The Department of Social Work Education at Fresno State will welcome international speakers and guests for the three-day “International Colloquium on Social Well-being and Behavioral Health in Mexico and the United States: Agendas, Public Policies and Interventions” conference, Oct. 5 through 7 at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union on the Fresno State campus. 

The conference, happening in person and via Zoom, advances knowledge and skills in the areas of research, clinical practice, public policies, community intervention, social work training, advocacy and human rights enforceability. The event includes keynote speakers and presentations, as well as exhibitions, workshops, panels and networking opportunities. It will be streamed in Spanish on the Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales Facebook page. Admission to the conference is free, but registration is required. Parking for the general public is $5 on Thursday and Friday, and free on Saturday. 

The conference will include keynote addresses by:

  • Dr. Verónica Montes de Oca, an expert on aging in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean and a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, will present “The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Support Networks and Care in the Americas: Human Rights challenges for the U.S. and Mexico” at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 5.
  • Judge Brett Lee Shelton (Oceti Sakowin Oyate), an attorney and Indigenous rights advocate, will present “Indigenous Practices to Promote Resiliency, Well-Being and Stability in Child Welfare and Other Settings” at 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 6.
  • Dr. Rogelio Sáenz, a sociologist, demographer and professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will present “A Reflection on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Latina/o and Mexican Populations: A View from the U.S. and Mexico” at 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6.
  • Adrian Delgado, a licensed clinical social worker, will present “La Familia Perspective: Integration of NASW Code of Ethics and Cultural Competency Standards” at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7.

For a full agenda, visit the Department of Social Work Education website and for additional information, contact Dr. Candida Madrigal at cmadrigal@csufresno.edu or Dr. Marcus Crawford at marcuscrawford@csufresno.edu.