Institute for Social Capital Events 2006-2007
February 2, 2007, 8:00-4:30 p.m. - "Setting the Community Standard for Best Practices For Children & Youth in Charlotte-Mecklenburg" at the Cone University Center, UNC Charlotte.
This invitational, one-day working conference is the result of the collaborative efforts of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Institute for Social Capital, the Council for Children’s Rights, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Children’s Alliance. The conference has been designed to engage key stakeholders and other experts across child welfare, juvenile justice, children’s mental health, and education in developing a shared community standard to be applied in identifying, evaluating, and establishing “best practices” across systems serving youth in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg community.
Guest speaker Dr. Ben Saunders discussed "Evolving Standards for Best Practices and 'The State of the Art.'" Dr. Ben Saunders is a Professor and Director of the Family and Child Program of the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center. He received his Ph.D. in clinical social work 
from the Florida State University in 1982; a M.S. degree in marriage and family Therapy from Virginia Tech in 1979; and a B.A. in religious studies from the University of South Florida in 1977. Dr. Saunders is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, and a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work. He also is a clinical member of both the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Dr. Saunders has published numerous scientific papers and made many scientific and training presentations concerning child traumatic stress, child abuse, sexual abuse, sexual offenders, and family relationships. Dr. Saunders’ research, training, and clinical interests include the initial and long term impact of violence and abuse on children and adolescents; the epidemiology of trauma, violence, and abuse; treatment approaches for abused children and their families; and effective methods for disseminating evidence-based practices. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Justice, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the U. S. Department of the Navy. In addition to his research and teaching activities, Dr. Saunders maintains a clinical and consulting practice, and often is called as an expert witness in legal cases.
February 16, 2006, 8:30-9:45 a.m. - "Understanding the Development of Criminal Offending in Three Prospective Perinatal Cohorts: Philadelphia, Providence, Baltimore" at the Levine Museum of the New South.
The Institute for Social Capital and the Department of Criminal Justice, UNC Charlotte, were pleased to present:
University of Florida
Center for Studies in Criminology and Law