Media Release

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 12, 2004
CONTACT: Maryanne Miller, RN, MPH, CHES, Chief, Office of Primary Care 401-222-1171

RI Head Start Association and Department of Health Host Oral Health Forum; Program Features Nationally-Renowned Speaker Adolph Brown, III, PsyD

The Rhode Island Head Start Association, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health, is hosting a statewide Head Start/Early Head Start Oral Health Forum on May 17, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings in Warwick, RI. The keynote speaker, Adolph Brown, III, PsyD, is the Founder of the Child and Family Wellness Center that provides co-educational, recreational, and therapeutic programs for young people and families who have been unable to find success in other settings. The Center, located in Virginia Beach, conducts prevention promotions throughout the state. To learn more, visit www.itsagreatday.com

Dr. Brown is a gifted professor (Hampton University), speaker, trainer, and author, who has traveled the world encouraging thousands of students, families, and professionals to develop positive character traits and motivating audiences to set high personal standards. He also collaborated with retired General Colin Powell to spread the powerful message of Mentoring Young Lives and has shared platforms with all living Presidents and First Ladies Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Reagan.

As a child and family advocate Dr. Brown works closely with the faith community and describes his greatest passion as being a consultant to Head Start, the first educational program he attended. He and his research team focus on family and multicultural psychology, conducting and evaluating interventions with preschoolers, adolescents, teenagers, and parents in the areas of violence prevention and pro-social skills acquisition.

This event, scheduled from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, will convene a broad group of stakeholders to develop an Early Childhood Oral Health Action Plan for Rhode Island. The Oral Health Forum received support from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Local sponsors include Blue Cross Dental of Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, and the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

To schedule an interview with Dr. Brown or learn more about the event, please contact Deborah Fuller, DMD at 401-222-3044 or DebF@doh.state.ri.us to register.