The use of ART in creating families presents new challenges for parents. Dr. Anna Balas will discuss how and when to tell children about ART and help them create their own narratives about their beginnings.

Anna Balas, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, is a child and adult psychiatrist with an interest in childhood development and creativity, trauma and resiliency. She participated in a study group on Clinical and Developmental Implications of Assisted Reproductive Technology and a 2011 symposium at Weill Cornell called "How Did I Get Here and Where Do I Come From." She is also on the faculty of New York Psychoanalytic Institute.

Greg Cangiano, attorney with Regina Skyer & Associates, one of the city's leading special education law firms, will discuss how to work effectively with an attorney to obtain services for your child. He will cover when to consult a lawyer, considerations when finding a good match, and how and when to communicate throughout the process. He will also describe the CSE process, placement process, and parents' due process rights. Please join us for this informative talk with plenty of time for questions.

Greg Cangiano's work with special needs children led him to pursue a career in children's advocacy. He started to work with Regina Skyer while still in college and then attended the Jacob Fuchsberg School of Law at Touro College, where he graduated with honors. He has been working in special education law for over 10 years.

How do we handle this most important area of family life? Dr. Susan Sherkow talks about how adults can create positive attitudes toward food and foster healthy eating behaviors. She will also outline characteristics that are cause for concern and guidelines for intervention.

Susan P. Sherkow, M.D. is a Supervising Analyst and Instructor in the Child and Adolescent Division of the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. She is also on the faculty of the psychiatry departments at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in addition to the Berkshire Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Sherkow has published articles on subjects including eating disorders and psychoanalytic treatment of children with autism.