DAY 1 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Registration Plenary Workshops Exhibits & Pavilions Health Screenings DAY 2 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Health & Policy Forum Today’s Child Awards Banquet Exhibits & Pavilions Health Screenings   Invited Guests Speakers & Awardees Senator Barack Obama Malik Yoba Heather Headley

Don’t miss
Today’s Child Communications’ 5th Annual National Parent and Provider Enrichment Conference and Health Policy Forum.

"Family Wellness: Eliminating Disparities and Achieving Equity."

This 2-day conference promises to help participants enhance the quality of their lives. Focusing on the improvement of individual and family well being, the conference will examine many of the current challenges facing families, including access to quality health care, economic growth, public education, social justice, and advocacy. Dynamic and thought provoking, this 2-day conference will motivate, inform and inspire attendees to take charge of all aspects of their lives and work toward collective empowerment. The conference is ideal for parents; educators; health and human service and child care providers; caregivers; and community leaders. Participants will dialogue with top specialists, policy makers and providers, celebrities, and community leaders, while enjoying a rich and productive time networking with friends and colleagues.

Attendees will also be able to visit exhibit booths, health screenings and participate in pavilion activities. On day 2, participants will attend the Today’s Child Champion Award’s Banquet and Health Policy Forum featuring celebrity guests and speakers.

Highlights - Day 1
Friday, January 12, 2007
Concurrent Workshops and Discussions

Achieving Holistic Wellness for Myself and Family

A. Seven Steps to Healthier Living – Communities of color are more likely to die from diseases such as hypertension, cancer and heart disease. Statistics continue to highlight the disparities in health status and access to quality health care between nonwhites and whites. Prevention is the key! This session will give you the information you need to stay healthy and guard against chronic diseases. Explore with the experts how your health status is directly linked to your lifestyle, environment and genetics.

B. Keys to Raising Successful Children – The world is becoming increasingly complex and so too is the challenge of raising children. Raising healthy and happy children into a successful adulthood requires a healthy mix of skillful parenting and a keen understanding of child development and its influences. This workshop will explore parenting in the context of popular culture, and will give participants the tools they need to parent effectively.

C. The Black Male: Images, Choices and Realities – This session will explore perceptions, images and realities through the eyes of African American men. Join them in a frank discussion about their role in developing and maintaining healthy and successful relationships.

Strategies for Ensuring Academic Success

D. – Pathways to Academic Success – 50 years ago a battle was fought and won to end segregation in the public school system in order to ensure equity and a quality education for all children. Today, the majority of our public schools remain unequal. At this session strategies for ensuring the best education for your child will be discussed. You will also learn practical ideas and concepts for fostering your child’s love for Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

How to Begin Building Your Wealth Today

E. – Own Your Destiny: Pathways to Entrepreneurship – Always dreamed of owning your own business but didn’t know how and where to start? This session will give you the basics for beginning your own business, explore the top industries for entrepreneurship, and examine franchising opportunities.

F. – Buy Your First Home – Want to decrease your debt; buy a home; finance your child’s education; and retire early? Each one of these objectives requires focus and planning. This dynamic session will give you the tools you need to begin achieving some of your financial goals.

The Collective Objective

G. – Techniques in Advocacy: How to Make and Influence Change – If one person can make a change- imagine what happens when a group of individuals share a collective vision for change. This session will give you all of the tools you need to participate in the political and legislative process. Not satisfied with the current policies on health or education? Join in this session and learn how to make a change.

Highlights - Day 2
Saturday, January 13, 2007
HEALTH POLICY FORUM, TODAY’S CHILD CHAMPION AWARD’S BANQUET & PAVILIONS

The Health Policy Forum will explore cutting edge health matters that disproportionately impact minority communities. Health insurance, access to quality care, disease prevention education, and culturally sensitive health care will be discussed by top ranking policymakers and academics. Next, sit down to Today’s Child Champions’ Award Banquet and keynote address.

Pavilions

FF – Family Fitness for Life – Start today and get fit for a better life tomorrow. Exercise and reinvigorate your mind, body, and soul. Get ready, set and go!

CFL – Cooking for Life – You are what you eat. Food plays a critical role in your health and well being. Nourish your body with food for the soul that’s healthy and delicious. Learn how to cook the right meals from the best chefs.