Due to the concern about the spread of COVID-19 and to be consistent with current policies at Northern Illinois University, the ILCFR executive board have made the decision to cancel the ILCFR 2020 Conference and reschedule for spring 2021. Although this is the right decision to make at this time, we are disappointed that will be unable to gather together this year. We hope that you will consider attending and submitting a proposal to the ILCFR 2021 Conference which will occur in March or April next year.
We wish each of you the very best this year. We hope that you and your loved ones will be able to stay healthy and successfully navigate these uncertain times.
2020 Illinois Council on Family Relations Annual Conference Breaking Barriers: Serving Immigrant Families Friday, April 3, 2020 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Northern Illinois University Holmes Student Center Duke Ellington Ballroom DeKalb, Illinois 60115
The Illinois Council on Family Relations would like to invite you to the annual conference on Friday, April 3, 2020. This conference will be a full day and hosted at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. The theme for the ILCFR 2020 Conference is Breaking Barriers: Serving Immigrant Families.
For conference attendees traveling to the conference, the NIU Hotel at Holmes Student Center has set aside rooms for the ILCFR conference. The room rate of $79.00 plus tax includes free wireless internet access and complimentary hotel parking. You can learn more about the hotel and also to book a reservation here:
Anita Maddali is an Associate Professor of Law at Northern Illinois University, teaches immigration law and constitutional law, and directs the NIU College of Law legal clinic.
Professor Maddali’s research explores the ways immigration laws and policies impact family unity for immigrant families. Her article, The Immigrant “Other”: Racialized Identity and the Devaluation of Immigrant Family Relations, examined court decisions terminating the parental rights of undocumented parents following immigration enforcement. Her articles have been published in the Indiana Law Journal, American University Law Review and the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, and have been cited in state and federal court decisions.
Prior to joining NIU, Professor Maddali was an Equal Justice Works fellow and later clinic professor at Northwestern University School of Law’s Children and Family Justice Center. She represented women and unaccompanied minors fleeing persecution from Latin American, African and Middle Eastern countries. She also developed a clinical course focused on the representation of undocumented minors with delinquency issues. Additionally, Professor Maddali litigated education, employment discrimination and immigration cases for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and developed a poverty law clinic while working as a visiting clinical professor at DePaul University College of Law.
Professor Maddali is currently the Vice President for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Board of Directors.
Professor Maddali is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law. She earned her B.A. with distinction from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
For conference attendees traveling to the conference, the NIU Hotel at Holmes Student Center has set aside rooms for the ILCFR conference. The room rate of $79.00 plus tax includes free wireless internet access and complimentary hotel parking. You can learn more about the hotel and also to book a reservation here:
Slideshow from the ILCFR 2019 Conference at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on April 12, 2019. The theme for this conference was Building Bridges for Diverse Families. Students, faculty, and family professionals from the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan attended the conference.
ILCFR 2019 Conference
Intergenerational Relationships: Building Bridges for Diverse Families
Friday, April 12, 2019
Eastern Illinois University
Martin Luther King, Jr. Union
Charleston, IL 61920
“The theme for this years annual conference is one which impacts every family of every demographic: Intergenerational Relationships. Nationally and abroad, scholars, practitioners, educators, and family advocates continue to urge for greater understanding and support of a strong intergenerational society. This formidable task necessitates reciprocity among every individual in society. The old and the young must learn from one another, share knowledge, experience, all while meeting the needs of every member of the family. As the United States continues to age as a society, changes in family structures and living arrangements are increasingly influencing Intergenerational Relationships. By building bridges that span across all diverse families, we can recognize the essential contribution each person brings to the table and its impact on the well-being of the family, community, and society as a whole.”
-Katie Reck, Ph.D., CFLE
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Eileen MaloneBeach
Dr. MaloneBeach graduated from Bemidji State University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in education. She began her career by teaching kindergarten and directing a nursery school. She earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn Sate University where she specialized in adult development. She joined the faculty at Central Michigan University in 1995 in the Department of Environmental Studies where she directed the gerontology program. Her research has focused on intergenerational family relations, rural elders, ageism, and eldercare.
Dr. MaloneBeach is the co-founder and director of the Institute for Intergenerational Relations at Central Michigan University. She retired from Central Michigan University in 2018 and has begun a business designing and sewing adaptive garments for the disability community. She and her husband travel frequently to Oregon and Montana to visit their children and grandchild.
Aaron T. Kinzel
Aaron Kinzel is a doctoral candidate in Education and a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He grew up surrounded by crime and criminal activity and served ten years in prison from age 18-28. As a returning citizen in 2007 he was determined to make a difference. “I chose to pursue a brighter future in higher education and community engagement to create safe neighborhoods and assist the formerly incarcerated to become productive and law-abiding citizens.”
Aaron has been active in criminal justice reform projects and seeks to improve the criminal justice system for people and families involved in the system. He has served as a consultant for the Michigan Department of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, and the Vera Institute of Justice. Aaron has a 7 year old daughter named Lily and when he completes his doctorate he plans to continue teaching and expand his consulting work on criminal justice reform.
The Illinois Council on Family Relations will be hosting its Annual Conference Intergenerational Relationships: Building Bridges for Diverse Families Friday, April 12, 2019 Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois
We are seeking proposals which examine or promote resiliency in families from:
Undergraduate and graduate students
Researchers and educators
Practitioners and social service providers
Family life educators
Members of the community
We are seeking proposals in the following formats:*
Paper presentation
Panel discussion/presentation
Workshop
Poster presentations
Proposals must be submitted electronically and include the following:
Proposal title (Limited to 12 words or less)
Authors’ names, education level, and affiliation
Presenter(s) names
Abstract (not to exceed 450 words) – a description of your proposed presentation, including how it relates to the conference theme
3-5 key words that your presentation focuses on
Your Preferred format: paper presentation, poster presentation, panel discussion or workshop*
*A workshop focuses specifically on techniques and/or skills either in a particular field or related to a particular
topic
Special instructions for undergraduate student proposals:
It is expected that you will work with a faculty mentor who will help guide you through the creation of your proposal
Is expected that your faculty mentor will read through your proposal before you submit it to ILCFR and, when needed, offer you suggestions for edits.
If you are submitting a poster with a faculty member, ILCFR would like you (the student) to be the presenter at the conference poster session.
All proposals submitted will be blind-peer reviewed by the ILCFR proposal review committee.
2018 ILCFR Conference: Resilience Among Urban & Rural Families
Friday, April 27, 2018
Heartland Community College
Astroth Community Education Center (ACEC)
Normal, IL 61761
Keynote Speaker
We are excited to announce Robin Fretwell Wilson will be our keynote speaker for the 2018 Conference! As explained on Professor Wilson’s personal website:
Robin Fretwell Wilson is the Roger and Stephany JoslinProfessor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law, where she directs the College of Law’s Family Law and Policy Program and the Epstein Health Law and Policy Program. She specializes in family law and health law, and her research and teaching interests also include biomedical ethics, law and religion, children and violence, and law and science.
The Illinois Council on Family Relations will be hosting its Annual Conference Resilience Among Urban & Rural Families Friday, April 27, 2018 Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois
We are seeking proposals which examine or promote resiliency in families from:
Undergraduate and graduate students
Researchers and educators
Practitioners and social service providers
Family life educators
Members of the community
Submit your proposal online, including:
Proposal title
Authors’ names, education level, and affiliation
Presenter(s) names
Abstract (up to 1,000 words) – a description of your proposed presentation, including how it relates to the conference theme
Preferred format: paper presentation, poster presentation, panel discussion, workshop
The 2017 conference will take place at the Illinois State University’s Student Bone Center in Normal, IL on Thursday April 6,2017. Please see our conference page for proposal submissions and conference registration.
Please email Lauren Hardy ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns.