The Preteen Summit

A Day Devoted to Promoting the Emotional and Behavioral Health of Preteens

Jan. 9, 2006, The Computer History Museum

Peter Jensen, M.D., Ruane Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Columbia University, delivers the keynote speech at The Preteen Summit.

Thank you to the 250-plus attendees who helped make the Preteen Summit such an energetic and informative convening.

You can visit www.preteenalliance.org, a website that was launched at The Preteen Summit, to continue the conversations we started at the convening.

The event's keynote speaker was Peter Jensen, M.D. Ruane Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of the Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health at Columbia University. Dr. Jensen, author of Making the System Work for Your Child with ADHD, is a nationally known advocate for children's emotional health, and a champion of collaboration among physicians, families, schools, and agencies.

Nurse Rona Renner was the event's emcee.

The Center seeks to ensure that every child's emotional and behavioral needs are met within their own communities, in settings that can serve them best. Download Dr. Jensen's slides. (1.2 MB pdf)

Rona Renner, RN, executive director and host of the Childhood Matters radio show, served as moderator for the event.

Two panels -- one with professionals and parents and the other with preteens -- provided context for the issues Dr. Jensen discussed.

A panel of adult experts discussed their own experiences working with preteens, and took questions from the audience.

The panel of preteens featured two eighth-graders in foster care, a seventh-grader from the Girls Middle School in Mountain View, an eighth-grader from Menlo School, and a sixth-grader from East Palo Alto. Dr. Jensen moderated that panel.

In addition to Dr. Jensen, the adult panel featured André Chapman, president and CEO of The Unity Care Group, Inc., Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne, Ph.D., psychologist, and host of the Nuestros Niños radio show for parents, Carol Piraino, principal, Walter Hays Elementary School, and Elaine Ray, parent, founding board member of The Girls' Middle School.

Reports Released at The Preteen Summit:

• A Portrait of Preteens in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
  What We Know About 9- to 13-Year-Olds
• School-Based Counseling for Preteens in San Mateo County
  A Study of Key Issues Affecting the Emotional and Behavioral Health of Preteens and an Examination of Available Services
• Key Issues for Low-Income Latino Preteens in Santa Clara County
  Preliminary Qualitative Research with Adult Professionals
• How San Mateo and Santa Clara County Parents View Their Preteen Children
  Selected Results from a Survey of Bay Area Parents

Many thanks to our sponsors:

Catholic Charities of San Jose
Children's Health Council
Girls' Club of the Mid-Peninsula
Kaiser Permanente, San Jose
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Office of State Senator Jackie Speier
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County Public Health Department
San Mateo County Health Department
San Mateo County Human Services Agency
San Mateo County Office of Education

Please e-mail or call us at (650) 724-5778 if you have questions regarding this event.