Keynote speakers

Eric BROEKAERT, PhD (Belgium)

Eric Broekaert is a Full Professor at the Department of Special Education. Eric Broekaert obtained his PhD with a study on 'the drug-free therapeutic community as a new approach of orthopedagogical intervention' and founded the first Therapeutic Community in Belgium (De Kiem, 1976). He has extensive experience with a variety of national and international research projects on educational interventions for adults with substance abuse problems and children with emotional and behavioral disorders. He has supervised about 20 PhDs and seated in guidance commissions and jury's of many other PhD studies. He has authored numerous scientific publications, of which more than 100 A1-articles, A2-articles, books and book chapters. He acts as ‘ad hoc’ reviewer for various scientific journals and is co-editor of the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities. He acted as scientific expert in several EU- and UN-projects. He is co-founder of the European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research (EWODOR) and the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC). He is chairman of the Orthopedagogical Observation and Treatment Centre in Ghent and of EWODOR. He has organized several national and international conferences, and delivered a number of invited keynote presentations, of which the most prestigious were at the Great Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne, Paris (2008), in Keble College at the University of Oxford (2011) and at the Royal College of Psychiatry of the University of London (2013).

Frank A. FECSER, PhD (USA)

Frank A. Fecser, Ph.D. serves as Chief Executive Officer at Positive Education Program Inc. Dr. Fecser directs and manages Positive Education Program that touches the lives of 3,000 children and their families annually, employs 600 caring professionals, and operates a budget approaching $50 million. He has a background as a teacher, case manager, and Day Treatment Center administrator. He has consulted widely with programs across the country, developing day treatment models and conducting statewide training institutes for teachers, special educators and mental health professionals. Dr. Fecser is the co-founder of the Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) Institute and is a co-author of the recently published book, Life Space Crisis Intervention: Talking with Students in Conflict. Dr. Fecser was one of sixteen recipients of the Hearts of Hope award given by Beech Brook in participation with The Plain Dealer. He is the 2003 recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Crazy Horse Award, an award given by Reclaiming Youth International to those who bring courage to the discouraged through their outstanding contributions to children and youth.

Mark FREADO, MEd (USA)

Mark Freado is Director, International Training Network for CF Learning, a program of Cal Farley’s in Amarillo, Texas. Freado’s 40-year professional career encompasses contributions to the mental health field, public education, social services, program development, leadership, consultation, and training. He is a master trainer of Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI), senior trainer of Developmental Pathway Assessment, a senior trainer of Helping Kids who Hurt: The Pillars of Transforming Care, and a certified trainer of Situational Leadership II with the Ken Blanchard Company.

Freado has worked with private providers, public agencies, and schools throughout the United States as well as Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Asia, speaking, consulting, and delivering training services. He specializes in program development, leadership skills, and interventions for at-risk and disadvantaged children, adolescents, and their families.

Freado has Masters Degrees in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Counseling from West Virginia University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from Westminster College in Pennsylvania.

Franky D’ OOSTERLINCK, PhD (Belgium)

Franky D’ Oosterlinck is the Director of the Orthopedagogical Observation and Treatment Centre (OOBC) in Ghent, Belgium. OOBC ‘Nieuwe vaart’ offers special education, care and mobile counseling to children with behavioral and emotional disorders. In 2005 he published, together with E. Broekaert, J. De Wilde, L., F. Bockaert and I. Goethals, a focus group study of children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders in Flemish residential facilities (D'Oosterlinck, Broekaert, De Wilde, Bockaert, & Goethals, 2006). His doctoral was about ‘Conflict Management in children and youth with emotional and behavioural disorders’ (D'Oosterlinck, 2006). Prof. Dr. Franky D’Oosterlinck is master trainer in LSCI, he introduced this method in Flanders in conjunction with the university of Ghent. His field of research is the study of the implementation of methodologies such as LSCI, RAP, TDTH, time-out. He is a member of the board of Reclaiming Youth International, Chair of EFeCT and visiting professor at the University of Ghent, department of Orthopedagogics.

Mary Ellen FECSER, MEd (USA)

Mary Ellen Fecser, MEd is a consultant/trainer with the Positive Education Program in Cleveland and a master trainer of Life Space Crisis Intervention, a highly effective method of talking with students in crisis. As a consultant in the public schools, she provides functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans and works with school staff involved with students with disabilities ranging from severe autism to severe emotional disturbances from preschool to high school. She is currently working primarily with the Shaker Heights and South Euclid/Lyndhurst school districts, but continues to provide consultation and presentations locally, nationally, and internationally with a special focus on students with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and developmental trauma.

Ioana DARJAN, PhD (Romania)

Dr. Ioana DARJAN is lecturer at Educational Sciences Department, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology from West University of Timisoara, Romania. She has BA in psychology and pedagogy, MEd in special education and PhD in psychology. She is principal psychologist in special education and Senior LSCI trainer. Her professional, academic and scientific activity is focused on therapeutic approach of children with emotional and behavioral disorders, language disorders&therapy, positive behavioral management and discipline, and cognitive-behavior therapy. She is author and co-author of several books and articles in these topics, and has developed and conducted trainings for teachers and specialists from educational field.

Mihai PREDESCU, PhD (Romania)

Dr. Mihai Predescu is associate professor at Educational Sciences Department, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology from West University of Timisoara, Romania. He is BA in psychology, MEd in inclusive education and PhD in psychology. The main area of interest are disability studies, special and inclusive education and behvioral management in school. He is involved in LSCI and PBIS research at school level and author of several books and articles in the field of disability. Currently he is Director of Integration and Educational Suport Center at West University of Timișoara.

Mihaela Alida TOMITA, PhD (Romania)

Dr. Mihaela Alida TOMITA is associate professor at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Psychology from West University of Timisoara, Romania. Her professional, academic and scientific activity is closely related to the therapeutic and educational approach of young offenders and young with substance abuse disorders, militating and promoting intervention strategies and alternative sanctions in the criminal justice system. She coordinated the translation into Romanian language the book: Life Space Crisis Intervention. Talking with students in conflict, the Second edition, authors:Long,N., Wood,M. and Fecser, F. Author and coauthor of several books and articles on the field, she coordinates and participates in research and intervention projects with budgetary and European funds. Mihaela Tomita is Senior LSCI trainer and developed and conducted trainings for teachers and specialists from educational field.