Annual Forum
Overview
The Center for Children and Families hosts an annual forum to promote greater understanding of how children develop and thrive, bringing together nationally and internationally-renowned psychologists, developmental, and educational experts from the community to share their various perspectives.
Next Annual Forum
Save the Date for CCF’s 12th annual forum on Friday, April 25, 2025, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Christine McWayne on, “Early Childhood Research for Educational Equity: Promoting Culturally Inclusive Family–School Connections for Children’s Wellbeing.”
9:00 – 9:30am Attendee check-in, Light Breakfast, and Networking
9:30 – 9:40am Welcome and Opening Remarks – Dr. Mandy Maguire
9:40 – 10:40am Keynote Address – Dr. Christine McWayne: “Early Childhood Research for Educational Equity: Promoting Culturally Inclusive Family–School Connections for Children’s Wellbeing”
10:40 – 11:00am Q & A and Discussion – Dr. McWayne
11:00 – 11:15am Short Break
11:15 – 12:15pm Panel Discussion – Applications in Local Programs, Schools with panelists Jonathan Dant (Uplift Education) and others
12:15 – 1:15pm Lunch, Networking, and Table Discussions
1:15pm – 1:45pm Dr. McWayne & Dr. Maguire – Reflections on the Day, Closing Remarks
1:45pm – 2:45pm Poster Session: Research Bites
Tickets are $50 and $20 for students. Students use promo code STUDENTCCF to register.
Past Forums
2024
“Owen Eras: Celebrating Connections”
April 19, 2024
Keynote speaker: Dr. Margaret O’Brien Caughy, Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Family Health Disparities at The University of Georgia. Dr. Caughy’s research combines the unique perspectives of developmental science, epidemiology, and public health in studying the contexts of risk and resilience affecting young children. The forum honored Dr. Margaret T. Owen, founding director of the UTD Center for Children and Families.
2019
“A Communication Foundation: Building Blocks for Lifelong Literacy”
November 1, 2019
Keynote speaker: Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, distinguished professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek’s research in the fields of language development and early literacy, early learning landscapes, and memory development has had a formidable impact. The focus of this forum was her notable contributions to understanding children’s verb learning, the study of language in everyday events in children’s successful language learning, the critical importance of parent-child “conversational duets,” and the role of early social interactions in learning language.
2018
“Building Early Social-Emotional Health Two Generations at a Time”
October 19, 2018
Keynote speaker: Ross A. Thompson, Ph.D., distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and president of the board of the highly respected and influential organization ZERO TO THREE. His research has focused on applications of developmental research to public policy concerns, including school readiness and its development, early childhood investments, and early mental health.
2017
“Biobehavioral Effects of Early Adversity: Implications for Prevention and Intervention”
October 20, 2017
Keynote speaker: Seth Pollak, Ph.D., from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Pollak studies mechanisms of emotional development that address the link between early adverse experiences and later psychological difficulties.
2016-2017
“Out of School Time: Expanding Learning Opportunities, Reducing Achievement Gaps”
January 20, 2017
Keynote speaker: Deborah Vandell, Ph.D., professor of education at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Vandell is an internationally recognized, leading scholar on the effects of afterschool programs on children’s social, behavioral and academic outcomes.
2015
“Empowering Children and Parents Together: The Promise of Two-Generation Programs”
September 25, 2015
Keynote speaker: P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, PhD, Frances Willard Professor of human development and social policy at the School of Education and Social Policy, faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research, and associate provost for faculty at Northwestern University. Dr. Chase-Lansdale is an expert on the interface between social policy and research. Her research focuses on social issues and how they affect families and the development of children and youth.
2014
“Ensuring Children’s Success in School: Effective Teacher-Child Interactions in Early Education”
October 31, 2014
Keynote speaker: Robert Pianta, PhD, dean of the Curry School of Education at The University of Virginia, founding director of the Curry School’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), and director of the National Center for Research in Early Childhood Education. Dr. Pianta’s prolific work focuses on teacher-student interactions and relationships and components of effective teaching and learning.
2013
“Healthy Connections: Shaping Relationships and Achievement in High School”
October 11, 2013
Keynote speaker: Robert Crosnoe, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Crosnoe’s work focuses on the connections between youth development, health and education.
2012
“Learning How to Learn: Promoting School Readiness and Academic Achievement”
October 3 – 4, 2012
Keynote speaker: Cybele Raver, Ph.D., Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University. Dr. Raver advises local and federal agencies on promoting school readiness among low-income children.
2011
“Resilience Among Children and Families at Risk”
September 22, 2011
Keynote speaker: Suniya Luthar, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Psychology and Education at Columbia University. Dr. Luthar examined challenges and resilience among at-risk groups.
2010
“The Arts and Science of Play”
January 14, 2010
Keynote speaker: Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, distinguished professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek outlined a mandate for playful-learning in preschool to groom intelligent, socially skilled, and creative thinkers.