COPAY's Workshop for Area Professionals & Parents:
“Successful Parenting in Uncertain Times”
L to R: Honey Heller, COPAY Board President;
Andrew Malekoff, LCSW; Maria Elisa Cuadra,
COPAY Exec. Director; Henry Acosta, LSW |
On Monday, October 17th, 2005, COPAY Inc. hosted an educational luncheon “Successful Parenting in Uncertain Times.” Joining Maria Elisa Cuadra, LCSW-R, ACSW, CASAC, CPP Executive Director, and Honey Heller, Board President, were two esteemed colleagues, Henry Acosta, LSW, MSW, MA, Project Director, New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. and Andrew Malekoff, LCSW, Associate Director, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center and author of Group Work with Adolescents. Maria Elisa is also an Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University, School of Social Work. The workshop offered important information for parents and professionals in the community about parenting and helping children in light of 9/11, hurricane Katrina, and other recent events that continue to be publicized extensively and graphically in today’s media.
“Our children are exposed to more than 200 graphic violent images per day. Unlike in the past, these images depict real life events. This fear based culture is affecting the emotional, and psychological development of our children. Parents may face this challenge by being pro-active and counterbalancing these images with images that are positive, hopeful, active, and life affirming” stated Maria Elisa Cuadra.
Henry Acosta cautioned parents to limit unsupervised access to violent media images and to discuss and process with children what they have seen. “Answers must be given that are honest and provided at the level that children can understand.” Henry also cautioned parents about web sites that children access that feature even more graphic real media images than those currently seen in the mainstream press.
Andrew Malekoff read poetry written by children on topics like 9/11 and recent world traumatic events. He suggested that poetry and other forms of artistic expression can prove to be effective psychotherapeutic tools in helping children to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings. He assisted the audience in understanding how children sometimes communicate “paradoxically” and have to be provided with tools to better express themselves and be understood.
For information on Parent Support and Discussion Groups, and other services, call COPAY Inc. at (516) 466-2509. All calls are confidential. Groups are forming in both English and Spanish and all groups will be run by licensed mental health professionals.
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