This presentation will explore brain development and subsequent obstacles facing our youth today as they mature. For this CECSC workshop, Patrick will present this topic with a special focus on childhood dependence and addiction.

Patrick Sweeney is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents and teens. He is the owner and director of Norfolk Counseling Services in Foxboro, a multi-disciplined behavioral health practice serving the needs of children, adolescents and teens. Patrick also serves as the head behavior health clinician at Westwood Mansfield Pediatrics, an affiliate of Boston Children’s Hospital. Patrick has been in practice for over 20 years. His range of professional opportunities include positions in school systems performing counseling, psychological testing and evaluation, chairing special education process and crisis work. Patrick’s clinical experience includes working with individuals, groups and families with children struggling with learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, depression, family conflicts, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, substance abuse. Patrick has provided staff training and lecturing for Children’s Hospital and a host of school systems and parent organizations.

Catholic education arises from the deep truths and values of Catholic faith itself. Likewise, Catholic education is to educate for faith, that people might live life from a Transcendent perspective and, regardless of their particular tradition, might be enriched by a faith-based education. Beginning with Jesus as its core and developed throughout the Catholic intellectual tradition, this faith foundation should permeate the whole curriculum of a Catholic school.

Thomas Groome is a senior Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College. He is former Director of BC’s Church in the 21^st Century Center whose mission is to be “a catalyst and resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church.” Tom was born and grew up in Co. Kildare, Ireland, the youngest of ten children. He holds an MA in Religious Education from Fordham University and a Doctorate in Theology and Education from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary, New York. For many years he was the senior faculty person and then Director of Boston College’s famed Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry (now a Department within BC’s School of Theology and Ministry, and which he has served as Chair). Tom is an award-winning author, having written or edited some ten books, over 100 essays, two grade school catechetical curricula, and is the principle creator of the Credo Series, a high school Theology curriculum (from Veritas). His best-known major books are Christian Religious Education (1980), Sharing Faith (1991), Educating for Life (2002), What Makes us Catholic (2000), and Will There be Faith (2011).