Sir Richard Bowlby Presents 50 Years of Attachment Theory to Kick off 40 Sessions at Children's Mental Health Conference, April 8-9

Linking Forces conference brings top practitioners and researchers to Miami

MIAMI, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute for Child and Family Health (ICFH) presents Sir Richard Bowlby and other top researchers and practitioners at the Sixteenth Linking Forces Conference, April 8-9, 2010 in Miami. An important community event with a history of bringing together people and agencies that care for and work with children and adolescents, Linking Forces has an agenda rich in educational value for professionals and parents.

Presentations at the conference span 50 years of clinical work with children and families. Keynote Sir Richard Bowlby will present "Fifty Years of Attachment Theory," based on the work of his father, Dr. John Bowlby, a pioneer in research on child-parent attachment and its impact on development. Sir Bowlby offers an insider's view of Attachment Theory, from the context of his family's own history including the concepts of primary and secondary attachment figures and the impact of their loss.

Sir Bowlby spent his career successfully illustrating medical research, helping to communicate research findings through photographs and video. Since retiring in 1999, he has further studied the work of his father, and become a key figure in advancing Attachment Theory.

Day two of the conference includes another session by Sir Bowlby on the complex subject of young children's needs for a secondary attachment figure in daycare.

More than 40 presentations, workshops and educational sessions are offered at Linking Forces XVI, from some of today's top practitioners and researchers in evidence-based treatments of infant mental health, childhood anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other emotional and behavioral disorders. The conference is geared toward mental health professionals, teachers, school counselors, case managers, parents and anyone wishing to learn about the programs, services and interventions available in the community.

Linking Forces XVI takes place April 8-9, 2010 at the Miami Airport Hilton. Up to 11 hours of Continuing Education (CE) credits are available, four sessions are eligible for play therapy CE credits and 12 Master Plan Points (MPPs) have been approved for school personnel. Registration is just $125, and includes all conference sessions as well as continental breakfast and lunch. For more information or to register, visit www.icfhinc.org and click on "Our Programs -- Child & Family Counseling."

About ICFH

The Institute for Child and Family Health (ICFH) is a private, not-for-profit organization that has been providing health, behavioral health, educational and prevention services to the children, adolescents and families of Miami-Dade County for over 60 years. It is one of the oldest and largest community health centers exclusively dedicated to the well being of children and families in the state of Florida. ICFH serves over 40,000 children, adolescents, and families per year. For more information about ICFH, visit www.icfhinc.org. Become a fan on Facebook to receive updates.

CONTACT: Alina Plasencia, Communications Director, Institute for Child & Family Health

T: 305-722-5322, F: 305-688-3889, [email protected]

SOURCE Institute for Child & Family Health