Symposium Offered on Children’s Issues

To mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the local branch of an Israeli charity dedicated to family welfare will hold a free symposium Wednesday at an Encino temple.

“Wherefore the Children” will include a forum discussion and a question-and-answer period with several specialists in different areas of child welfare, said Miriam Hearn, area director for NA’ AMAT USA, which is sponsoring the event at Valley Beth Shalom.

“The symposium will be both an international view of where children stand as well as a look at local and national children’s issues,” Hearn said.

City Councilman Joel Wachs will chair the event, and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will deliver opening remarks. Child-care specialist Bea Chankin Weisberg will moderate the discussion that will include speakers Rita Gur, chairwoman of NA’ AMAT’s child care network; Kai Parker of the county Department of Children and Family Services; and Kathy Malaske-Samu, county child-care coordinator.

NA’ AMAT, a Hebrew acronym for Movement of Working Women and Volunteers, assists Israeli families and also works with local agencies in the United States and other countries.

For the past two years, the local branch of NA’ AMAT has run the “Teddy Bear Patrol” in conjunction with the county Department of Social Services, collecting and distributing about 10,000 stuffed animals to children who have been removed from their homes by the county, Hearn said.

Although Wednesday’s event is free, Hearn asked that those attending bring a stuffed animal to contribute to the Teddy Bear Patrol.

The symposium will begin at 7 p.m. at the temple, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino.

For reservations or more information, call NA’ AMAT at (818) 981-1298.