Press Release

Media Contact: John Bourget
phone: 860.231.6350
email: jbourget@mandelljcc.org

MANDELL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER TO
OFFER CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Local Experts to Speak On Appropriate Child Behavior for Various Age Groups

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., February 6, 2008- The Mandell Jewish Community Center will be conducting a series entitled Child Development: Knowing When to Be Concerned beginning April 2 at the JCC on the Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford. Doctors Lisa Karabelnik and Stephanie Stein Leite will conduct the series which will introduce parents to the concept of normal child development for various age ranges.

Through the five sessions, parents will learn to recognize the purpose behind their children's actions and ways to respond effectively. The speakers will also discuss what to do when children's behavior becomes more extreme, what these behaviors might mean and what parents can do in response.

Lisa Karabelnik, M.D. is a board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist and a board elegible pediatrician. She completed her residency at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. Since moving to Connecticut, Dr. Karabelnik has worked at the Institute for Living, been the school psychiatrist for the Grace S. Webb School and has worked with parents, educators and therapists to increase their understanding of developmental issues and treatment options both individually and in continuing education settings.

Stephanie Stein Leite, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. She completed her internship at the Village for Families and Children and her post-doctoral work at the Institute for Living's Grace S. Webb School. She has worked as a clinician, evaluator and diagnostician. Her current practice focuses on doing psychological testing with children and their families.

Both Dr. Karabelnik and Dr. Leite are dedicated to the concept of working with every child's and parents' strengths to create a whole picture of a complex individual with unique needs.

The sessions will begin April 2 and run through May 21:
April 2- Birth to 4 Years: The new personality in your family
April 9-Kindergarten to 5th Grade: Your child at home and beyond
May 7- 6th to 8th Grade: Your child, the independent thinker
May 14-9th to 12th Grade: Where did your child go?
May 21-The Spectrum: Autism to Aspergers and everything in between

All sessions will being at 7:00 pm and run for 90 minutes. The cost is $15 per session for JCC members and $50 for all four sessions. For non-members, the cost is $25 per session and $75 for all four sessions. For more information, please contact Jamie Klein at 860-231-6310.

About the MANDELL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
The Mandell JCC is a community and cultural center that offers a full range of activities, classes and special events for people of all beliefs, ages and stages. The JCC's offerings include early child centers and after school programs, a summer camp, recreation and wellness facilities, health spas, an indoor pool, a swim and tennis club, an arts center and more. The JCC has a rich history which dates back more than 90 years and has continued to expand and evolve into its current role as a significant community and family resource for the Greater Hartford area. The JCC also has childcare facilities in Simsbury and Glastonbury.