For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: kelsey@jgpr.net

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth to Host ‘Self-Regulation for Littles’ Conference at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

WAKEFIELD — Executive Director Margie Daniels is pleased to announce that Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth will host the “Self-Regulation for Littles” conference next week at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton.

The daylong conference will focus on social and emotional development for young students in our schools. This conference is designed for professionals working with preschool and elementary children in general education and more specialized settings.

Marjorie C. Decker, Massachusetts State Representative for the 25th District, will deliver an introduction titled “Perspectives on Children’s Mental Health from the Massachusetts State Legislature.” Rep. Decker is the Chair of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

“I am thrilled to join the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth and so many professionals in behavioral health care working to strengthen services, resources and access to evidence-based care for our young people,” Rep. Decker said. “We are not even at tipping point of meeting children’s behavioral health needs. We must continue to work toward building a delivery care system which ensures that all children can access appropriate care when they need it and where they need it. I look forward to the robust conversation that the conference will provide.”

WHEN:

Monday, Dec. 9, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Newton-Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington St., Newton

WHO:

• Margie Daniels, Executive Director, Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth
• Marjorie C. Decker, Massachusetts State Representative, 25th Middlesex District
• Chris Willard, Psy.D., Author and Faculty Member, Harvard Medical School
• Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Author
• Susan Pollak, Ed.D., MTS, Psychologist, Co-founder and teacher at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, President of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Author

WHAT:

As concerns about emotional regulation trickle down to younger ages, simple mindfulness, mind-body and breathing practices can help set our youngest on a path of greater resilience as they grow. The speakers will discuss the idea behind mindfulness and self-regulation in young children, mindfulness and compassion in parents of young children and practices to manage worry in children.

“Learning self-regulation and emotional intelligence are the key developmental tasks for this age group in terms of long term success, far more than any academics that can always be picked up later,” Dr. Willard said. “We are so excited to be creating this conference to help early childhood educators get the skills they need to create a solid foundation for thriving that can last a lifetime.”

“Working with young children has special challenges and very special rewards,” Daniels said. “Fostering self-regulation and mindfulness when children are young can yield tremendous dividends long term. The conference presenters are true experts in understanding the complexities of child development and how preventative strategies are instrumental in promoting mental health.”

To view the full agenda of the conference, click here.

About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc:

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a non-profit 501.c(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration, and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth.

The nonprofit is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission.

To learn more, visit www.mpyinc.org.

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