April 29, 2008
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
Director of Communications
314.345.5500 office

Health Summit Focuses on Preventing Violence Against Women

ST. LOUIS - Health Summit 2008, sponsored by Missouri Foundation for Health, focuses on an important health issue facing communities throughout the state -- violence against women. The 1½-day conference, entitled "Preventing Violence Against Women: Community Solutions," is June 2-3, 2008, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia.

The conference focuses on best practices and model programs that incorporate prevention strategies, and provides information on how to strengthen individual knowledge, foster coalitions, educate communities and providers, and influence policies and state/local legislations. The conference is ideal for health care providers, mental health professionals, school personnel, community providers and leaders, and anyone with an interest in preventing violence against women.

Speakers to date include: David Lee, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Dr. Glenn A. Berry, EdD, Missouri Center for Safe Schools; Emily van Schenkhof, MPH, Missouri Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence; Cheryl Robb-Welch, Missouri Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence; and Jill Bleything, MSW, Rose Brooks Center in Kansas City. The keynoter for the conference is Reshma Mahendra, MPH, from the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Violence Prevention.

Sessions look at a wide variety of topics, including bullying, teen dating, needs of ethnic minority communities, faith-based approaches, disabled women's needs, social marketing campaigns, policy change and use of technology.

Cost for the Health Summit is $35, which covers meals and materials. Lodging is not included, but is available at a special rate to Health Summit attendees, by calling the Hilton Garden Inn directly at (573) 814-5464. Room space is limited.

For more information about "Health Summit 2008: Preventing Violence Against Women: Community Solutions" or to register, visit the MFH website at www.mffh.org. The registration deadline is May 22, 2008.

Established in 2000, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in Missouri. MFH is in its sixth year of grantmaking, having issued nearly $290 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.

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