Southeastern NEWS

Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
     Date: 11/03/00
                    Contact:                           Angey Saucier   122

Editors: Photo accompanies release   Please note local interest
CHILD WELFARE WORKERS AND FOSTER PARENTS RECOGNIZED
     HAMMOND -- On Tuesday, October 31, Southeastern Louisiana University's Social
Work Program and the Louisiana Office of Community Services united for the second annual
Child Welfare Conference on the Southeastern campus.  The event recognized child welfare
workers and the foster parents who enhance a children's lives.
     "We wanted to invite the foster parents, child welfare workers and social work students to
let them know what a great job they are doing and the importance of teamwork in doing the best
thing for a child," said Maurice Badon, coordinator of the child welfare program in
Southeastern's Department of Social Work.  "We made it fun and informative while recognizing
the great things they're doing to combat the bad."
     The day's events included lectures on the use of art to facilitate change in a child's life, 
responding to secondary trauma, the family decision making process, child welfare in the new
millennium and how to prepare children for family placement.
     Also on hand was Judge Zorraine Waguespack of District H, 21st Judicial District Court,
who spoke of the importance of the community effort in ensuring the services that help families
and children in avoiding neglect and abuse.
     "We looked for presenters that people can enjoy, take the information home with them
and enhance their hands-on work with children," said Badon. "The work that these people do are
very valuable, especially the foster parents.  They love the children, take care of them, then give
them up when the children are ready to go back home.  It's not easy to do that."
     The Child Welfare Conference was made possible special program funded by a Louisiana
Office of Community Services Title IV-E grant.  It is designed to prepare professional
practitioners in the field of child welfare.
            The conference was arranged by a planning committee consisting of child welfare
workers, Southeastern students and faculty and foster parents.  Chairpersons of the committee are
Badon and Jane Moncief, regional administrator of OCS.  Members include Donice Hayden,
Kathy Oliver, Kelley Senseney, Phyllis Chandler, Debbie Wild, Michelle Milazzo and
Southeastern Title IV-E students.

                             -SLU-
               Press release available online at 
     www.selu.edu./NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm00.htm