Gathering celebrates a year of successful collaboration

The mood at last night's reception honoring the first birthday of the Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research was one of excitement and celebration. Following food and cocktails, the program began with opening remarks from Law School Dean Michael Fitts. "I don't think there's any university which has a better record at facilitating collaborative research," Fitts said. The year-old center combines faculty from the schools of Law, Social Work and Medicine . It addresses child welfare issues by various means, including developing legal policies and working with children and families. Yesterday's program also included a speech from Professor Albert Stunkard of the Medical School, filling in for Medical School Interim Dean Arthur Asbury. Social Work School Dean Ira Schwartz, Provost Robert Barchi and center co-Director Carol Wilson Spigner also spoke. Each presenter emphasized the support that the Penn community has demonstrated in this interdisciplinary and collaborative effort. "Penn, it has been said, is probably the only university in the country of its kind that could put a group like this together," Schwartz said. He attributed the success of the CCPPR to Penn's unique combination of schools and other resources like the children's hospital, the pool of students and faculty and strong leadership. "It's been an incredible process," Spigner said. "This center is part of what attracted me to Penn, and it's just been wonderful to see it begin to take hold, to grow and to thrive." Following Spigner's presentation, CCPPR co-Directors Barbara Bennett Woodhouse and Annie Steinberg announced the new advisory board members. Woodhouse and Steinberg praised these new collaborators and expressed gratitude for their involvement. In addition to faculty and administrators, students have also been involved in the center's initiatives. Sacha Coupet and Tamara Zuromskis are two of the Law students who were involved in the research and drafting of the two amicus briefs produced by the CCPPR last year. Coupet described her experience saying, "It allows you in some way to apply what you're learning in Law school to something more meaningful." "You're actually part of law-making," Zuromskis added. CCPPR Coordinator Alyssa Cowan concluded the program by encouraging everyone to stay in touch with the center and to continue to show their support in upcoming events and programs. "It gathered a really diverse group of people, and it's helping both to celebrate what we've accomplished so far and to spread the word about what can be accomplished in the future," Woodhouse said after the event. Of course one problem remains. The tongue-twisting acronym: CCPPR. "We say it is a double dose of CPR for a system in need of resuscitation," Woodhouse said.