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School violence is focus of collaboration conference

by Tom Uribes

A Fresno State conference on school violence that is designed to help professionals of various disciplines work together to detect signs of trouble and coordinate their services in times of crisis is attracting state and national participation.

The 5th Annual Interprofessional Collaboration Conference on Friday, Feb. 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Education Building, will feature keynote speaker Dr. Pamela L. Riley, executive director of the Center for the Prevention of School Violence in Raleigh, N.C.

Workshop speakers include experts on the Columbine High School tragedy, guns on campus and prevention strategies.

Approximately 300 participants, including representatives from a Mexican university, have registered for the sold-out conference, which is one of a few in the nation that emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration at all levels in preparing human service providers, said

Dr. Berta Gonzalez, associate dean of the School of Education and Human Development.

"Participants will discuss current issues and acquire skills that can help deter the type of violence seen at Columbine last year, as well as locally at Parlier High School in October, when a student struck and killed another student with a vehicle," Gonzalez said.

The conference is part of the School of Education's Interprofessional Collaboration Program, which offers a Certificate of Advanced Study. Under the leadership of Gonzalez, a 21-member team of faculty from various disciplines developed a series of courses leading to the certificate.

"Annually, through the conference, the faculty team and local agency personnel strive to address critical community issues in an effort to improve the quality of life for children and families," Gonzalez said.

The team hopes to dispel what Gonzalez said is a popular belief that violence is unpredictable.

"This view is often the result of the media, or reports that show the violence and aftermath rather than discussing the background that might have led to a particular act of violence," Gonzalez said.

Human service professionals are systematically called upon to assist victims of crime, whether it is in a school, community or family setting, she said, adding that "helping families, children and communities heal in such situations calls for collaborative skills among professionals."

Fresno State professors who are experts in their respective fields, along with representatives of community organizations and agencies, will conduct 27 workshops on such topics as domestic violence, promoting tolerance, team building, legal issues that affect children and families, and conflict resolution strategies.

Dr. Irvin Howard, an education professor at CSU, San Bernardino, who participated in follow-up of the Columbine school shootings, will speak in a workshop that will examine the conditions in Littleton that might have predicted the violence there and how to avoid similar pitfalls and problems.

For more information, check http://www.csufresno.edu/interprof. Regarding a Certificate of Advanced Study in Interprofessional Collaboration, call (559) 278-0246.