Global Consequences, Local Dialogue—

Danbury Hospital Plans Regional Conference On Child Abuse

DANBURY — The social ramifications of child abuse are well known, but the economic impacts are not so often addressed. On May 3 and 4, Danbury Hospital provides the global economic impact of this pressing issue at its 9th Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference. The two-day event is designed to educate more than 200 health care professionals, mandated reporters, and child advocates on various aspects of identifying, preventing, and treating child abuse.

“Since child abuse prevention is the responsibility of every citizen, we’re honored to inspire dialogue between leaders from around the state and across various disciplines — health, political, business and even educational — at this signature event,” said Dr Jack Fong, chairman of pediatrics at Danbury Hospital. “Adding an important element to this year’s agenda is a discussion on the economic impact of child abuse by Dr Allen Morton, the dean of the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University.”

Besides Dr Morton’s keynote address at the Inn at Ethan Allen on May 3, highlights of at this year’s conference include breakout sessions by:

*Dr John Leventhal of the Yale University School of Medicine on DCF reporting measures

*Dr Lawrence Ricci, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, who will be discussing nonorganic causes of failure to thrive in children

*Dr Jennifer Faith Canter, director of child protection at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in New York on multidisciplinary approaches to child abuse pediatrics

*K. Casey Jordan, PhD and JD, a professor within the Division of Justice and Law Administration at Western Connecticut State University, who will present the effects of psychological, emotional, and verbal abuse on children of divorcing parents

*Dr Martin Vigdor, clinical director of Green Chimney’s Children’s Services in Brewster, N.Y., on the management and treatment of traumatized children

*Jessica Alexander, founder and director of the Keren Foundation for Children, Inc, who will provide a global perspective on child abuse and exploitation

All above sessions will be held at the John Creasy Center for Health Education Auditorium onsite at Danbury Hospital. In addition, the conference offers continuing medical and nursing education credits to physicians and nurses. For more information or to register, call 739-7940, or visit www.danburyhospital.org.                     

Danbury Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics is committed to providing quality medical care, which is socially responsible, family supportive, ethical, safe and cost-effective to infants and children in western Connecticut and eastern New York. The department has been recognized as achieving the best rates in the state for childhood immunizations, influenza vaccines and asthma care and its child abuse prevention programs have earned documented best improvement rates in the reduction of child maltreatment out of the 30-plus hospitals in Connecticut.

Besides hosting the state’s only Child Abuse Prevention Conference, ongoing activities are centered around child safety, pediatric rehabilitation, family birth center, neonatal intensive care unit, including the future addition of Caroline’s Room for severely premature babies, as well as the popular community-based Wellness on Wheels Van to provide comprehensive primary care clinical services.