Recent News
Some Recent News
When Children are upset, Parents can make a difference
Posted: Nov. 29, 2007
Source: Nancy McElwain, (217) 244-7168, mcelwn@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4221.html
Model Explains How Abused Moms Decide to Leave
Nov. 13, 2007
Jennifer Hardesty, (217) 333-0725, hardesty@uiuc.edu
lhttp://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4206.html
Assessment of Southern Illinois Captures Its Unique Strengths and Weaknesses
Nov. 13, 2007
Source: Stephen Gasteyer; gasteyer@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4204.html
You're Not Martha Stewart? Eat Together Anyway!
Published: Nov. 5, 2007
Source: Constance Shapiro, (217) 333-4078, chshapir@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4193.html
Why Do Some Teens Get More Out of Youth Activities?
Posted: Oct. 11, 2007
Source: Reed Larson, (217) 333-2837, larsonr@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4166.html
Star Turn: Chautauqua Storytelling Activities Headed for the Web
Published: Oct. 3, 2007
Source: Aaron Ebata, (217) 333-2912, ebata@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4158.html
See the stars: http://youtube.com/user/StoryTellingStudio
Tracking Your Child's Social Skills
Sep. 4, 2007
Source: Angela Wiley, (217) 265-5279, awiley@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4124.html
U of I Study: Teens Can Learn to Manage Their Emotions
Published: Jul. 26, 2007
Source: Reed Larson, (217) 333-2837, larsonr@uiuc.edu
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4087.html
Commentary
Father Involvement in School
The News-Sentinel (from McClatchy-Tribune News Service; Fort Wayne, Ind., April 3) -- According to Brent A. McBride, a U. of I. professor of human and community development, the benefits from a father's involvement with his children happen whether the dad is married, single, a step father, and adoptive father, lives with his children or not. more...
This same article also appeared in the Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois, April 3), The Monitor (McAllen, Texas, April 3),
McClatchy-Tribune News Service; Washington, April 9, Monterey County Herald (California, April 8) and the
White Plains Journal News (New York, April 7).
Unequal gifts for Kids
Children, especially the older ones, don't mind being treated differently so long as there's a reasonable explanation, said Laurie Kramer, a professor of applied family studies at the U. of I. Kramer and two colleagues studied 74 adolescent siblings in two-parent families about how they were treated. They found children were aware their siblings may have different needs and expected parents to treat them accordingly. The complete article appeared in Quad City Times, Dec. 15, 2004.
Archive of past news releases from the Department of Human & Community Development.
Outstanding Young Alumni Awards Go to HCD Graduates
This year's recipients of the College of ACES Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumni goes to HCD graduates-- Traci Szymoniak and Jill Stahl Tyler.
Jill Tyler graduated from the University of Illinois in 1989 with BS degree in Agricultural Communications and a BA degree in Spanish. During her undergraduate years at the U of I, she discovered how to put together her interests in dairy science, culture and communications. Her first work following graduation was as an English teacher in Brazil where she also became fluent in Portuguese. Her passion for agriculture and international relations led to involvement in creating training opportunities for international young people on American dairy farms. In 1993, she founded The Global Cow which allows young people from all over the world to participate in a year-long work-study tour in the US. This program has brought over 600 young people to American farms from over 25 countries including Poland, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Columbia. Jill provides the initial orientation to all these students, contracts with Cal Poly University for their support in a intensive dairy science course and coordinates the placement of these young people at farms across the country. Her letters of support from farm families and faculty for this award praise her skill and dedication to both the improvement of dairy farming and international relations.
Traci Szymoniak is a 1999 graduate of the Human Development and Family Studies program. Since graduation. Traci has been a Child Life Specialist at St. Vincent's Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. In this position, she provides special care for hospitalized children and their families. In addition to her usual responsibilities she has developed a support group for the siblings of hospitalized children and designed a program for high school students to volunteer to work with children in the hospital. She has been a major contributor the implementation of a "school reentry" program for children with cancer who have had extensive hospitalization. Traci regularly returns to UIUC to provide guest lectures in several undergraduate courses about the child life field (See HDFS 408). Among the letters supporting Traci's nomination is the letter of a parent whose daughter was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. In a moving letter from this parent, whose daughter finally lost the battle against cancer, she writes about Traci's compassion and generosity. She writes, "Through knowing Traci, I know she loves what she does because she sees life and what matters most through the children and families she feels lucky enough to meet and help."
Congratulations to these fine graduates!