Pitt’s Center on Race and Social Problems To Host Summer 2008 Institutes

What is the best social services model for supporting prisoner reintegration into society? What unique problems do Black children with mental health issues face? Is there a racial component to violence among young people?

The University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) will tackle these questions in separate summer institutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 9, 11, and 24. The free public sessions will be held in the School of Social Work Conference Center, 20th floor, Cathedral of Learning. A fourth institute is slated for Aug. 19; details will be forthcoming.

Educators, community leaders, social workers, and others will explore these issues—their causes and consequences—and look at model programs and new policy ideas. The institutes include presentations, discussions, and break-out sessions. Details about the institutes follow.

July 9

Race and Prisoner Reintegration

“Race and Prisoner Re-entry: An Overview” —Steven Raphael, professor of public policy, University of California, Berkeley;

“Race and Female Offender Re-entry”—Beth Richie, professor of criminal justice and gender and women’s studies, University of Illinois, Chicago;

“Race and Prisoner Re-entry: Findings From a Longitudinal Study”—Nancy LaVigne, senior research associate, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.; and

“The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Approach to Re-entry”—Kathleen Gnall, deputy secretary for re-entry and specialized programs, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

July 11

African American Children’s Mental Health

“Indicators of Mental Health Among African American Children”—Oscar Barbarin, professor, University of North Carolina School of Social Work;

“Barriers to Mental Health Service Use by Children and Families of Color”—Michael Spencer, professor, University of Michigan School of Social Work;

“Effects of Chronic Stress on Urban Adolescents’ Mental Health”—David Miller, professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Sciences; and

“African American Children’s Mental Health: Common Diagnoses and Disparities”—Charma Dudley, associate director of clinical services, Family Resources of Pennsylvania.

July 24

Race and Youth Violence

“Race, Crime, and Justice: Standing on Common Ground”—David Kennedy, director, Center for Crime Prevention and Control, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York;

“Violence, Race/Ethnicity, and American Youth: Patterns, Trends, and Correlates”—John Wallace, associate professor, Pitt School of Social Work, and Michael Yonas, assistant professor, Department of Family Medicine, Pitt School of Medicine; and

“The Challenge of Creating Buy-in and Credibility Around Race and Violence: The Pittsburgh Experience”—Frederick Thieman, president, The Buhl Foundation, and founder, Youth Crime Prevention Council.

The summer institutes are made possible through funding from The Pittsburgh Foundation.