Department of Family Studies and Community Development
Workshops and Conferences
Providing a rigorous education grounded in the liberal arts and opportunities for community involvement through service learning and civic engagement are cornerstones of the mission of the Department of Family Studies and Community Development. In support of this mission, the department either sponsors or co-sponsors two annual community outreach workshops: a Disability Awareness Workshop and, in conjunction with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a workshop on relevant issues for families living with childhood cancer.
Disability Awareness Workshop
This workshop is held each October and is designed to raise student awareness and understanding of individuals with disabilities. In addition, participants are informed about available resources and potential careers. The 2012 Workshop, titled "Just as Real: Reducing the Stigma of Hidden Disabilities" was held on Wednesday, October 24. Almost 300 students, faculty and staff attended. The featured speaker was Colleen Coffey, a member of the Active Minds Speakers Bureau. Active Minds develops and supports student-run chapters at colleges and universities in order to educate students and raise awareness of mental-health issues.
The Department of Family Studies and Community Development and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society partner to offer an annual workshop on issues of importance for families affected by childhood cancer. The 2013 workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 on the Towson University campus. The theme of the workshop is Supporting Siblings and Families. The program will feature a community panel and three speakers from the The Herman and Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, Joseph Wiley, MD, Mary Bolen, MSW and Kristen Mylotte, CCLS.