2022 Confernce Series: The Transformative Gift of Charity: Supporting Families to Achieve Optimal Development and Lifespan Flourishing - Sister Elena Marie Piteo

This presentation provides a Catholic Christian model to support social and emotional development in children within the family. The presenter will examine how developing trusting relationships, understanding emotional regulation and how productively working through unpredicted challenges can support optimal human flourishing in childhood. The presenter will offer mental health professionals psychosocial research and theory as well as Aquinas’ conception of the acquired and infused virtues that can be used as tools to help children heal from emotional and relational difficulties. Attendees will learn how Aquinas’ conception of human nature is a foundation for understanding how it is ultimately the work of growth in charity-love offered by God’s gift of salvation that can help in everyday healing and flourishing.