Purdue University North Central, in conjunction with the United Way Success by 6 initiative, will present the 2010 Early Childhood Health, Mental Health and Prevention Summer Institute on Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02. The target audience for the Summer Institute will be leaders in Northwest Indiana's health, mental health and prevention communities. The first 50 registrants will receive a copy of the book "From Neurons to Neighborhoods," published by the National Research Council. 
This Summer Institute will bring together many of the region's leaders in health care, prevention, social services and early childhood to learn more about opportunities for funding, collaboration and delivery systems stemming from the Affordable Care Act, as it involves young children and their families. Participants will discuss strategies to engage policy makers and represent the interests of Northwest Indiana through legislative and administrative policy development.
The keynote speaker will be Cristal Thomas, director of Division V of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She will discuss features of the Affordable Care Act and how it is expected to impact health, mental health and prevention service delivery for children under age six and their families. She will offer guidelines about how our community can be in the best position when resources become available.
There will also be a panel discussion that will include state administrators who work in areas that impact young children and their families.
Dr. John Wilhelm and Milagros Fernandez from Chicago's Infant Welfare Society will present their very successful model of integrating health, prevention and mental health services for families from diverse backgrounds throughout the Chicago area.
A Working Lunch in Library-Student-Faculty Building Room 144 will feature facilitated small group discussions on how to apply the new information and create a framework and relationships for the steps ahead.
In the coming months Success By 6 will organize four working groups that will develop strategic working plans in four areas for the children under age six in Northwest Indiana - Health and Safety, Mental Health and Social-Emotional Development, Parent Education/Family Support and Early Care and Education. The Institute is in collaboration with the Mid-America Public Health Training Center and University of Illinois Chicago.
To register or to obtain Information, please click SB6SummerInstitute.com or email: smaali@uic.edu. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Dee Combs, PNC Education Department secretary at 219.785.5200 ext. 5485.