OKDHS Lecture Series Concludes May 19

Oklahoma Capitol -- A nationally recognized leader in “building strong families” will be the featured speaker as the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) presents the final in a series of spring lectures from Noon to 1 p.m., May 19, in the Chesapeake Room of the Oklahoma History Center.  Dr. Barbara Devaney, senior vice president and director of the Human Services Research Division of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., will present “Oklahoma’s Building Strong Families Project.”  The lecture is co-sponsored by the OKDHS Family Support Services Division and the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative.
Devaney is a nationally recognized expert in maternal and child health, nutrition and risk-reduction programs for youth.  She has played a leading role in many of Mathematica’s studies of family formation, children’s nutrition and public health programs.

She is also co-director of Mathematica’s Building Strong Families study and has served as principal investigator for the firm’s evaluation of abstinence education programs. That project landed Devaney a 2009 Outstanding Evaluation Award from the American Evaluation Association.

Devaney has served on scientific committees convened by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. She publishes numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and presents findings at conferences of researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

All lectures are free and open to the public. This series provides thought-provoking presentations by experts in their fields on Oklahoma’s emerging policy issues, trends and best practices.  Lunch is available for purchase at the Oklahoma History Center. It is located at 800 Nazih Zudi Drive in northeast Oklahoma City, across the street from the State Capitol.

View the complete lecture series lineup on the Practice and Policy Lecture Series website (Link opens in new window). Phone Millie Carpenter at (405) 521-3552 for additional information.

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