GSS Dean Joins U.N. Conference on Family Issues

Elaine Congress, D.S.W., associate dean of the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS), will join experts from around the world at the upcoming United Nations conference on Mainstreaming the Family. The conference, which will be held from December 10 through 12, will kick off the U.N.’s 10th anniversary celebration of the International Year of the Family in 2004.

The goal of the conference is to discuss ways to make family related activities a larger part of the U.N.’s social policy and development work. Congress will present a paper titled “The Pros and Cons of Mainstreaming the Family,” which highlights many of the issues the conference will need to address. She, along with social work experts, economists, political scientists and policymakers, will issue a report that offers recommendations on ways governments can effectively plan and coordinate family related activities.

“It’s a great honor for me to be part of such a prestigious event,” said Congress. “American society is very focused on the individual, but in much of the rest of the world, the family is the most important institution in society. By exploring ways to incorporate families in U.N. projects, I believe we can make a real difference in helping developing nations.”

Congress has been interested in family issues for many years. She is currently working on the second edition of her book Multicultural Perspectives in Working with Families (Springer, 1997) with GSS faculty member Manny Gonzalez, Ph.D.

— Hal Bienstock

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