Release date: March 10, 2024
The impact of Debra Pepler’s scholarship and work on the positive development of kids is global. You do not have to take my word for it. You can ask the Canadian Psychological Association, who bestowed on her the Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology; or the nation of Canada who made her an Officer of the Order of Canada; or Oprah, who sought out Deb to help the audience of Oprah Winfrey Show understand and prevent childhood bullying. Recently, Deb has been reflecting on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids, which she calls a “developmental-relational” approach. I have had the good fortune of helping Deb organize these reflections in a series of conversations that will premiere on Talking About Kids over five weeks. This episode is a brief primer on her developmental-relational approach and some other concepts that are important to her work. It was recorded in a live webinar that Talking About Kids convenes monthly with the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (AAAH), so you also will hear from Celeste Krell-Colum and Vinny Chulani of AAAH. More information about Deb and AAAH is below.
Biography of Debra Pepler
Debra Pepler, Ph.D., is a distinguished research professor at York University. She holds a doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo. Her research focuses on relationships within the family and peer group, with a growing interest in the importance of healthy relationships for healthy development. She developed an innovative observational method to study aggression, bullying, and victimization. Her research on peer and family relationships has been embedded in interventions: Breaking the Cycle for substance-using mothers and their young children, Bullying Prevention with the Toronto Board of Education, SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) for aggressive children and their parents, Pine River Institute for youth with addictions and mental health problems, and the Canadian Red Cross for violence prevention in Indigenous communities. Pepler co-founded and co-led PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network) to promote healthy relationships and prevent bullying for children and youth.
Biography of Celeste Krell-Colum
I am an experienced Program Manager passionate about health equality and access to sexual and reproductive health for women of color, LGBTQIA2S+, and BIPOC communities. During the past 6 years my efforts have been focused on improving the quality of and access to care for adolescents and adults. I can help any organization reduce its costs, improve or implement inclusive policies and procedures, and execute inclusive quality care processes.
Biography of Veenod Chulani
Dr. Chulani is Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Arizona -Phoenix Department of Child Health. He is also a founding member and clinical consultant to the Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health. He completed his pediatric residency training at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York; his fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; and, his Master’s in Education from the University of Southern California-Keck School of Medicine. His clinical and research interests include adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the care of gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, health equity promotion and diversity and inclusion. He has lectured nationally and internationally on a host of topics related to Adolescent Medicine. He has delivered lectures and workshops nationally and internationally and is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his contribution to adolescent health.
Links
Debra Pepler
Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health (AAAH)
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