May 7, 2002 For Immediate Release

At the beginning of their lives, all babies develop an emotional and physical attachment to primary caregivers - usually their parents - providing the baby with a strong sense of protection. Disorganized Attachment refers to a breakdown in that close relationship. Often, the children who display the most severe emotional and behavioural problems later in life first experienced Disorganized Attachment.

"We know of many behaviours - smoking, lack of exercise, exposure to the sun - that have effects on our physical health, but we lack clear understanding of the many behaviours that impact our emotional or psychological health," says Cindy Hardy, a professor of Psychology who is leading a research project on Disorganized Attachment. "A breakdown in the relationship between babies and their primary caregivers can have significant impacts as those babies grow. A lot is learned in that first relationship that influences how people will grow up and relate to others"

Dr Hardy is hosting a workshop in June that will provide childcare professionals with information about Disorganized Attachment and how to recognize it in parents and children. The workshop will be led by a national expert on the topic and coincide with the Children, Families, Communities conference that is being held in Prince George from June 2-5. The two-day workshop, featuring Dr Diane Benoit from the University of Toronto, will be held June 5-6. About 50 people from throughout northern BC are currently registered; space is still available. For registration info, call 960-5520 or see www.cfcc-pg.ca/assess.htm.

The workshop marks the start of the research program: subsequent phases of the research will evaluate the training program, how the childcare professionals in attendance apply what they have learned, and the outcomes for families. The research is supported by the Northern Health Authority and UNBC's Child Welfare Research Centre and will be conducted over the next three years.