COURSE HELPS PARENTS DEAL WITH CHILDREN IN CONFLICT

Conflict, how it affects youngsters and how to help them effectively handle it, will be the topic for a program May 12 at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

"Youth in Conflict: Responding to the Threat" will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the hospital's Harrison Room.

The program is designed for parents of school age children, teachers and concerned people and will feature a panel discussion.

Panelists include Dr. Harold Jones, superintendent of Jackson Public Schools; Dr. Dan Tallent, superintendent of Cape Girardeau Public Schools; Dr. Bradley D. Robison, psychiatrist; John Buchheit, Cape County cheif deputy juvenile officer; Cpl. Barry Hovis, Cape Girardeua Police Department; Capt. Robert Hull, Jackson Police Department; and Paul Schneidemeyer, director of children and family service with the Community Counseling Center. Panel facilitator is Jim Watkins, former principal at Franklin Elementary School.

Watkins said the program format will be informal and questions from parents are encouraged.

"Many parents share the same concerns," Watkins said. "This program is a way for them to voice some of those concerns and get feedback from a broad-based panel."

Topics include what causes conflict for children; how to respond to potential conflict between children and their peers, parents or other authority figures; and how to initiate a conversation with children about conflict.

The program is sponsored by Southeast's Generations Family Resource Center, the Community Counseling Center and Caring Communities.