Allegheny Family Network hosting free mental health conference
Navigating child service systems will be the focus of an upcoming mental health conference in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny Family Network is presenting “Parents Moving Forward Together” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, 112 Washington Place, Downtown.
The conference is open to any family members, individuals or professionals interested in mental health issues, according to the network.
“This one-day, free conference, now in its ninth year, brings community resource organizations and service agencies to families raising children with mental health concerns, offers workshops for training and education about mental health and parent advocates, and presents a legislative panel of local representatives for discussion about current and upcoming issues,” the network said in announcing the conference.
Workshop sessions will cover becoming a leader as a parent, IEP information, emotions and suicide in teenagers, and other issues related to mental health. Parents and professionals can receive training about child discipline and mental health awareness.
State Rep. Dan Miller will moderate a legislative question-and-answer panel about upcoming and current mental health legislation. Community organizations and behavioral health agencies will provide information and networking at the event’s resource fair.
Other presenters include Allegheny Family Network CEO Ruth Fox; Marc Cherna, director of Allegheny County Department of Human Services; Mark LePore, author and professor at Clarion University; Joe Martin, Allegheny County Department of Human Services; Stephanie Tecza, education advocate from KidsVoice; and Nina Hotkowski, from UPMC Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services clinic.
Registration is required for lunch and childcare. Those who register before Tuesday will be entered in a raffle.
Transportation is available from several communities at no cost. Parking will be available for $5, with free parking for Allegheny Family Network families.
To register and ask about transportation, call 412-246-2030.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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