WSU Hosts Conference to Strengthen Families
Registration is open to all. At a cost of $75, WSU students may receive one university credit for attending the entire conference. The public is invited to hear the author of the popular book How to Avoid Falling In Love With a Jerk on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. This keynote speech is free to attend.
Paul Schvaneveldt, chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies and one of the conference organizers, said the conference began in the 1950s but didn’t become a regular event until the ’80s. Since then, it has been held every two or three years.
“In the ’80s, faculty members were reading news reports and commentaries about troubled families,” Schvaneveldt said. “They thought that if they could provide a community event promoting healthy families, to let people know about the importance of families, it would be a significant contribution to our community.”
This year’s keynote speaker is John Van Epp, a Ph.D. in counseling and psychology, and author of How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk. The educational program he’s developed teaches singles how to follow their heart without losing their mind by teaching how to get to know the right things about a partner and how to pace a relationship.
“It is the type of course that really helps people know what to expect and prepare for as they get into a relationship or marriage,” Schvaneveldt said. “A lot of people have a very idealistic and romantic view of relationships. The reality of it is that people make a lot of mistakes. They find partners who are not committed or who lack communication and problem-solving skills. This curriculum helps people know how to go about best developing a relationship, how to prepare personally and what to look for in others.”
As a professor of child and family studies, Schvaneveldt stressed the importance of the healthy family relationship in childhood development.
“A parent is a child’s first and most important teacher,” Schvaneveldt said. “Parents provide a critical role in preparing and nurturing their children. The conference certainly focuses on healthy parenting and family relationships, but we also see a value in preparing quality teachers.”
In addition to the keynote speaker, a variety of classes will be held during the three-day conference, including:
- Stress and the Brain
- Deadly Games Kids Are Playing
- Suicide Prevention
- Repairing Relationships
- Helping Children Be Resilient
- Military Families: Coming Home
Schvaneveldt said that no matter how strong a family is, it can still continue to improve.
“It is worth the time and effort to attend the conference,” he said. “For working professionals it is a relatively inexpensive way to get continuing education units,” he said. “For community members, people often say that their family is the most important thing in their life, but how often do they take time to learn about how to actually improve their family? This conference is an opportunity to do so.”
Those wanting to participate in the meals at the conference should register before Sept. 15. Participants may also register at the door. For more information on the conference and the full list of available classes, visit weber.edu/familiesalive. For more information on the Department of Child and Family Studies, visit weber.edu/COE/chfam.html.
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For high-resolution photos, visit the following links:
https://wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2014-photos/September-2014/i-2d26dtp/0/XL/marriage_uncensored_blog_007-XL.jpg
https://wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2014-photos/September-2014/i-QSqWQQW/0/XL/John%20Leaning%20on%20Book_paperback-XL.jpg
- Marcus Jensen, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • marcusjensen@weber.edu - Contact:
- Paul Schvaneveldt, child and family studies department chair
801-626-6597 • pschvaneveldt@weber.edu