, Parenting Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Working Mother and many other national and local television, radio, magazine and newspaper venues.

Contact: 1612 Sherwood Way, Eagan, MN 55122. Phone: 651-452-4771 Email: kurcinka@parentchildhelp.com Website: www.parentchildhelp.com

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issues: Recognizing and Responding to Child Behaviors Outside the Norm

Linda Johnston is the former Executive Director of the Practical Parent Education Program (PPE) in Plano, TX. As PPE's Director from 1986 to 2002, Linda and her PPE team were responsible for initiating both statewide and nationwide expansion of PPE and expanding the PPE annual conference to become one of the outstanding national conferences for parent educators.

Linda's doctoral work at Texas Women's University focused on counseling and child development. Her career in education includes both classroom teaching and school administration prior to her involvement in parent education. She has authored and co-authored several of the PPE modules utilized by PPE members across the country, as well as programs such as For Kid's Sake, a court ordered program for divorcing parents in Texas and Turning Points, a curriculum for working with incarcerated parents. She has been a Teacher of the Year in Plano and was the recipient of the H. Ross Perot Award for Excellence in Teaching. Now retired from her full-time position with PPE, this year Linda has completed curriculum projects for the program, along with exploring new hobbies such as gourmet cooking and planning a new home in Austin, TX.

Contacts: Lucy Long, Ph.D., Executive Director; Carol Lane, M.S., National Program Director; Practical Parent Education, 1517 Avenue H, Plano TX 75074. (800) 687-2823. E-mail: ppe@pisd.edu Website: www.practicalparent.org

Stepfamily Foundations...

Jeannette Lofas, CSW, is one of America's pioneering authorities on divorce, remarriage and children. She is a counselor, lecturer, trainer and President/Founder of the Stepfamily Foundation, Inc. as well as a Certified Divorce & Co-Parenting Mediator. When she founded the Stepfamily Foundation in 1975, it was the first organization in the world devoted solely to the problems and challenges encountered in step-relationships. Jeannette received her M.S.W. and C.S.W. from Fordham University and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. She is the co-author, with Ruth Roosevelt, of Living in Step, (the first book which proclaimed that the step-relationship is dynamically different from the traditional biologically related family). She has also authored Stepparenting, How to Be a Stepparent, He's OK, She's OK: Honoring the Differences Between Men & Women and Family Rules.

In 1995, she received the first National Parent's Day Award from President Clinton for "Your efforts in strengthening step-relationships in families across America and thus contribute to effective parenting." She has appeared on such shows as: The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Geraldo Rivera, Larry King, etc. She has been featured in such publications as: The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and New York Magazine. Since 1990, Lofas has hosted a weekly cable television show, "Family Matters," which airs in Manhattan, Westchester and Suffolk, N.Y.

Contact: The Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., 333 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023. (212) 877-3244. Sag Harbor Long Island Office (631) 725-0911 or 24 hour information line (212) 799-STEP. email: stepfamily@aol.com website: www.stepfamily.org

Let's Get Moving...

Terry Lubbers has taught physical education for over 30 years in various school districts throughout Minnesota. She has taught physical education at the pre-school, elementary and secondary levels and has been a mentor for new teachers. Currently, Terry is a resource physical education teacher and developmental adapted physical education teacher at a kindergarten center in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. In her position, Terry has established a cross-age tutoring program pairing “at risk” teenagers with young children in a large motor movement program. Another area of focus has included the development of a movement based lending library of parent/child activities and equipment. She has established an adapted aquatics program for children with severe and multiple disabilities.

Terry is a recipient of numerous Teacher Venture Grants which were awarded for innovated ideas for parent involvement in large motor activities with young children. She has been a member of various writing teams for early childhood movement program at the local and state level. In addition, she has co-authored the book, Make It Take It—Creating Movement Challenge Kits for Play at Home or School. Terry has given many presentations at state and regional professional conferences and has provided inservice training to licensed day care providers.

Contact: email: tlubbers@edenpr.k12.mn.us

Ask Parent Warmline...

Barbara Lucey has a passion for helping children and families. She has applied her parent education skills and abilities both personally and professionally for over 20 years. She has extensive classroom experience as a licensed early childhood teacher and parent educator, and has initiated, implemented, and promoted several parent education community outreach efforts, including home visiting and apartment site programs.

Barb first studied Child Psychology at the University of Minnesota and then earned her undergraduate degree in Human Development from St. Mary's College of Maryland. She has additional undergraduate and graduate work in early childhood, parent and family education from the University of Minnesota, Crown College, St. Cloud State University and St. Thomas University. Currently she is the Coordinator of the Parent Warmline at Children's Hospitals and Clinics. Parent Warmline is a free telephone consultation service for parenting concerns and questions. It is a noncrisis, nonmedical service that provides support, encouragement and practical advice about child development and behavior. Barb is available as a public speaker on topics related to parent education.

Contact: Children's Hospitals and Clinics, 2525 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404 or Parent Warmline at (612) 813-6336. email: barbara.lucey@childrenshc.org

Parenting Child Development Focus Issue: Parents As Adult Learners (referenced in Briefs & Notes)

Dana McDermott, Ph.D., CFLE, is currently a Resident Faculty at the School for New Learning at DePaul University in Chicago, IL where she teaches in an MA Program in Applied Professional Studies at DePaul, which allows students to obtain an MA with an individualized focus in parenting or family studies. Prior to this, she served as an adjunct professor of Psychology at Loyola University, Chicago, IL, where she developed courses on parenting in cultural context and gender relations and was involved in developing Loyola's M.Ed. in Family Studies.

She earned her doctorate in developmental psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. She is a Certified Family Life Educator. Dana serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Parenting Project (www.parentingproject.org). Dana has been writing and presenting on behalf of TPP most recently at character education conferences. Here she has demonstrated that caring, a core character trait is central to what students learn in parenting classes.
Dana also speaks on school related topics like bullying, violence prevention, parent involvement and parent advocacy. She has written several publications on parent education for Family Support America, ERIC, Family Information Services and NCFR.

Contact: The Caring Project, 6441 N. Wayne Ave., Chicago, IL 60626. (773) 973-7744. email: mcdermott@rcn.com. She can also be contacted through www.parentingproject.org

People & Programs:
Supporting Families of Children With Special Needs

Peggy O’Toole Martin, M.S., is the Program Manager for Early Childhood and Family Education Services in Rochester, MN. She has worked for PAIIR (Parents Are Important in Rochester) for the past 23 years as a parent educator, staff supervisor, and program manager. She received her B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN and her M.S. in Family Life Education/Family Studies from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

She has given numerous workshops on a variety of topics including Visions of Hope: Supporting Families of Children with Special Needs, Communicating with Professionals, Off to Holland: Parenting a Child with Special Needs, Providing Support to Parents with Cognitive Disabilities: Making It Work, and Everyone Belongs: Making Inclusion Work. She has been involved for 21 years with efforts to improve the recognition, understanding and education of children with special needs and their families. She has chaired the Rochester Public Schools Student Support Services Advisory Council and the Rochester Interagency Early Intervention Committee. She has been married for 28 years and has three children. Her oldest daughter is disabled.

Contact: PAIIR Rochester ECFE, 201 NW 8th St., Rochester, MN 55901. (507) 285-3084
Email: maotoole-mar@rochester.k12.mn.us

Parenting Child Development Focus Issue: The Use of American Sign Language With Infants and Toddlers

Denise Meyer learned American Sign Language (ASL) while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and communications. She began to use ASL in her work in 1989, when she taught children and adults with developmental disabilities and communication disorders how to use ASL to communicate with their caregivers. She has taught parents, childcare providers and early childhood educators how to use ASL with infants, toddlers and preschoolers since 2001 and is available for group trainings nationwide. Her clients include Head Start, Minnesota Child Care Association, University of Wisconsin, The Amherst Wilder Foundation, Children’s Home Society, New Horizon Child Care Centers, Children’s Discovery Centers, and Children’s World.

Contact: Denise lives near St. Paul, Minnesota and can be reached at (651) 766-9560, (866) 510-8813 or via email at denisemeyer@mm.com

Families in the Middle...

Kathryn B. Mims, Ph.D., LMSW,, is the Director of Senior Adult & Women's Ministries at First Baptist Church in Albany, GA. Former positions she has held include Professional Associate/Training Coordinator at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development, Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA and Assistant Professor/Extension Family Life Specialist (Kansas State University, 1986-88 and The Ohio State University, 1988-1993).

Much of Kathy's professional attention has been devoted to developing and conducting workshops, developing curriculum on family-related issues, and planning professional conferences and workshops. She wrote several University Extension publications and is the co-developer of Caring for You, Caring for Me: Education and Support for Caregivers (University of GA Press, 1998), a program designed for family and professional caregivers. A revised edition is due out in early 2005. Kathy holds a Master's degree in Social Work and a PhD in Child and Family Development with a minor in gerontology, all from the University of Georgia. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of Georgia and a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Locally, she serves on the SOWEGA Council on Aging Advisory Board, the Southwest Georgia CARE-NET for Caregivers, and the "Interfaith Conference for Caregivers" Planning Committee. She has also received training through the Georgia Senior Adult Victims Advocate Program (SAVA).

Contact: 193 Midway St., Leesburg, GA 31763. Day: (229) 883-8000. Evenings: (229) 889-9828 Fax: (229) 889-9828. email: drkbmims@bellsouth.net

People & Programs:
Military Families: The Cycle of Deployment

CH (MAJ) John Joseph Morris is the Deputy State Chaplain of the Minnesota Army National Guard. He was commissioned in October, 2004 and has personally experienced overseas wartime deployment twice in his career. Chaplain Morris has a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota and a M.Div. from Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He has received additional training including numerous Officer Advance Courses as well as specialized training such as Trauma and Emergency Medical Ministry, and Psychological Operations Advance Course.

Chaplain Morris has received the Meritorious Service Medal (2x), the Army Commendation Medal (4x), the Army Achievement Medal (4x), an Overseas Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, an Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon and a Basic Parachutist Badge. He became a Group Chaplain, 2D PsyOp Group in 2002, became Deputy Group Chaplain, 4th PsyOp Group (A) in 2004 and was named Deputy State Chaplain (ARNG) in January, 2005.

Email Contact: john.joseph.morris@mn.ngb.army.mil

Positive Discipline Experiential Activities...(co-authored with Mary Hughes)

Jane Nelsen, Ed. D., is a popular lecturer, the creator of the Positive Discipline series, she has authored and co-authored many books including Positive Discipline A-Z, Positive Discipline for Preschoolers, Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, and Positive Discipline for Teenagers. She is co-developer of several training workshops including Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way and Positive Discipline in the Classroom. She also wrote the self-help book, From Here to Serenity: Four Principles for Understanding Who You Really Are. She has appeared on Oprah, Sally Jessy Raphael, Twin Cities Live, and was the featured parent expert on the National Parent Quiz with Ben Vereen. She says her doctorate degree in Educational Psychology is secondary to the education and experience she achieved from her successes and failures as the mother of seven children! Jane is also a licensed marriage, family and child counselor.

Contact: Empowering People, PO Box 1926, Orem, UT 84059. (800) 456-7770. email: janenelsen@aol.com

People & Programs Audio Interview: After the Baby ÷ Making Sense of Marriage After Childbirth

Rhonda Kruse Nordin is an author, speaker and family advocate. With degree in marketing from the University of Northern Iowa, Rhonda began her career in marketing with companies such as Pillsbury and IBM. After her children were born, she continued to use her research and writing skills, but changed the focus of her work to preserving and strengthening families. She devoted fourteen years to researching and writing about family issues. Her first book, After the Baby - Making Sense of Marriage After Childbirth (Taylor Publishing, 2000) focuses on helping men and women understand the changing couple relationship after the birth of a child and offers tips for strengthening marriages and building stronger families.

Since 1994, Dr. Dwenda Gjerdingen, a medical doctor, researcher and teacher at the University of Minnesota Medical School's Department of Family Practice and Community Health has served as medical advisor on the project. Dr. Gjerdingen has studied and written about women's prenatal and postpartum physical and emotional health for over three decades. As an advocate for today's families, Rhonda is published nationally and regionally, is a frequent media guest and speaks to new and expectant parents in the corporate, health, community, and faith-based environments. She presents information based on her book, emphasizing that having a baby brings positive changes and opportunities for growth and a deepening of marital commitment.

Contact: 2717 Inglewood Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55416. Phone: (952) 920-4187. email: rhondanordin@aol.com.

People & Programs Audio Interview: The Hidden Language of Relationships & Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit In

Stephen Nowicki, Jr . received his B.A. from Carroll College, his M.S. from Marquette University and his Ph.D. from Purdue University. Currently, he is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Emory University. He is a consulting editor for the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior and guest editor for nine other journals. He is the author of over 200 publications and presentations and the co-author (with Marshall Duke) of an abnormal psychology textbook, now in its third edition. During his thirty-three years of teaching at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, Stephen has served as Director of Clinical Training, received two Fulbright awards, been named a Von Humboldt Scholar for research in Germany, and chosen for the Emory Williams Teaching Award.

Much of his recent research and practice has been around working with children and adults who don't "fit in." This has led to the identification of "dyssemia," which describes the child or adult (as many as 25 million Americans) who cannot readily understand nonverbal messages. He has co-authored two books for parents and practitioners about dyssemia: Teaching Your Child the Language of Social Success (Duke, Nowicki and Walker, 1996 Peachtree Press); Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit In (Nowicki and Duke, 1992, Peachtree Press); and a third book for conquering adult dyssemia, Will I Ever Fit In? (Nowicki and Duke, 2002, The Free Press). He continues to be a consultant to public school programs and maintains an active clinical practice.

Contact: Emory University, Department of Psychology, 532 N. Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322. email: snowick@emory.edu

Empowering Couples...

David H. Olson, Ph.D., is the founder and President of Life Innovations (PREPARE/ENRICH). He has recently retired from his long-time position as Professor, Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, to devote more time to supporting marriage preparation, counseling and education.

He is a Fellow and clinical member in both the American Psychological Association and the American Association of Marital and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He is past President of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and the Upper Midwest AMFT. He has received several national awards for his theory and research contributions. The Couple and Family Map (aka Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems) which he developed, has become one of the most popular family systems models. Nationally, about 25,000 counselors have been trained on his couple assessment tools called PREPARE and ENRICH. He has written numerous books and articles in the field of marriage and family, including Marriage and Family: Diversity and Strengths, a college textbook (with Dr. John DeFrain); Building Relationships: Developing Skills for Life, the core of a program on relationship skills for youth (with Dr. John DeFrain and Amy Olson, Life Innovations, 1999); and Empowering Couples: Building on Your Strengths, a book for couples (with Amy Olson, Life Innovations, 2000). David is also a member of Family Information Services’ National Panel of Advisors.

Contact: Life Innovations, Inc., PREPARE/ENRICH, PO Box 190, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0190. (800) 331-1661. website: ww.LifeInnovations.com

Working with Fathers...

Glen Palm, Ph.D., CFLE, is a Professor in Child and Family Studies at St. Cloud State University where he joined the faculty in 1993. He developed the parent education licensure program at SCSU and teaches courses in child development, family studies and parent education. Dr. Palm also coordinates The Dad Project, a local initiative of the Early Childhood Family Education program that focuses on supporting father/male involvement in the lives of young children through Saturday morning classes for dads and young children, parenting classes at the local state correctional facility, Jump Start workshops for first time dads of infants and a Community Father's Day Celebration.

As a researcher/practitioner Dr. Palm has studied ethics in parent and family education, fathers' perceptions of attachment, the parent education needs of incarcerated fathers and the role of fatherhood in influencing men's values and moral/religious beliefs. He has also served as a local program evaluator for Early Head Start, Even Start Family Literacy, and Early Childhood Family Education programs.

Dr. Palm was co-editor of the book Working with Fathers: Methods and Perspectives (1993) and has contributed chapters on fatherhood to a number of books including a recent chapter on Parent Education for Incarcerated Fathers in Clinical and Educational Interventions with Fathers (2001). He is currently co-authoring a book Father Involvement in Early Childhood Programs with Jay Fagan and another book Group Parent Education with Deborah Campbell which will be available in 2003.

Contact: Department of Child & Family Studies, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Avenue S., St. Cloud, MN 56301. (320) 255-2129.
email: gpalm@stcloudstate.edu

Working with Parents of Newborns...

Jolene Pearson, M.S., currently serves as an Interagency Facilitator in the Early Childhood Special Education program in the Minneapolis Public Schools. She holds a bachelor's degree in Child Development from the University of Minnesota and earned her master's degree from Wheelock College in Boston, MA in Infant and Toddler Behavior and Development. For over 25 years Jolene has worked with both parents and infants in a variety of settings, and developed model partnerships between the Minneapolis Public schools (Early Childhood Family Education), and Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Children's Hospital, Minneapolis. She was recognized by the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education as a Teacher of Excellence, nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1999 and honored as one of the Centennial Alumni at Wheelock College's 100 Year celebration in Boston, MA.

Jolene is licensed in the state of Minnesota as a parent educator, early childhood educator and early childhood special educator. She is a certified Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale examiner. She is an adjunct faculty instructor at the University of Minnesota teaching graduate courses in parent education, early childhood special education and infant mental health. She has published articles in professional journals and co-authored chapters in two textbooks for early intervention. She is the author of Parent-Infant Pathways: Informing and Supporting Families of Newborns, a training guide and curriculum for professionals and The Parents' Circle: Promoting Positive Parenting in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Contact info: 3501 Belden Dr. Minneapolis, MN 55418. (612) 789-3851. email: jolene.pearson@juno.com

Using Media in Marriage & Family Life Education...

Tom Rinkoski, M. Ed., CFLE, is currently employed as Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry at St. Augustine Church and Student Center, Gainesville, FL. In 2004, he left his long time position as Director of Family Life Department of Diocese of Green Bay to move south to become a caregiver to his aging parents.

Tom holds a Master of Education degree from Boston College and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He is also a professional storyteller and has performed at festivals and conferences, across the country and with audiences of all ages. Tom consults and speaks nationally on matters of parent education, marriage preparation and marriage education/enrichment. He has been married 26 years to Theresa, who serves as an Independent Spiritual Director and often co-leads marriage workshops with Tom.

Contact: 5400 NW 39th Ave, #FF310, Gainesville, FL 32606. Phone: (352) 378-1086. Email: kiosk52@aol.com

From Dr. Jane's Notebook...

Jane R. Rosen-Grandon, Ph.D., is a Licensed Marital & Family Therapist, and Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Greensboro. She has accumulated nearly 25 years of clinical experience in a variety of human services and private practice settings. In addition to her clinical practice, Jane serves as a forensic counselor, providing forensic assessments and expert witness testimony to the legal community, and teaches a course in Forensic Psychology at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.

Jane received her Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in May, 1998. Previously, she received her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1978, and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1973.

Contact: 3106 Edgewater Dr., Greensboro, NC 27403. (336) 292-2116 website: www.dr-jane.com

From the Counselor's Column…

James Robert Ross, Ph.D., LMFT, is the principal in Anchor Counseling, which provides clinical services to individuals, couples and families and educational workshops and seminars to churches and businesses. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a clinical member and approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is also a Kentucky approved treatment provider for sex offenders and runs a treatment group for sex offenders. He is a presenter for the Smart Discipline Seminar for Parents (Larry Koenig & Assoc.).

Bob received his education at Southwestern Louisiana University (BS), Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Emory University (Ph.D.) with additional graduate studies at Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky, Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University. His professional experiences include 11 years in campus ministry, several years in college and seminary teaching and 20 years of clinical experience. He is the author/editor of The Ward Within (Sheed and Ward, 1970), Relapse Prevention Workbook for Sexually Compulsive Behaviors (Learning Publications, 2000) and Once-And-For-All You Can Be a Non-Smoker (Learning Publications, 2000), The Counselor's Column, published in several Kentucky newspapers and numerous other essays, both scholarly and popular.

Contact: Anchor Counseling, 106 Dennis Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. (859) 278-3290. email: jrross@anchorcounseling.com

From MarriageSupport.com...

David Sanford, MSW, Ph.D., has been for the past 17 years, a South Portland, Maine psychotherapist, specializing in couples counseling. He is a newspaper columnist, with 800 published articles on marriage and couple relationships. He is also a regular columnist for Marriage magazine and is the author of The Pleasures of Good Conversation: A Playbook for Couples. David leads a program of Foundation Skills Workshops for couples in Southern Maine, covering the essential skills needed for relationship success.

Six years ago he started the marriagesupport.com Internet site www.marriagesupport.com to provide free and low-cost services for a largely underserved population, people who do not need or cannot afford counseling, but whose marriages and other couple relationships would benefit from skills-training, support, and encouragement. Previous to becoming a psychotherapist, David was a professor of teacher education and held university positions in New York, California, and Illinois. He welcomes correspondence from readers, including those who are interested in the Internet as a vehicle for the delivery of services that support marriage and committed relationships.

Contact: 1040 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106.((207) 767-7135. email: dsanford@maine.rr.com

Youth Development Focus Issues: Tools for Supporting Teens Experiencing Grief and Loss

Michelle L. Shaffer, LCSW is a graduate of Indiana University School of Social Work. She has spent the past 15 years working with at-risk youth at the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility where she currently serves as Supervisor of the Intensive Treatment Unit and Program Supervisor. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University School of Social Work.

She is the co-author (with Paulette Walker) of Growing Through Loss: A program of hope and healing for those who have experienced a painful loss. Michelle continues to faciliate Growing Through Loss groups for troubled youth. She also provides consultation and training for professionals who wish to offer Growing Through Loss groups in their community. (See website for training dates. )

Contact: Indianapolis Grief and Loss Consulting Service, 6803 Walton Street, Indianapolis, IN 46241. (317) 442-0289. www.indygriefloss.com

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: Dads Are Important Too!
Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Exploring Marriage As An Option for My Future

Karen Shirer, Ph.D. has 28 years of experience as an educator, manager, evaluator, and administrator for family life education programs in both formal and non-formal settings. In her current position of Assistant Professor and Extension Human Development Specialist she provides statewide leadership for Extension programs in early childhood care and education, relationship education, and families and aging.

Dr. Shirer's other interest areas include preparing Family and Consumers Sciences teachers, health education and promotion, working families, welfare to work, and balancing work and family.

Contact: Family and Child Ecology, Michigan State University, 14A College of Human Ecology,
East Lansing, Michigan 48825. Email: shirerk@msue.msu.edu

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: Raising a Thinking Child: A One-Day Workshop for Parent Educaators

Myrna B. Shure, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her Interpersonal Cognitive Problem Solving (ICPS) programs, now called I Can Problem Solve (also ICPS) and her pioneering research with George Spivack have won several national awards. Among them are the Center for the Study of Prevention and Violence, 1999; the U.S. Department of Education, 2001; and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 2001.

Her Raising a Thinking Child Workbook (for families of preschool children through age seven, also available in Spanish) has been recognized as an exemplary research-based program by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1996). Both her I Can Problem Solve programs (for schools) and Raising a Thinking Child (for families) were recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Region of Health and Human Services as among the top six violence prevention programs in a six state area (1977). In 2004, Dr. Shure was recognized by the American Psychological Association's initiative Psychology Matters, for her research that has valuable applications and makes a difference in people's lives.

Dr. Shure is the author of eight books, I Can Problem Solve curriculum guides for preschool through grade six for use in schools, and numerous book chapters and journal articles. Her books for parents, Raising a Thinking Child, Raising a Thinking Child Workbook, and Raising a Thinking Preteen help children learn to resolve everyday conflicts and get along with others. Her newest book, Thinking Parent, Thinking Child helps families turn their most challenging problems into solutions. Dr. Shure, a member of the Board of Advisors for Parents Magazine conducts training workshops for schools and agencies, and speaks nationwide on issues relating to our nation's youth.

Contact: Dept. of Psychology, Drexel University, Mail Stop 626, 245 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192. (215) 762-7205.
Email: mshure@drexel.edu Website: thinkingchild.com

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren... (co-authored with Dr. Linda Dannison)

Andrea B. Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership at Western Michigan University. Her graduate degrees include a Master's of Social Work (MSW) from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. in Human Ecology from Michigan State University. Professional teaching experiences include both higher education and elementary-level teaching positions. Dr. Smith's clinical experience includes developing and implementing parenting programs for populations including parents of critically ill infants and custodial grandparents. She has presented internationally in England, Ireland, and Latvia and was recently selected as a Fulbright Senior Specialist.

Recent publications have appeared in Children and Schools, Contemporary Education, Intergenerational Programming Quarterly, Childhood Education,The Journal for Specialists in Group Work and The Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. Dr. Smith has co-authored a curriculum for use with grandchildren in grandparent-maintained homes and authored two chapters in The Second Time Around: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren curriculum guide.

Contact: Western Michigan University, 233 E. Beltline SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. (616) 771-9496. email: andrea.smith@wmich.edu

Family Time...

Kate Soucheray, M.A. recently completed her master's degree in theology from St. Paul Seminary of the University of St. Thomas. Her thesis work on Justice and Shalom, focuses on caring for others as an essential element of peace and self-esteem for individuals and families. This work reflects her career, as she merges her work in parent and family education with spirituality and faith development. A graduate of the college of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN, Kate taught elementary school for seven years. For the past seven years, she has developed and presented a variety of workshops and retreats for local school districts' Early Childhood Family Education programs and worksite seminars for the Working Family Resource Center, (Saint Paul Public Schools).

In addition to her graduate work, Kate writes a column for the Catholic Spirit called Family Time, and self-publishes a newsletter for Catholic schools and families called Alive in the Spirit and a newsletter for mothers, Household Holiness. She offers workshops, retreats and "Evenings of Reflection." Some of her most recent retreats include The Paschal Mystery, Holiness and Spirituality (making our faith real), and A Day of Reflection: Authenticity of the Family. Recent workshops for parents have focused on character development of children and helping children develop friendships.

Contact: 3557 Fairfax Lane, Woodbury, MN 55129. (651) 739-5862 email: KateSoucheray@aol.com

Parenting/Child Development Focus Issue: Dads Are Important Too!
Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Exploring Marriage As An Option for My Future

Jodi Spicer has been with Michigan State University Extension for 13 years. In her current as associate program leader, she coordinators several human development programs, including Caring for my Family, parenting children ages birth to three years, and a statewide collaboration that produces a resource calendar for parents.

Contact: Email: spicerj@msue.msu.edu

Youth Development Focus Issue: We've ALL Got Homework!

Leanne M. Sponsel, M.Ed., Ph.D. Candidate, is a licensed family educator with the Mounds View School District, a faculty member at Northwestern College, and an independent consultant. She combines her education and experience to work as a teacher educator. Her students are people working on state teaching licensure, parents who are children's day in and day out teachers, and employees of both profit and not-for-profit businesses. She co-created Northwestern College's accreditation plan for teaching licensure in Early Childhood Education. She currently teaches courses on child development, observation philosophy and methodology, and family-school relations. She also supervises college students in methods placements and student teaching assignments.

Leanne's work includes program design and implementation assistance, resource development, and professional writing. Her most recent publications include: "Spirituality and Family Resilience" (NCFR Focus, December 2003), and Walking the Walk - Steps to Mentoring Parent Education Student Teachers, (Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning, 1999). She has worked extensively with professional organizations such as the Minnesota Council on Family Relations, and has presented national at professional conferences.

Contact: 1532 Pascal Street No. St. Paul, MN 55108. (651) 646-1474. email: LMS-consult@juno.com

Family Literacy...

Linda Suer is currently the Family Literacy Coordinator for Cloquet Community Education in Cloquet, MN. She has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and has taught second, third, fifth and sixth grades in the Superior Wisconsin School District. Linda also holds a “mini MBA” in Volunteer Management from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. Growing up in a literacy-rich environment, Linda developed a love of words and reading. As a stay-at-home mom, she continued that tradition with her children. Following her children’s entrance into school, she worked for nine years as the Coordinator of the Cloquet Area Literacy Project, a program that trained community volunteers and matched them as tutors with low level-reading adults. Also at that time, she co-coordinated the Family Center in Cloquet, MN, which provided family programming to school-age children.

With her knowledge of the affects of adult literacy issues and her concern for reaching children to prevent reading difficulties, she developed and coordinates a number of programs for Carlton County, MN as Family Literacy Coordinator that target caregivers of young children to ensure that they are in a language and literacy-rich environment. Those programs are Families Share Learning; Books 4 Babies; Abundance of Books for Childcares; and Language, Literacy and Learning for Little Ones.

Contact: 509 Carlton Avenue, Cloquet, Minnesota 55720 Phone: (218) 878-3009 email: LSuer@CLOQUET.k12.mn.us

People & Programs (audio interview): Discipline & Guidance: Preparing Children for Life

Madelyn Swift, M. Ed., is the founder of Childright. She is an internationally recognized author and speaker and has served as a school psychologist, teacher, and educational consultant. She has presented programs to national and international associations including the National Association of Independent Schools, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Association for Young Children Europe, New Zealand Early Childhood Council, PBS, Young Presidents' Organization, Johnson & Johnson, United States Armed Forces, International Nanny Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals and Head Start.

An often quoted resource, she is the author of three books: Teach Your Children Well: A Parent's Guide to Encouraging Character and Integrity, Getting it Right with Teens, and the influential work, Discipline for Life: Getting it Right with Children. As well, she has written numerous articles in publications as far ranging as Scholastic Parent and Child, Family Education Today, Family Information Services, The Houston Advocate, and The Washington Post. She is a frequent guest on both radio and television. Madelyn has developed DVD and CD media training programs for parents and educators.

As a keynote speaker and trainer, Madelyn chips away at misconceptions and missteps regarding children with warmth and humor. She demystifies what it takes to get it right with children as she leads participants to new levels of understanding regarding not only coping with children, but dealing with all people. Her programs stress skills, strategies and the understanding necessary to deal with children. Her message focuses on integrity: practicing and teaching children only what we believe, and on the Law of the Harvest: children will learn what we teach them and our teachings will return to help or haunt us as our children age into adolescence and adulthood. No shortsighted view here. Key elements include accountability, respect, responsibility and authority.

Contact: 2140 E. Southlake Blvd., PMB 640, Southlake, TX 76092. (817) 488-4664. www.childright.com

Christian Family Finance...

Don Tauscher was involved in the financial services business for more than 40 years - all in Central Florida. His experience includes serving as a bank president; commercial real estate salesman and land syndicator; commercial development; real estate exchanging; mortgage banking; mutual funds marketing; financial planning; and national seminar instructor in the area of creative financing. Don is presently on staff full-time with Crown Financial Ministries, (formerly Crown Ministries and Larry Burkett's Christian Financial Concepts, merged in September 2000) as National Catholic Director, while also teaching money management principles from a Biblical perspective, and occasionally serving as a "debt crisis" counselor. Don calls himself a "recovering materialist," and frequently shares his testimony of learning God's principles for money management through "trial and terror!" He is a frequent speaker for Christian and secular groups, with topics such as, Biblical Money Management; Stewardship for the Folks in the Pew; Getting Your Financial House in Order; Time/Talent/Treasure: Abuse It and you Lose It!; I Know About the 10% - What About the Other 90%?

He remains "connected" with work of family life through his wife, Jeanne who is officially "retired" from the Diocese of Orlando, Family Life Department, however, continues to serve on a contract basis, writing a quarterly newsletter, and consulting for various family ministries. In addition, she is the Diocesan Liaison for Loyola University/New Orleans Institute for Ministry Extension. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Contact: PO Box 1384, Winter Park, FL 32790. (407) 628-2329. email: dtauscher@aol.com

Youth Development Focus Issue: Searching for Solutions -- Why Kids Get High

Tim Titus, M.P.H., has a Bachelors in Social work and a Masters in Public Health. He has spent the last 30 years working with adolescents and their families, primarily in the area of the prevention of Chemical Dependency problems. For 12 years, Tim taught a class for the University of St. Thomas called, Moving Kids From Risk to Resiliency. Tim is currently in the Certification Process to become a Professional and Personal Coach (Life Coach). As a Life Coach Tim helps people find more fulfillment and balance in their life, setting forth to make major life changes. As a coach, Tim brings out the naturally creative and resourceful part of a person to make this life change happen. He is the author of Relationships At Risk:Assessing Your Kid’s Drug Abuse Potential.and creator of the Titus Risk Chart.

Tim's life purpose is to "Nurture people toward insight and change." As a Life Coach he is very supportive and eager to celebrate the courage, commitment and success that goes into living life to its fullest. Tim and his wife Karen, live in Minneapolis where they have raised their five children.

Contact: coacht@usinternet.com

Youth Development Focus Issues: Tools for Supporting Teens Experiencing Grief and Loss

Paulette K. Walker, LSW is a graduate of Indiana University School of Social Work. She has spent the past 18 years working in the field of grief and loss as a counselor, consultant and author. She presents workshops dealing with grief and loss issues. She received the Indianapolis "Outstanding Services" award from the mayor of Indianapolis in 1999 for reducing levels of depression among adolescents.

She currently serves as the Director of Indianapolis Grief and Loss Consulting Services and serves as adjunct faculty at Indiana University School of Social Work. She is the co-author (with Michelle Shaffer) of Growing Through Loss: A program of hope and healing for those who have experienced a painful loss. Paulette continues to faciliate Growing Through Loss groups for troubled youth. She also provides consultation and training for professionals who wish to offer Growing Through Loss groups in their community. (See website for training dates.)

Pauletteâs son, Chad Walker, BSW, did the illustrations in the curriculum used in this Focus Issue. He is a residential case manager at Damar Services, an agency which houses developmentally disabled and mentally challenged youth.

Contact: Indianapolis Grief and Loss Consulting Service, 6803 Walton Street, Indianapolis, IN 46241. (317) 442-0289. www.indygriefloss.com

People & Programs (audio interview): Why Do They Act That Way? What the New Brain Research Tells Us About Parenting Teens

David Walsh Ph.D. is one of the leading authorities on adolescents, parenting and the impact of media on children. He spent ten years teaching and coaching high school before joining Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis to develop and direct innovative counseling programs for youth and families. The founder and president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, he is also on the faculty of the Family Education Department at the University of Minnesota and a member of Family Information Services’ National Panel of Advisors. A consultant to the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Education of Japan, he has testified before congressional committees on numerous occasions.

Dave has written seven previous books including the award winning Selling Out America’s Children and the AMA’s Physician Guide to Media Violence. His new book Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teenager is the focus of this audio interview. He writes a column, is a frequent guest on national radio and television, and has been featured on three nationally broadcast PBS specials. He received his M.A. degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN and his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Contact: National Institute on Media and the Family, 606 24th Ave. S., Suite 606, Minneapolis, MN 55454. (888) 672-5437. www.mediafamily.org

Youth Development Focus Issue: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Nancy Van Pelt, M.A., is a Certified Family Life educator and best selling author who has conducted over 3,000 seminars across America and around the world. She has written 28 books which have been translated into 30 languages. Nancy and her husband Harry, often work together as a team and hail from Fresno, California. They are the parents of three grown children. Invitations for seminars have taken them to 55 countries including Scandinavia, Russia, South Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Philippines, and the Far East.

Some of Nancy's books include: To Have and To Hold, Train Up A Child, Highly Effective Marriage, Smart Listening for Couples, Smart Love, Get Organized, and her latest book Dear Nancy. Her books, audio recordings and DVD's are available for purchase from her website. Her seminars can be heard on line. CFLE credit is available along with this service.

Contact: Phone: (559) 325-2006 Website: www.heartnhome.com

Video Reviews from Child Development Media, Inc...

Margie Wagner, M.Ed., has worked with children with special needs - emotionally disturbed children, young children with disabling conditions, socially disadvantaged children and children with acute, chronic and life threatening illness for 30 years. The cornerstone of her work is her commitment to training and supervision. Margie holds a B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University and her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Southern California.

In 1994 she founded Child Development Media, a company that publishes and distributes videotapes and other media for professional development and parent education. Since 1987, she produced many Video Theaters for professional conferences and she is a video editor for professional publications. Margie directed the Child Life Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles for 20 years where she had the opportunity to train numerous staff members and hundreds of students. Other professional experiences include: Educational Therapist, Dubnoff Center for Child Development and Educational Therapy; Master Teacher, Demonstration Preschool, University of Southern California and Counselor, Orthogenic School, University of Chicago. She has served on state committees, on the Board of the Association for the Care of Children's Health and is a member of the Board of the Infant Development Association of California, the Ruth Pearce Fund for Therapeutic Companions and a founder of the Chase Foundation, dedicated to the support of Child Life Art and Play Therapy Programs in children's hospitals everywhere.

Contact: Child Development Media, 5632 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 286, Van Nuys, CA 91401. (800) 405-8942. Fax: (818) 994-0153. www.childdevmedia.com

People & Programs:
How Your "Brain Style" Impacts Your Parenting

Susie Weller, M.A., Certified Brain Style Consultant, is the founder and director of Tools for Transformation, a consulting firm focusing on integrating mind, body, emotions, and spirit. She earned her B.A. in Communications and Religious Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Seattle University. She is completing a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Gonzaga University with an emphasis on how brain styles shape our spirituality. She is certified in the following areas: the Herrman Brain Dominance Instrument (Herrman International), Brain Gym (Educational Kinesiology Foundation), and as a mediator. In addition, she has completed training through the Hendricks Institute in Life Coaching and numerous violence prevention curriculums including: Working It Out, Second Step Violence Prevention program, and Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families in Violence Prevention.

Susie is a Life and Spiritual Coach who has been providing educational services for over 25 years and is currently an adjunct faculty member of the Community Colleges of Spokane and North Idaho College where she teaches parenting, family management and personal growth classes. She works with parents and teachers to help them understand how utilizing information about their own and their children's brain styles can increase parent effectiveness and enhance parent-child relationships. She is currently writing a book (working title: Be a Whole-Brained Family in a Half-Brained World, Parenting Press, est. 2006).

Contact: Tools for Transformation, 1206 S. Liberty Drive, Liberty Lake, WA 99019. (509) 255-6676, email: sweller@att.net website: susieweller.com

A Father's World...

Mike Welsh, M.Ed., is a parent and family education consultant and works with a number of school districts and community-based programs. He currently facilitates a fathering group for Farmington, MN, Early Childhood Family Education; is facilitating the creation of parent-directed support systems for parents who have children with disabilities for the Early Childhood Special Education Program, Eden Prairie, MN, School District; and works with the faith community in Richfield, MN, to provide more services to families on limited incomes, to immigrant families and to the elderly.

Early in his career, Mike worked with troubled teens at St. Joseph’s Home for Children after earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology and became committed to the concept of reaching children and parents much earlier. From 1982 – 2003, he provided parent education services at Genesis II for Women, the Bloomington-Richfield Family Center and the Circle of Women program at the University of Minnesota. He earned his M.Ed. in Family Education from the University of Minnesota in 1992.

Contact: : 16191 Creekwood Circle, Prior Lake, MN 55372. Phone: (952) 226-4673 email: familystrengths@yahoo.com

Marriage & Family Development Focus Issue: Better Partners, Better Parents -- Parenting As a Team

Kurt Wical, Ph.D., LMFT is a marriage and family therapist at Minnesota Renewal Center in Shoreview, MN. He received his Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and his Ph.D. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his work in marriage and family therapy he also has experience in multi-systemic therapy with adolescents, and parent-child mediation. His interest in fathering issues led to his participation in the Parenting Together Project, a research project on the effect of parent education on the experience of new parents in the transition to parenthood. Dr. Wical was primary author of the curriculum used in the project. He also facilitated the classes, and was involved in analyzing the data gathered in the project. Data gathered from this study resulted in publications regarding the reliability of father’s reports on father involvement in the lives of their children and the validity of father identity as a predictor of father involvement.

Kurt has developed and taught community classes on fathering and parenting, parent education for new fathers, and has led small groups focused on family and personal growth issues. On a practical note, Dr. Wical was the primary care giver of his two sons for a number of years. He is the counseling pastor at his congregation, Beth Immanuel; his emphasis there is on healthy personal and family relationships.

Contact: Email: wica0001@umn.edu

Building Lasting Relationships…

Britton Wood, Ph.D., CFLE, LMFT, works with congregations and organizations in the area of relational growth issues. A great believer in healthy family life, Britton went back to school at age 50 and completed his Ph.D. in Family Studies from Texas Woman's University. He has served as a Family Ministries Consultant with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and is adjunct professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, Britton is the Training Director for the Texas Baptist Hope for Home Project and coordinator for the International Marriage Enrichment Conferences (IMEC).

Britton received the Moore-Bowman Award, for outstanding contribution to Marriage and Family from the Texas Council on Family Relations, and the NCFR Meritorious Award in 2002. He has served as President of TCFR, NCFR Association of Councils President, and has served on several other NCFR Task Forces. Currently he is on the NCFR Continuing Education Committee, NCFR's Public Policy Committee, Program Committee and chaired the Marriage and Family Enrichment Focus Group. He was the fund development consultant for the nonprofit anti-gambling organization, Texans Who Care. Currently, Britton is on the board of The Learning Center of North Texas, the ROPER board, Youth As Resources and is Director of Development for TCFR.

He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a national trainer with Life Innovations as a counselor in PREPARE/ENRICH and as a consultant in the Coping and Stress Profile. He is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). With Bobbye, he is a Certified Marriage Enrichment Leader. (ACME)

Bobbye Wood, Ph.D., recently retired Chair of the English Department at Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth. She served as the sponsor of the National Honor Society and the faculty sponsor for the American Field Service program. She taught eleventh and twelfth grade English and creative writing. During the summer months she often led literary tours with students to the British Isles. Bobbye holds her Ph.D. in English from the University of North Texas. She also has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Arts in English from UNT. She is President of the Galaxy Club of the Fort Worth Woman's Club. She recently published her new book, Building Lasting Marriages.

Britton and Bobbye served six years as the President Couple of the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment (A.C.M.E.), an international nonprofit organization, which encourages healthy marital relationships. Their speaking opportunities have been extensive in the United States, Canada, England and Australia. They serve as coordinators of the International Marriage Enrichment Conferences. In 1999, they received the Mace Medal for their outstanding contributions to the broadening awareness of and the value of marriage enrichment around the world. They are the designers and workshop leaders for ACME's Resources for Better Marriages. They have been designated as Ambassadors of Marriage Enrichment by A.C.M.E. Together with Britton, they have written two books, Marriage Readiness and Christian Families Growing Stronger. They have also produced a seminar on video tape for adults entitled, Building Lasting Relationships, which includes a participant guidebook.

Contact: 4055 Glenavon Court, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Phone: (817) 924-8509. email: brittonw@swbell.net

Featured Artist for Basic Parenting...

Yemi was born in Ibadan, Nigeria and came to New York in 1978 where he attended Pratt Institute and received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Science in Art and Communications Design. For the past 14 years he has been an illustrator. He has done drawings for more than 100 of the Fortune 500 companies and has also designed more than 100 postage stamps for countries including Russia, Azerbaijan, Gambia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, the Commonwealth of Dominica, and more.

Yemi has designed more than 200 greeting cards including birthday cards, Christmas, Kwanzaa, etc., dozens of posters, balloons, calendars, stickers, figurines, mugs, etc. Yemi's designs are sold in a large number of chain stores and specialty stores across the country (WalMart, Target, Neiman Marcus, Macay's, Duane Reade, Linens & Things, etc.). His everyday greeting cards are also now sold at the Smithsonian gift shop.Yemi is active on the Board of Directors of the Frederick County Family Life Center, where he also attends activities as a parent.

Contact: Yemi, Fine Artist, 125 Willowdale Drive, #12, Frederick, MD 21702. (301) 865-1434. FAX: (301) 473-7339. email: yemi777@aol.com