Ackerman Institute Stands Against Separating Children from Parents at Border

Written by Ackerman Institute. Posted in NewsBlog

The Ackerman Institute for the Family condemns the United States’ immigration practice of separating children from their parents at the Mexican border. In the last 6 weeks, 2,000 children have been separated from their parents. We know that this kind of relational rupture significantly contributes to chronic mental health conditions for children. We, along with the American Academy of Pediatricians and other organizations around the country, call upon the current administration to cease this cruel and callous practice and work urgently to reunite all the children currently housed in tent camps and other temporary institutions with their parents.

Read the full statement by the American Academy of Pediatricians.

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Gisselle Acevedo Named as New President and CEO of Ackerman

Written by Ackerman Institute. Posted in NewsBlog

New York (NY) – Gisselle Acevedo has been named as the new President and CEO of the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Ms. Acevedo is the former President and CEO of Para Los Niños, an educational and social service organization which provides services to children and families from some of Los Angeles’s most challenged communities.

Martha Fling, Chair of the Ackerman Board of Directors, stated, “The Ackerman Board is delighted to welcome Gisselle Acevedo as our next leader. Her experience, vision, enthusiasm, and commitment to the well-being of children and healthy families will move Ackerman forward with its training, research and programs for the community.

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Mayoral Proclamation – Ackerman Institute’s Gender and Family Project Day in New York

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We are humbled and grateful to announce the Proclamation from Mayor Bill de Blasio designating Monday, April 16, 2018 as The Ackerman Institute’s Gender & Family Project Day in the City of New York.

The Mayoral Proclamation marks the Fifth Anniversary of A Night of A Thousand Genders, an event celebrating the resilience and empowerment of transgender youth, their families and communities in New York City.

The Ackerman Institute’s Gender & Family Project does incredible work to support transgender and gender expansive youth and promote family and community acceptance of all young people, “ said First Lady of NYC Chirlane McCray, who leads the NYC Unity Project, a citywide effort focused on addressing the needs and challenges of the City’s LGBTQ young people. “Their focus on ‘Acceptance Is Protection’ contributes to the NYC Unity Project’s goal to ensure LGBTQ youth feel safe, supported and healthy in our City. Thank you to the board, staff, families and youth for helping us make New York City a place where all young people can thrive.

Learn more about the Ackerman Institute’s Gender & Family Project.

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2018 Social Work and Diversity Program Alumni Reunion

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Ackerman’s Social Work and Diversity Program held its 2018 alumni class reunion on May 9th, where alumni enjoyed an opportunity to share professional accomplishments, network with former classmates, and meet the SWD Class of 2018.

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Ackerman Institute’s Seventh-Annual Spring Conference

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The Ackerman Institute’s seventh-annual spring conference concluded an engaging full-day of learning with more that 140 mental health professionals in attendance.

A keynote address by Shannon Sennott, Deepening Sexuality & Gender Expression: Couple Therapy in the 21st Century, presented challenges to popular assumptions about contemporary couple therapy practice. Practitioners in attendance were encouraged to think anew about notions of intersectionality, and were provided an opportunity to bring new ideas of gender and sexuality into their practice.

A panel discussion of highly experienced couple and sex therapists responded to the ideas presented in Sennott’s address. Speakers included Suzanne Iazenza, PhD; Ian Kerner, PhD, LMFT; Jean Malpas, LMFT, LMHC; and Luiz Ramirez, MSW, LCSW, DSW. Astin Brown, LCSW moderated the discussion.

Following the panel, conference attendees selected from four concurrent workshops designed to further explore gender and sexuality in couple therapy.

For more photos, visit our photo gallery.

Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Seventh Annual Spring Conference, Deepening Sexuality & Gender Expression: Couple Therapy in the 21st Century was held at the UJA-Federation of New York on March 23, 2018.

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