UIC Institute for Juvenile Research centennial anniversary celebrations on Oct. 1

The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine's Institute for Juvenile Research will celebrate its centennial anniversary Oct. 1.

The celebration, at the UIC Student Center West, 828 S. Wolcott Ave., will highlight the neuroscience and psychosocial research of the institute and how these efforts have transformed public policy to improve the well-being of children and their families.

"We need to celebrate and honor a century-old institute that has guided Chicago, Illinois, and the United States on how to nurture and protect our most valuable resource -- our children," says Dr. Carl Bell, director of the institute.

Founded in 1909, the institute was the first child-guidance clinic in the U.S. and was established shortly after the world's first juvenile court was established in Cook County. Since its inception, the institute has integrated research, training, clinical practice and policy advocacy to advance children's mental health.

Speakers at the centennial celebration include Bryan Samuels, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Erwin McEwen, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; Dr. Michael Naylor, UIC associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Behavioral Health and Welfare Program; and Dr. Anand Kumar, UIC professor and head of psychiatry.

Faculty will highlight their work in neuropsychiatric and psychosocial research related to mood disorders, autism, childhood development, conduct disorder and resilience in traumatized youth.

The keynote speaker is noted psychiatrist Dr. Alvin Poussaint, who will present the Arnold L. Gilberg, M.D., Ph.D., Lecture. Poussaint, a former consultant on "The Cosby Show," will highlight the need for family and community responsibility in raising healthy youth.