East Providence, RI – Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children, in partnership with Brown University Health’s Community Health Institute, is excited to announce its 34th Parenting Matters Conference. This annual half-day event, taking place virtually on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., offers a unique opportunity for parents, childcare providers, teachers, and social workers to learn from leading experts in child development and behavior. The event is designed to provide valuable insights in an accessible and informal setting.
Registration for the event is free and will remain open until Thursday, March 20, 2025. Continuing education credits will be available for a $10 fee for early learning professionals, social workers, and licensed mental health workers. Educators will receive a Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) certificate, which can be submitted for credit to their leadership team.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jacqueline Nesi on Supporting Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age
The highlight of the conference will be the keynote address by Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Brown University Health and assistant professor at Brown University. Dr. Nesi is also the author of the widely read Techno Sapiens newsletter. Her research focuses on the intersection of technology and teen mental health, offering valuable guidance to parents on navigating the challenges of smartphones and social media.
In her keynote, Supporting Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age: Smartphones, Social Media, and Your Child, Dr. Nesi will discuss the risks and benefits of social media for adolescents. Participants will gain practical, research-backed strategies for managing technology use, overcoming common digital challenges, and fostering healthy practices that promote mental well-being among youth.
Breakout Sessions Include:
Making Sense of Functional Neurological Diseases: What Parents Need to Know – Presented by Rawya Al-Jabari, PhD. This session will help parents understand functional neurological diseases, explore treatment approaches, and learn strategies for supporting their families.
Navigating the Eligibility Process for Section 504 and Special Education – Presented by Trish Martins, M.Ed. This workshop will provide a thorough understanding of Section 504 and IDEA eligibility, offering practical advice on how to navigate the process of obtaining services for children in need.
Meeting the Need: A Comparison of In-Person and Virtual Mental Health Care Options for Youth – Presented by Shivana Naidoo, MD. This session will explore the advantages and challenges of both in-person and virtual mental health care for youth, providing tips on how to advocate for the best care options.
Interested participants can register online for the event. For more details about the 2025 Parenting Matters Virtual Conference, please visit Bradley Hospital’s website.