Julia Beatty with The Twenty-First Century Foundation to Speak at Local Conference

Lake Charles—Julia Beatty, Program Officer with The Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) is the keynote speaker for the 10^th annual Connections Count! Family Focus Professional Development Conference at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 at L’Auberge du Lac.

21CF is a national public foundation with a mission of advancing strategic giving in the Black community. As one of the few, endowed African-American foundations, 21CF serves as a catalyst for social change, and has supported hundreds of organizations across the country working to create social, economic, and racial justice.

Connections Count! Family Focus Professional Development Conference, Feb. 20 & 21, 2008, enhances the competency of professionals and practitioners working with individuals, children, youth, and families. Conference provides a forum for learning, networking, and discussing subjects relevant to supporting individuals and families. A variety of outstanding speakers are scheduled.

Some of the speakers include: David W. Hood of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana; Allison F. DeFelice, Ph.D., Mental Health Director of the Assessment & Resource Center in Columbia, South Carolina; Thomas Coyne, with the Office for Addictive Disorders; C. Kerry Anderson, attorney; Mike Gootee, MA, LPC, LMFT; Robert Piper; Charles Monlezun, LCSW, MS, MPH, DPH; Jody Meek, MD; Earl J. Soileau, Jr., MD; and Jim Boudreaux, LCSW.

The conference is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation; Children’s Justice Act ; Louisiana’s Children’s Trust Fund; L’Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino; Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana; Foundation for the Mid South; Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation; Twenty-First Century Foundation; Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO); United Way of Southwest Louisiana; and Townsend Recovery.

It is the belief of Family & Youth that all individuals possess the ability to solve their own challenges and live full and healthy lives when support is available. It is the mission of Family & Youth to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to the advocacy, counseling, and education for the people of Southwest Louisiana. For more information call 337-436-9533.

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