March 23, 2004
Contact:
Barbra Gonzalez, Associate Director of Public Affairs
(954) 262-5354
Sara Brenner Health Professions Division Vice Chancellor
(954) 262-1512
NSU Kicks Off Raising Healthy Children Conference
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Nova Southeastern University (NSU) today announced that it will host its first Raising Healthy Children conference at the Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center on NSU's main campus. On Friday, March 26 local educators are encouraged to participate in "A Day for Teachers" where topics will range from obesity to suicide prevention, bullying, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and grandparents raising children. The keynote address titled "Safeguarding Children: Reducing or Preventing Leading Causes of Death" will be delivered beginning at 1 p.m. by Dr. Scott Poland, a nationally recognized expert on school crisis.
Dr. Poland aided intervention efforts in the Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine High School shootings, Post 9/11and in the Maryland sniper attacks. Under his 20-year leadership as Director of Psychological Services for the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Houston, TX), his department received recognition as the most outstanding department in the state three times in a row. The author of four books, Dr. Poland has testified before congress on the issue of school violence several times.
"We have pulled together some exciting resources that address the issues that are critical to raising healthy children in today's society," said Dr. Robert Oller, Chief Executive Officer of Health Care Systems in NSU's Health Professions Division. "It is our hope that Broward County school teachers and administrators will take advantage of this teacher's workday to attend the conference at Nova Southeastern University, then apply the knowledge they gain within our school systems."
The overall mission of the conference is to educate teachers by providing a checklist of indicators and tools needed to identify and help resolve issues facing children. Attendees will be able to select from comprehensive Elementary, Middle/High School and General tracks.
The Raising Healthy Children conference will also include a "Day for Children" on Sunday, March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. This event, sponsored by WPBT, Broward County Schools Credit Union, Majic 102.7 Publix, Sepracor, Nelnet Xerox, Sun-Sentinel, Coca-Cola, Department of Education, Children Services Council of Broward County, Taste of Excellence, Parties by Ronnie O, Vision Council Services of America, and NSU is open to the community and will also take place at NSU's Alvin Sherman Library. It will feature free screenings from NSU's Health Professions Division for hearing and balance, vision, speech, and dental health, as well as food, games and sports activities for children. No pre-registration is required to attend the event.
Among the distinguished guests invited to the conference are Florida 's First Lady Columba Bush; Director of the Office of Drug Control, James McDonough; Department of Health Secretary, John O. Agwunabi, M.D. M.B.A.; and Department of Education Commissioner, Jim Horne.
For more information on Raising Healthy Children, please visit NSU's web site at www.nova.edu or call toll free 1-866-284-4678.
