EARLY CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE SCHEDULED AT SIUC

The 1997 early childhood conference "Sharing a Vision for Tomorrow's Future" will occur Friday and Saturday at the Southern Illinois University Student Center. Issues and trends in the field of early childhood, family involvement and family literacy will be explored with specialists from throughout the region, state and nation during this two-day event.

Former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, director of Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, will provide the opening presentation at 9 a.m. Friday. Sharon Darling, president of the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, Ky., will address the audience at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday at 9 a.m. Maria Trozzi, director and co-founder of the Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center, will lead a presentation. Other featured sessions will be offered throughout the conference.

The conference is designed for early childhood teachers, child care providers, early childhood special education teachers, family child care providers, school/program administrators, Title I program specialists, social service providers, family literacy specialists, parent educators and early intervention specialists. The general public is may also attend.

Registration fees are necessary from Sandy Rhoads at the Division of Continuing Education at (618) 536-7751. This event is sponsored by Southern Illinois University's Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Division of Continuing Education.