TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama School of Social Work is planning the first social work conference to focus on the needs and challenges faced by men in American society.

Dr. James “Ike” Adams, dean of the UA School of Social Work, along with conference coordinators Dr. Jordan I. Kosberg, professor of social work, and Barbara A. Chandler, assistant professor of social work, are planning “Caring, Sharing, and Preparing to Serve: The National Conference on Social Work With and For Men.” The conference will be April 28-29, 2008 at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus.

It will bring together educators, practitioners, graduate students, and researchers to discuss the challenges men face from “life-course” transitions such as divorce, unemployment, retirement, illness, discharge from the military, becoming a caregiver and aging.

“The dearth of attention in professional education and training to the needs of males can result in professional practitioners who lack the sensitivity, knowledge and skills for effectively working with and for male clients, patients and program participants,” said Kosberg.

“This conference will cover the best practice efforts with men in transition for a better understanding of meeting those needs,” said Chandler. Abstracts for paper and poster presentations are currently being accepted and are available online at http://www.sw.ua.edu/newsevents/mensconference08.html.

For more information, please contact Kosberg at kosberg@sw.ua.edu or Chandler at bachandl@sw.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.