DAVENPORT — The 13th annual St. Ambrose University Social Justice Conference, “Disentangling Disproportionality: Race, Poverty and the Overrepresentation of Children of Color in the Child Welfare System,” will take place Thursday, May 12, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Rogalski Center, located at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets.
Presented by the SAU School of Social Work, the conference is intended for social workers, social service providers, attorneys, criminal justice personnel, clergy, health care professionals and all other interested parties, including the public.
Keynote speaker Alan Dettlaff is assistant professor of social work at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois, Chicago. His research interests focus on improving outcomes for children of color in the child welfare system through the elimination of disproportionality and disparities. Dettlaff is an Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy faculty fellow; a member of the Child Welfare League of America National Advisory Council on Cultural Competence and Disproportionality; and consulting editor for Families in Society journal. Dettlaff has worked as a practitioner and administrator in public child welfare and received his doctorate in social work from the University of Texas, Arlington.
Two panel discussions will include representatives from the legal system, child welfare system, social work, community advocates, the faith community and a graduate of the foster care system.
The cost for the conference is $35 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Those who wish to attend the morning lecture only may do so for $15 (includes breakfast). Continuing education units are available to Iowa and Illinois licensed social workers. Reservations must be made by Thursday, May 5.
For more information, contact Jeannine Yeager at (563) 333-3919 or YeagerJeannineR@sau.edu
