The La Posada Doubletree Resort at the foot of Camelback Mountain was a beautiful setting for the 28th National NAPSW Conference May 12-15. The warmth of the "valley of the sun" was embodied by the entire local committee as they made each participant feel welcome and at home. They put together a well-organized conference with excellent speakers who provided stimulating input. Evening breaks allowed time for sightseeing and shopping in the Scottsdale area.

The Conference opened Wednesday with a social hour and new member reception with music provided by Ono Grindz, a combo composed of two social workers and a geologist. After a delicious banquet, including a "sinful" chocolate dessert, we were welcomed by NAPSW President Anne-Marie Hallman. The opening speaker was Dr. Guillermo Gutierrez of Neonatal Associates in Phoenix. His address, "Iconoitta," challenged us to confront indifference, act with responsibility, and have compassion at the heart of all the care we give.

Thursday's session opened with a Native American blessing by Tony Redhouse, a Navajo speaker, dancer, musician and teacher. Dr. Brian Carter of Vanderbilt University Medical Center then won our admiration with his adaptability and Boy Scout preparedness in his keynote address, "Challenges of Palliative Care with Newborns in the NICU." Dr. Carter discussed the importance of providing holistic treatment that includes palliative care for newborns that speaks to the issue of quality of life for both the patient and family until death comes. "If we can foresee loss, then we need to prepare the way," he said.

The morning workshops addressed a variety of topics including "A Parent's Journey," which discussed a preemies support group for parents; "Social Worker's Role In Surrogacy," on changes in family arrangements; "Women and Drug Abuse," on the effects of substances on babies born to mothers who used drugs during pregnancy; and "Jordan's Legacy: Reaching Pregnant Homeless Youth." During the lunch hour, participants were encouraged to attend the various NAPSW Committee meetings upstairs in the lounge area or outside around the pool.

The afternoon was packed with two sets of workshops followed by juried papers. All the topics were excellent. From 1:15-2:45 p.m. the workshops included "Women with Disabilities: Considerations for Parenting," "Creating Positive Experiences by Knowing Yoeme Ways," "Motivational Interviewing with Individuals and Families," and "The Power of Stories in Social Work Practice." During the 3-4:30 p.m. period, the emotionally moving workshops addressed "The Power of Compassion: A Phenomenological Approach to Perinatal Death," "What did I know...he was my first handicapped kid: A mother's perspective," and "Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and other Drugs" presented by an adopted mother of a son with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

The juried papers included "Enhancing the Spirit of Perinatal Social Work: Expanding Coverage in the NICU and Beyond," "The Mommy Project - Childbirth Education for Teens," "Good Touches: Creating and Maintaining a NICU Cuddler Program," and "Taking Your Student Education Program a Step Further." The evening was open for sightseeing and shopping. Several groups of attendees went to the Art Walk in old Scottsdale, where the galleries held open house with refreshments and entertainment.

Friday opened with a plenary session, "Mood Disorders in Pregnancy," presented by Dr. Marlin Mills of the Phoenix Perinatal Associates. Dr. Mills won our appreciation when he publicly recognized our hard work with high-risk mothers and acknowledged the importance of the role of perinatal social workers. He presented a wealth of material on mood disorders, particularly Major Depression and Bipolar I, in the perinatal and postpartum periods. He discussed new research on the pharmacological effects of medication on the mother and baby, and the importance of weighing the benefits against these effects. He reminded us about the importance of a total evaluation of risk factors in patients and presented the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Morning workshop topics included "In the Face of Trauma - Compassion Fatigue," "Relaying Bad News to Parents of Children with Multiple Congenital Anomalies," "Healthy Beginnings: A Step in the Direction of Prevention," and a panel on "Ethics."

Regional meetings followed the workshops with excellent discussion about the issues that are facing perinatal social workers in various geographic areas. Some of the issues raised will be forwarded to the social action committee, the membership committee or the education committee. It was noted that 61 members have joined NAPSW in the past year. The regional chairs will continue to seek new members.

The annual business meeting followed the regional meetings. This included a brief statement about the committee reports by each committee chair. Outgoing board members and officers were thanked for their dedication and service. The new slate of candidates was introduced and ballots were distributed for voting. The group moved to the adjourning room for lunch and the announcement of the election results.

The NAPSW Award for Excellence was presented by past-president Margery Pentland to Elisa Kopf. She was recognized with flowers and glowing tributes from co-workers, supervisors and her two daughters.

Workshops continued Friday afternoon with "Guiding Families through Difficult Postpartum Adjustment: Interventions, Tools and Resources," "Women Abuse in the Perinatal Period: Guidelines for Care Providers," "Spirituality and Perinatal Social Work: The Unexplored Clinical Tool," and "Music Therapy in the Perinatal Field." The afternoon juried papers included "Bringing Care, Hope and Love to our Families: A Multi-Disciplinary, Planned Response to Neonatal Loss," "Does Social Work Have a Role in the Prevention of Premature Babies Born to Teen Mothers?" and "Benefits of Infant Massage."

The night-out activity Friday evening began with a brief bus tour of Scottsdale and Phoenix followed by a walking tour of the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden. The group could wander leisurely through the gardens, eat dinner, and listen to jazz. At sunset a brilliant rose-colored hue covered the mountains and desert landscape. Away from the city lights the sky became a canopy of twinkling stars. The relaxed pace was renewing for all.

Breakfast and the closing session on Saturday morning brought an interactive presentation, "Native American Directions for Healing" by Tony Redhouse. He shared insights, drummed healing vibrations over participants, performed the hoop dance, and invited us to join in his story with percussion instruments and drums. This was a fitting conclusion to a well-organized conference filled with the warmth and flavor of the Southwest. Conference co-chairs Rhoda Cosmano and Edward Walwork and their entire committee deserve special recognition and thanks.

— Barbara J. Menard, LCSW