Early Childhood Conference March 10th

Invitation to the Early Childhood Conference
Child Welfare: Securing the Future – A Dialogue for Meaningful Action

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bouck Hall Ballroom

The conference will highlight the problems of orphaned children in South Africa and work that is being done to educate and care for them. Effective strategies that benefit the welfare of children at global, national and local levels will be shared by South African and American participants.

There will be keynote presentations, discussions, and cultural exhibits featuring quilts, songs, and dance.
Merle Hodges, Director of International Affairs at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology; South Africa, Palesa Tyobeka, Deputy Director General of the General Education Branch, South Africa; and Karen Brackett, director of the Early Childhood Center at Skidmore College, will serve as keynote speakers. Ms. Brackett will show 8 large quilts made with South African children. Panel participants are Flick Asvat, South African social strategist; Doris Hill-Wyley, director of Early Education and Reading Initiatives at the NYS Department of Education; Kristen Kerr, executive director of the NY Association for the Education of Young Children; Rachel Sperry, a national trainer of Infant Mental Health; and Melodie Swanson, director of Child at Risk Response Team of Schoharie County. Two South African government ministers will also be in attendance.

Who should attend:
People interested in advocating for the welfare of children at global, national and local levels.
Public and private school teachers, administrators, childcare providers, students, individuals
and educators interested in forming child welfare initiatives and a partnership to implement
action.

Continuing Education Units will be issued.
Hosted by SUNY Cobleskill’s Early Childhood Department and the Office of International Programs in partnership with the New York State National Guard and University at Albany’s Schools

For more information call the Office of Extended Learning at (518) 255-5528