TTAC hosted a daylong conference featuring keynote speaker Sarah Enos Watamura, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Child Health & Development Laboratory at the University of Denver.

The conference began with a morning presentation by Dr. Watamura, which will included a thorough examination of the science of adversity and the developmental consequences of poverty and stress. We will then turn our attention to the underpinnings of resilience and what is needed to appropriately study the neurobiological signature of resilience.

We discussed when and how biologically embedded adversity can be transformed into resilience, considering lifespan and family-systems perspectives.Throughout, highlighted the unique strengths brought by immigrant and refugee families and how that contributes to our understanding of risk and resilience. In the afternoon, Dr. Watamura continued her presentation, after which Dr. Susan Chinitz, PsyD, Clinical Co-Director of TTAC, moderated a panel discussion with experts from the fields of child welfare, early care and education, pediatrics, and mental health. The panel discussed the application of Dr. Watamura's research to clinical practice in child-serving systems. The afternoon session was permitted for audience participation and Q&A.

Panelists:

Jacqueline Martin, DSL, LMSW, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Preventive Services, Administration for Children's Services

Liz Isakson, MD, Executive Director, Docs for Tots

Yasmin Morales-Alexander, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, The City University of New York-Lehman College Early Childhood Education Department

Ana Rodriguez, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Trauma Specialist and Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Trainer