Young Child Expo & Conference

KEYNOTERS

T. Berry Brazelton, MD, Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School, Founder, Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Children’s Hospital Boston is one of the world’s foremost authorities on pediatrics and child development. Author of over 200 scholarly papers, he has also written forty books on pediatrics, child development, and parenting. Translated into more than 20 languages, these include the now classic Infants and Mothers, and the bestselling Touchpoints series. His ground breaking Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) is now used worldwide to recognize the physical and neurological responses of newborns, as well as emotional well being and individual differences. The NBAS has inspired numerous infant assessment tools and more than 1,000 research publications. It continues to transform our understanding   and shaping of care giving environments. A tireless advocate for families with young children, Dr. Brazelton has been a leading force behind the pediatric healthcare revolution that opened hospital doors to parents and empowered them to become active participants in their children’s care. He has frequently appeared before Congressional committees, and played a pivotal role in the enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act that guarantees three months of maternity leave, and Public Law 99457, which extends the rights and protections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to young children. In 1989, he was appointed to the National Commission on Children, raising public awareness of the plight of young children living in poverty, and urging the inclusion of their needs and rights in the national political agenda.

Vincent J. Carbone, EdD, BCBA-D, Director, The Carbone Clinic. Dr. Vincent J. Carbone is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral with over 30 years of experience designing learning environments for persons with autism and development disabilities. He received his graduate training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.  He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Florida Institute of Technology and is currently adjunct faculty at Penn State University and visiting professor in the Behavioral Education doctoral program at Simmons College in Boston, MA.  His behavior analytic research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals including The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.  Dr. Carbone currently serves on the editorial review board of several peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has provided the preparatory training and clinical consultation to hundreds of Certified Behavior Analysts in several states. He is the director of a center-based clinic for children with autism just north of New York City in Rockland County, N.Y.  The clinic provides consultation, training and therapeutic services to children, families and their instructional teams.  He and his clinic staff are currently working with several school districts, agencies and families throughout the United States and overseas. (ww.carboneclinic.com) 

Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop. Gary Knell is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sesame Workshop.  Mr. Knell leads the nonprofit educational organization in its mission to create innovative, engaging content that maximizes the educational power of all media to help children reach their highest potential.  He has been instrumental in focusing the organization on Sesame Street’s global mission, including groundbreaking co-productions in South Africa, India, Northern Ireland, and Egypt.  He also helped found PBS Kids Sprout, a 24-hour domestic cable channel in the U.S. Mr. Knell is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, serves as a Director of executive search firm Heidrick and Struggles, is on the Board of Governors of the National Geographic Education Foundation and is a Board Member of AARP Services, Inc, the Jacob Burns Film Center and Save the Children. He is also an advisor to WFUV, public radio at Fordham University, the Annenberg School of Communications at USC, and Common Sense Media.  He is a frequent spokesperson in the media, appearing in numerous venues, including CNN, Fox News, NBC’s Today Show, NPR, and CNBC. Mr. Knell holds a BA in Political Science and Journalism from the University of California at Los Angeles and a JD from Loyola University School of Law.

Jayne Singer, PhD, Faculty, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Clinical Director, Child and Parent Program, Division of Developmental Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston. Dr. Singer is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience working with a diverse array of children and families in hospital and community-based settings. She is the Clinical Director of the Child and Parent Program in the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she works with families of children aged birth through early childhood with a wide variety of medical, developmental, emotional, behavioral, and familial challenges. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Singer has been working clinically with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton since 1989. At BTC, she oversees the Early Care and Education Initiative and has developed adaptations of the Touchpoints Approach for families living with children with Special Needs. She is the primary author of the Touchpoints in Early Care and Education Reference Guide and the Touchpoints in Reflective Practice guides for practitioners. In addition to collaborating on the development and implementation of curricula for the general professional development programs of the BTC, Dr Singer also creates and facilitates workshops on Reflective Practice, Mentorship, and Supervision as they relate to the Touchpoints Approach.

Speakers 

Kenneth Barish, PhD is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College, Cornell University. He is on the faculty of the Westchester Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and the William Alanson White Institute Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program. For the past 20 years, Dr. Barish has presented workshops to both parents and child therapists on emotional development in childhood and the problems faced by contemporary parents in raising their children. He is the author of Emotions in Child Psychotherapy: An Integrative Framework, Oxford University Press, 2009. 

Jodi F. Bouer, Esq, Member, The Law Office of Jodi F. Bouer, LLC. Ms. Bouer graduated with Highest Honors from Boston University School of Law and in the top 3% of her class from Rutgers University, where she studied at the prestigious Eagleton Institute. For over 12 years, Ms. Bouer worked as an insurance litigator for the top law firms and insurers in New Jersey. Prior to that, she worked as an insurance broker. She has also taught Insurance Law at Seton Hall Law School. Her advice is widely sought by other lawyers and institutional clients. 

Pnina Bravmann, AuD,CCC/SLP-A,TSHH,SAS, CERT AVT, is the founder and director of the Auditory Oral School of New York, the largest auditory oral preschool program in the world, and the StriVright to Succeed Early Intervention Program servicing children, birth to three with a wide range of delays in Brooklyn. She is an audiologist, speech language pathologist, licensed teacher of the speech and hearing handicapped, a certified auditory verbal therapist and provides evaluations, support services and school consultations to assist with mainstreaming. She can be contacted at pbrav@auditoryoral.org (718)531-1800.

Joseph Buxbaum, PhD, Director, Seaver Autism Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Joseph Buxbaum is a world-renowned molecular geneticist at the Seaver Autism Center since joining the faculty at Mount Sinai in 1997. The Director of the Center since 2008, Dr. Buxbaum is highly regarded for his research receiving the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Professorship; the New York University Child Study Center “distinguished accomplishments and professional contributions to research in autism” (2004); the Daniel H. Efron award for “excellence in research in neuropsychophamacology”; the Eden Institute Foundation for his “commitment and dedication to improving the lives of individuals with autism”. Dr. Buxbaum has over 100 publications in esteemed journals. 

Christopher Camacho, PhD is the Director of Research for Children’s Progress and works at the forefront of educational technology for early childhood. The focus of his research has been on how interactive assessment and instruction can improve children’s learning. Dr Camacho was one of the members of the Columbia University research team that developed the patented dynamic approach of Children’s Progress. He has served as Primary Investigator on federal research projects from the Dept. of Ed., NSF, and NIH, which have examined the validity and efficacy of several technologies for early childhood. Dr Camacho received his PhD from Columbia University.

Jennifer Canter MD, MPH, FAAP  is a board-certified pediatrician with specialty fellowship training in Child Abuse. For the past seven years, Dr. Canter has been the medical director of the child abuse evaluation program in Westchester County and has an active academic, research, and clinical practice. Dr. Canter lectures extensively and testifies regularly as an expert in the areas of pediatrics, child abuse and child safety.  In 2008, “Dr. Jen” invented the now patent pending U-Play Mat and founded Play This Way Every Day LLC with the goal of creating low-tech, interactive educational toys accessible by children of all abilities. 

Michel Cohen, MD  Dr Cohen founded Tribeca Pediatrics which has multiple pediatric facilities in Mahanttan and Brooklyn. He is also the author of “The New Basics: A To Z baby & child care for the modern parent” a popular parenting book emphasizing on a down to earth parenting approach.

Betty Crea Davidson, Esq. is the co-founder and executive director of Navigating the Spectrum, a not-for-profit organization providing autism support, direction and education for parents and providers.  She is a Behavior Analyst and regularly conducts workshops and provides trainings and consultative services for families, schools and independent service providers. Ms. Crea Davidson is an attorney and concentrates her practice on special education law and advocacy. She serves on numerous committees in Westchester County, including the Autism Advisory Council to the Office of the County Executive, and is the chair of the Autism Legislative Action Committee (Assemblyman Mike Spano). She is the mother of three children, one of whom has recovered from autism. 

Genevieve Davitt, MS, F-AAA is a clinical/educational audiologist at the Auditory Oral School of New York.  She received her Master’s of science degree from Brooklyn College in 1997. Since then she has worked in a hospital setting, private practice and an educational setting. Genevieve has also had the pleasure of working side by side with acclaimed researcher Dr. Silman on an NIH grant. In addition to her clinical work and research, Genevieve is an adjunct at Brooklyn College and Touro College, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate audiology courses. She is a licensed fast-forward provider. 

Becky Fawcett, Cofounder & Executive Director, Helpusadopt.org   Becky Fawcett is a luxury lifestyle public relations and marketing specialist who owns her own New York based firm, The Fawcett Group. Prior to starting her own business in 1999 she was director of marketing for Philadelphia magazine. She holds a B.A. Degree from Franklin & Marshall College, 1992. In response to their own adoption experience, Becky and her husband Kipp founded helpusadopt.org in order to help couples/individuals overcome the financial hurdles they meet along the way to completing their own adoptions. Becky serves as executive director on a pro-bono basis.

Joanne Gerenser, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Executive Director of the Eden II Programs. She received her PhD in Speech and Hearing Science at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She is an adjunct Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College as well as Penn State University. Dr. Gerenser is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Organization for Autism Research. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis. She sits on a number of Professional Advisory Boards for several programs serving children and adults with autism in the US and abroad. 

Dan Habib, Filmmaker-in-Residence, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire. Dan is the director, producer and cinematographer of the new documentary, Including Samuel. The film won the 2007 Positive Images in Media award from TASH, an international group committed to the full inclusion of people with disabilities. Until joining UNH in April of 2008, Habib was the photography editor of the Concord Monitor since 1995. In 2006 and 2008 he was named the national Photography Editor of the Year for papers under 100,000 circulation. Habib and his wife, Betsy, live in Concord, New Hampshire, with their sons Isaiah, 13, and Samuel, 10. 

Yuqing Hong, currently serves as an Knowledge Management Specialist for English Language Learners (ELL) in the Chief Achievement Office, Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners, New York City Department of Education. She has served as a Reading First Coordinator in Region 10, an ELL Instructional Support Specialist in Region 7, and a teacher of all ages. She has more than 15 years experience in reading instruction and teaching ESL, bilingual education, Chinese Native Language Arts, and the Living Environment. She has also been involved in writing curriculum to prepare students to meet New York State standards and LOTE exams, and provided state and citywide professional development.

Angelica Infante, Executive Director of English Language Learners & Accountability Team Leader, Chief Achievement Office, Students with Disabilities and ELLS, NYC Department of Education. Prior to this position, she served the Department in a variety of instructional leadership positions, including Deputy Director in the Office of English Language Learners, Region 10 ELL Regional Instructional Specialist specializing in professional development, instruction and compliance, Director of the Early Childhood Center located at The George Washington High School Campus, Assistant Principal, Bilingual Coordinator, and Director of a Dual Language Program.  

Nancy Kolben, MSW Executive Director of the Center For Children’s Initiatives and a Co convener of the Winning BeginningNY, has extensive experience as an advocate and spokesperson. CCI reaches out to a broad group of organizations in the city and state to shape policy and advocacy that recognizes the needs of families and supports practitioners in offering the highest quality of service. The WBNY coalition is engaging parents and practitioners across the state.

Steven M.S. Kurtz, PhD, ABPP, Clinical Director, Institute for ADHD & Disruptive Behavior Disorders, NYU Child Study Center, NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Kurtz is a psychologist with extensive experience training professionals in evidence-based, practical methods to treat disruptive behaviors. He holds a Diplomate in Behavioral Psychology and has authored numerous scholarly articles.  He often appears on TV and radio as an expert.  Dr. Kurtz is a national trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for young children with severe behavior disorders and a researcher of Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy.  Dr. Kurtz is Co-Director of NYU’s innovative Selective Mutism Program, which pioneered Brave Buddies, a one-week intensive day treatment program for youngsters with Selective Mutism. 

Yvonne McNamee is the paralegal, billing and coding professional on staff at The Law Office of Jodi F. Bouer, LLC. She provides the Firm’s clients with the coding, billing, claims and appeal assistance. Ms. McNamee has a Billing and Coding Certificate through William Paterson University. She has over 20 years experience as a medical practice manager for pediatric practices where she excelled at maximizing insurance reimbursements. Thus, Ms. McNamee has a wealth of knowledge in general medicine, coding and billing, and the claims and appeals process. She is truly an asset to the Firm and its clients.

Georgina Ngozi,  President and CEO, Brooklyn’s Children’s Museum.  As President and CEO of the world’s first museum created expressly for children; she is the 110-year-old institution’s 11th leader, succeeding Carol Enseki, who stepped down in September 2009. William Rifkin, chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees and vice chairman of mergers and acquisitions at J.P. Morgan, said that Ngozi, a seasoned education and arts executive who was born and raised in Brooklyn, was the Board’s unanimous choice as president, following an extensive national search. 

Molly Nozyce, PhD, Director of Neurodevelopmental Services, Jacobi Medical Center, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Nozyce is the director of the Neurodevelopmental Service at Jacobi Medical Center. She specializes in the evaluation and assessment of children with developmental, behavioral and academic difficulties and she provides training in those areas for pediatricians and psychologists. Dr. Nozyce has been involved in autism training for the State of New York and currently offers the State training in the screening and evaluation of children referred for the Early Intervention Program.

Myriah Rosengarten, MS, MA, is a research consultant for Children’s Progress where she is involved in research and content development for educational assessments for early childhood. She is currently completing her doctoral degree in School Psychology at Fordham University and is conducting research on teachers’ perceptions of school-based consultation using Response-to-Intervention (RTI) data. In 2009, she earned her Master’s degree in Preschool Psychology. As a part of her training, she has provided psychological services to children in a variety of settings including public and private schools and university clinics. 

Jean Schreiber, MSEd, an early childhood educational consultant, has two decades of experience developing and directing early childhood programs and parenting centers.  She earned her M.S. from Bank Street College of Education where she is an instructor in the Continuing Professional Studies Program. An engaging and highly informative speaker, Jean presents workshops for parents and educators and consults to a wide variety of early childhood and elementary school programs.  Jean was a Featured Speaker – “Bullies are Created, not Born: How to Create a Safe and Caring Classroom Community” – at the NAEYC 2009 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.

Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD, is Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. From a critical perspective, she examines the sociocultural and historical foundations of early schooling, language development, and literacy practices. She studies how children, families, and teachers from diverse backgrounds shape and are shaped by discursive practices, employing a methodology that combines discourse analysis with ethnographic investigation. Her work can be found in journals such as Early Child Development and Care, Early Childhood Education Journal, Journal of Early Childhood Research, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, and Teachers College Record.

Jill Starishevsky, JD, Author. Ms. Starishevsky  is an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, where she has prosecuted hundreds of sex offenders and dedicated her career to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and sex crimes.  Her mission to protect children, along with her penchant for poetry, inspired My Body Belongs to Me, a children’s book that teaches children their bodies are private and if someone touches them inappropriately, to tell a parent or teacher right away. 

Cynthia Summers, DrPH, Executive Director, Take Care New York, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Summers began working for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2007. She has been the Executive Director of Take Care New York since March 2009. Before coming to the Health Department, Dr. Summers was the Director of Marketing and Public Affairs at a small women’s health pharmaceutical company. In 2004, she received her doctorate degree in Public Health from the University of IL at Chicago. Her research was focused on maternal and child health, and her dissertation was an ethnographic study of pregnancy intention and reproductive decision making among African American couples. 

Stanley Turecki, MD is a child and family psychiatrist in private practice in New York City.  He is certified in child and adult psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Turecki is an attending psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center, and is the author of two books, The Difficult Child and Normal Children Have Problems, Too.