Professionals who work with relative parents and children will learn more about the challenges of being raised in a family that is controlled by violence, addiction or mental illness at a conference co-sponsored by the West Virginia University Extension Service scheduled at three regional sites later this month.


“Helping Families off the Triangle of Pain”will be held Oct. 21 at the University Club at the University of Pittsburgh; Oct. 23 at PriestfieldPastoralCenter in Kearneysville, W.Va.; and Oct. 25 at Pipestem Resort near Beckley, W.Va.


Professionals such as counselors, social workers, psychologists, law enforcement personnel, public school personnel, attorneys, foster care workers and relative parents are encouraged to attend the free workshop.


The morning session provides general information about violence, addiction and mental illness. The effects of these issues on learning, world view, relationships, activities and abilities of the individuals raised in these families will be reviewed.


The afternoon portion focuses on how to help families escape”The Triangle of Pain.”Several approaches will be reviewed including long-term counseling, working with social workers, child care and law enforcement personnel and a structured seven step program designed to help families and individuals heal emotionally and physically.


The featured speaker is Geri Redden, M.Ed., who is a violence intervention specialist based in St. Louis, Mo., with 25 years experience in violence prevention education. Redden has served on the Governors Alliance for the Prevention of Disabilities, the Missouri Child Fatality Review Board and the Missouri Department of Health Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Committee. She spoke at the First World Conference on Family Violence in Singapore in 1998. Redden earned a masters degree in education from the University of Missouri and a bachelors degree in sociology from WebsterUniversity.


The event is free to those who work with families involved in addiction, violence and mental illness. Social Work and Nursing continuing education credits are available. For more information on the conference, contact Carol Winland at 304-290-9317 or by email at cawinland@mail.wvu.edu


The conference, co-sponsored by WVU Extension Service, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and MissionWest Virginia, is funded by a grant from The Childrens Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAdministration for Children and Families.