THE PRESENTATION

Families and Practitioners Crossing Cultural Borders…a New Model

Throughout this century, practitioners will increasingly encounter families that cross cultural borders. Unlike the experiences of immigrants in the past, family connections will not fade but will continue to evolve through technologies of communication, transnational social fields and complex cultural identities. This phenomenon can lead to the emergence of both vulnerabilities and strengths for individuals and their relationships.

In this presentation, Dr. Falicov will present her innovative binational/bicultural model for working with transnational clients that integrates relational, community and cultural/sociopolitical contexts. She will illustrate techniques such as constructing a "catching-up life narrative" and writing a "certificate of legitimization" that are geared to strengthening vital bonds strained by family separations and reunifications. Dr. Falicov will also reflect on practitioners' possible personal and professional beliefs and biases about transnational families, as these are crucial ingredients in facilitating positive and culturally attuned collaborations.

THE EVENT – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

8:45 - 9:15 am 
Registration and coffee and muffins. 

9:15 - 11:30 am
Dr. Falicov will begin the morning with a presentation on her innovative binational/bicultural model that integrates relational, community and cultural/sociopolitical contexts for working with transnational clients. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

1 - 4 pm
In the afternoon the audience will be invited to take part in an interactive community discussion facilitated by Dr. Falicov.

Doors open at 8:45 am. Refreshments provided.

Continuing education certificates available upon request.

About Dr. Falicov
Dr. Celia Jaes Falicov, PhD, is a pioneer on the topics of family transitions, migration and cultural perspectives in family practice and training. She has researched, written and presented extensively on topics related to clinical and community work with immigrants and culturally diverse families. She has developed numerous culturally-attuned interventions for families. Her Multisystemic Ecological Comparative Approach (MECA) model integrates cultural and sociopolitical similarities and differences across many cultural groups and is widely used in training and research settings. The themes in her most recent book, Latino Families in Therapy: A Guide to Multicultural Practice, are relevant to many cultures.

Dr. Falicov's recent community work focuses on mental healthcare needs of at-risk immigrant clients, facilitating empowerment groups for parents of various cultural groups, and on training medical students to think in terms of the impact of immigration and culture on health and mental health.

She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Groves Conference on Marriage and Family Sussan award, the American Academy of Family Therapy's Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy, Theory and Practice award and the Latino Social Workers Organization Leadership award.

Dr. Falicov is a clinical professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. She serves on the advisory board of several family therapy journals and is the past president (1999-2000) of the American Academy of Family Therapy (AFTA). During the 2001-2003 academic years, Dr. Falicov was a visiting professor at the renowned Tavistock Clinic in London, England.

LOCATION

Tannery Event Centre
151 Charles Street West, Kitchener
Corner of Charles and Victoria Streets.

There is some free parking available at the Tannery building. There are also a number of City of Kitchener parking lots nearby. Click here for a map of available downtown parking lots.

The Tannery Event Centre is conveniently located just blocks from the Kitchener bus station at 15 Charles Street West.

Tickets

General Admission: $50
Students and Field Instructors*: $25

^{*Must be WLU field instructors for 2012/2013.}

To purchase tickets by telephone call 519-884-0710 ext. 5265.

To purchase tickets online click here. 

Contact

For more information about this event contact Lynne Jordan, Professional Development and Alumni Relations, at 519-884-0710 ext. 5265 or fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca.