Touchpoints National Forum Overview
The Touchpoints National Forum promotes knowledge development and networking for providers who serve children and families. This highly regarded annual event draws multi-disciplinary providers from communities and organizations across the United States and the world Participants represent public health, social work, early intervention, child protective services, home visiting, therapeutic services among others. The Forum is open to all who share a commitment to supporting families to ensure that all children have the best start in life and optimal opportunities to succeed.
Dynamic workshops, plenaries and discussions showcase cutting edge research in child and family development. Presenters and participants share best practices, new strategies, and challenges for building partnerships and strengthening families. The Touchpoints National Forum is an important venue to exchange ideas with leading thinkers and researchers.
A primary focus of the Forum is to share knowledge and resources to support providers learning to integrate the Touchpoints Approach into their work with children and families. Participants who have completed Touchpoints Professional Development programs take advantage of opportunities to:
- enhance skills and knowledge for integrating the Touchpoints Approach in practice, programs, and organizations;
- network and share the successes and challenges of working with families with other Touchpoints-trained professionals;
- engage in the community of practice of Touchpoints providers that embodies best values and practices of the Touchpoints Approach.
- explore new applications of the Touchpoints Approach in individual practice and in community settings;
Recent Conference Themes
- Families, Providers, & Communities under Stress: Strengthening Vulnerable Systems 2009
- Advancing Child and Family Development 2008
- Touchpoints Turns Ten: Making Change for Decades to Come 2007
- Strengthening Families… Building Bonds … Forming Alliances 2006
- Strategies for Empowering Families, Caregivers & Communities 2005
Recent Speakers
- Marian Wright Edelman, JD, Children’s Defense Fund
- Barry M. Lester, PhD, Author of Why Is My Baby Crying?: The Parent's Survival Guide for Coping with Crying Problems and Colic
- Kyle D. Pruett, MD, Author of Fatherneed: Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care
- Jack P. Shonkoff, MD, Co-Editor of From Neurons to Neighborhoods
- Geoffrey Canada, MEd, Harlem Children’s Zone
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Brazelton Touchpoints Center
1295 Boylston Street, Suite 320, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 857-218-4451 / Fax: 617- 730-0060
eMail: touchpoints@childrens.harvard.edu