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William Paterson University Partners with St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center to Offer a Series of Workshops on Children’s Health Issues

William Paterson University’s School of Continuing and Professional Education and St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center will host a series of six afternoon workshops designed for teachers, school nurses, and guidance counselors to be held at William Paterson University this fall. The topics include: Developmental and Growth-Related Issues of School-Age Children; Engaging Children on the Autism Spectrum; How You Can Help Your Students Become Good Digital Citizens; Responding to Children’s Health Concerns in the Classroom; Children and Allergies; and Children and Loss.

All six workshops will be held in the University’s building at 1600 Valley Road from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per workshop, and pre-registration is required.

The series begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 with “Developmental and Growth-Related Issues of School-Age Children.” This session will address common developmental and growth-related issues and sensory processing issues such as:  in-toeing, w-sitting, fidgeting, fine motor issues, and scoliosis. Two presenters will offer guidelines for identifying these issues, provide strategies for classroom management, and describe indications for professional intervention.

The next workshop, “Engaging Children on the Autism Spectrum,” is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, 2016. According to the New Jersey Autism Study, about 1 in 41, or 2.5 percent of eight-year-old children in New Jersey, were identified with autism spectrum disorder. Children with ASD demonstrate difficulty interacting and relating to peers and adults, communicating, and responding to their environment. Dr. Elizabeth Stacom, PhD, will give a brief overview of the characteristics of this disorder and describe the evaluation process. She will also provide strategies to motivate children to connect with their environment and learn.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2016, Tali Horowitz of Common Sense Media will lead “How Can You Help Your Students Become Good Digital Citizens.” As students have access to digital technology at work and at home, teachers and parents are dealing with ethical and behavioral challenges such as cyberbullying, inappropriate sharing, plagiarism and more. Horowitz will provide guidelines for teaching students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in a digital world. She will provide strategies for engaging students in decision-making, perspective-taking, and self-reflection interactive activities that can be implemented immediately in the classroom.

In “Responding to Children’s Health Concerns in the Classroom,” to be held on Tuesday, November 1 2016, doctors will describe the most typical health issues that occur in school-age children and offer age-appropriate strategies for the teacher to support the child. Doctors will also discuss the critical role of the school nurse in evaluating the child, describe management approaches, and explain the importance of maintaining accurate health records.

On Tuesday, November 15, 2016,“ Children and Allergies” will address the most common medical condition affecting children in the United States—allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 8.8 million children have skin allergies and 6 million have food allergies. Dr. S. Mark Kosinski, MD, PhD, chief of allergy and immunology at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, will describe the common allergies in children, discuss the range of tests used to diagnose allergies, outline the signs of an allergic reaction, and offer strategies and precautions for both parents and school staff to keep children with allergies safe and healthy.

The final workshop on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, is “Children and Loss” and will address the deep sadness and anxiety that children often experience after losing a loved one due to separation, abandonment, or divorce. Dr. Bindu Khanna will outline how children of different ages respond to loss, review the stages of grief that youngsters experience, and offer ways that teachers and other school staff can support children through this experience. She will also describe behavior and other signs that indicate the need for professional intervention.

For additional information or to register, please call William Paterson’s School of Continuing and Professional Education at 973-720-3709 or visit the University’s website at www.wpunj.edu/cpe.

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, an acute care specialized state designated children’s hospital at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and is a component of St. Joseph’s Healthcare system. For more information about the programs and services of St. Joseph’s Healthcare system and the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, please visit our newly enhanced website, www.StJosephsHealth.org, or call 877-757-SJHS (7547).