New Perspectives in Health Conference and Empowering Saturday Held in Pensacola

The Empowerment Parent Resource Center (EPRC) of Project Empower of Northwest Florida hosted the New Perspectives in Health Conference at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola on February 16. Dr. Gary Walby with Complex System Innovation, Complex Opportunities, Sustainable Solutions, opened the conference with his presentation, “Co-occuring Mental Health Conditions in Persons with Developmental Disabilities.” Walby shared what we know and what is successful. Workshops that followed included the following: “What Trauma Looks Like;” “Positive Behavior Supports;” “Trauma Informed Care;” “Developing 504 and Emergency Health Plans;” “Behavior Strategies to Help Stress and Anxiety in the Home and at School;” “Helping Children and Young Adults with ADD/ADHD Succeed and Prosper;” and “What is Therapeutic Foster Care.”

The conference continued at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church with Empowering Saturday on February 17. The day consisted of free respite for families and “sibshops” for siblings of children with special needs and workshops. The workshops included a discussion on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by Suzanne Lane with Support, Training, Assistance and Resources (STAR). John Finch, Director of Able United, shared information on ABLE United Accounts with families opening accounts onsite.  Lunch was provided by Autism Pensacola. Families were given an opportunity to ask questions from a panel consisting of Susan Byram with Autism Pensacola, Annette Zeeb with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and Suzanne Lane with STAR. Joe LaBelle, Family Network on Disabilities (FND) Director of Programs and Impact, provided a “Making Your Case” presentation. Tips were given to families on how to best advocate for their children.

The Empowerment Parent Resource’s (EPRC) next conference is scheduled for July 28, 2018, on “Life’s Transition.” Families with children with a disability in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties can reach out to the EPRC for support and assistance with connecting to resources. The EPRC can be reached at 850-444-8554, through email at Eprc.nwfl@gmail.com, or on Facebook: Empowerment Parent Resource Center.


Dr. Gary Walby with Complex System Innovation, Complex Opportunities, Sustainable Solutions, opened the conference with his presentation, “Co-occuring Mental Health Conditions in Persons with Developmental Disabilities.”


John Finch, Director of Able United, shared information on ABLE United Accounts with families opening accounts onsite.