Save the Date March 20-23, 2011 Tampa, Florida Since 1988, the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida has been a leader in promoting the expansion of the research base essential to improved service systems for children with mental health challenges and their families. Each year we bring together researchers, evaluators, administrators, policy makers, planners, advocates, and family members for this annual meeting. In keeping with this spirit and tradition, we are pleased to sponsor the 24th Annual Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference. This year’s conference promises important opportunities to share cutting-edge research and evaluation findings that are helping to guide program and policy efforts essential to improving service systems for children with mental health challenges and their families.

Featured Keynote Speaker Geoffrey CanadaProfiled on 60 Minutes, Geoffrey Canada has achieved great success as President and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, an agency that fuses community building with academic achievement to improve the futures of inner city youth. Recently, President Obama launched an initiative to create “Promise Neighborhoods” around the country to combat poverty, modeling them on Canada’s work. An innovative educator, youth advocate, and the author of Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America, he offers a unique vision of leadership.

Wherever he goes, pioneering children’s advocate Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children’s Zone offers strategies and inspiration on how to improve the lives of all children and their communities. Don’t miss his riveting keynote address!

Over 100 symposia, papers and poster presentationsThis conference is the focal point for the national dissemination of outcome data, ongoing research and policy development updates in the children’s mental health field.

The conference features a wide array of symposia, papers and poster presentations from an international field of scholars, educators, policy makers and families who are integrally involved in shaping the children’s mental health field in America.

Intensive pre-conference sessions Each year we ensure topical intensive pre-conference sessions designed to stretch your thinking about how the use of research can and does impact policy and practice in children’s mental health.

National technical assistance forumsA hallmark of this conference is the close collaboration with national research and training centers focused on community-based approaches to meeting the needs of children and families. The exciting work these centers are doing will be on display during the conference. You won’t want to miss it!

Make plans to attend!Find more information online at http://cmhtampaconference.usf.edu

The 24th Annual Children’s Mental Health Research & Policy Conference

http://cmhtampaconference.usf.edu