Expert on children who care for ill adults to give keynote address at Oct. 13 symposium

MILWAUKEE_Melinda S. Kavanaugh, an internationally recognized expert on children who care for parents and family members who are injured or ill, will give the keynote address at the Southeastern Wisconsin Caregiving Symposium Oct. 13 at UW-Milwaukee.

The symposium will cover topics relevant to health care professionals, focusing specifically on children, youth and young adult caregivers.

Kavanaugh, a professor of social work at UWM, speaks internationally on the topic and founded Global Neuro YCare, which promotes education, advocacy and support for children and families. Her graphic novel for children who are caring for a family member with ALS has been translated into 10 languages, and she has produced an animated film, LUKi & the Lights, that has been shown at film festivals around the world.

Participants at the symposium will learn about the experiences of young caregivers and their families, with time set aside for discussion. Topics include caregiving advocacy and the laws and policies that affect family caregivers.

The event is geared toward professionals at government aging units, human service programs, K-12 schools, higher education institutions and human service organizations.

The day includes:

• Keynote presentation by Kavanaugh: “Hidden Caregivers in the U.S: Building Supports for Children, Youth and Young Adults”
• Panel discussions and tabletop conversations
• A demonstration of a young carers training program, YCare
• Special showing of “LUKi & the Lights,” a film that sensitively explores the journey of an individual’s experience with a neuromuscular disease, helping children and youth process illness.

The symposium is sponsored by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Global Neuro YCare and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at UWM.

About UWM
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an ambitious mission as both a top-tier research university and an access institution, striving to ensure that students have equitable opportunities to earn a college degree. UWM educates a diverse student body of more than 22,000 students from 88 countries. About 41% of its undergraduates are first-generation college students. Its unique and top-rated programs include Wisconsin’s only accredited schools of architecture and public health, the only North American school dedicated solely to freshwater sciences and a film program ranked among the top 50 in the world. It has the largest and top-rated online education program in Wisconsin. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, promote entrepreneurship, provide student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2024 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.