The International Women’s and Children’s Health and Gender (InWomen’s) Group celebrated its 10th year anniversary on Friday, June 16, 2017 in Montréal, Canada. Over 85 attendees representing 18 different countries gathered at the Hotel Bonaventure, to learn about and discuss recent research concerning the intersections of gender, substance use, and treatment. Special Guest, Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, professor at Pepperdine University, and sacred artist shared empowering words and poetry in the morning before the first panel session and during lunch. Special welcome messages were also shared by Dr. Loretta Finnegan, CPDD Executive Officer, Dr. Claire Sterk, President of Emory University, and Conference Chair, Dr. Wendee Wechsberg.
Panel Sessions
The meeting consisted of two panel sessions that focused on Prenatal Alcohol and Cannabis Use, and Substance Use Disorders in Women and Families. Presentations will be uploaded to the InWomen’s Wiki site shortly.
Panel Session I speakers presented on:
- Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Child Internalizing and Externalizing Problems
- Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and the Current State of the Evidence
- Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Child Neurodevelopment
Panel Session II speakers presented on:
- Implementing a Parenting Intervention for Mothers and Fathers in Substance Use Treatment Programs
- Identity, Culture, and Healing from Opioid Use Disorder and other Addictions: Indigenous Women in Canada
- Who is a SMARTgirl? Demographics, Risk, and HIV among Cambodian Female Entertainment and Sex Workers Participating in an HIV Risk Reduction Intervention in Cambodia
Discussion Tables
The conference also included a discussion table session that encouraged attendees to discuss specific topics and future research areas. Discussion table topics included:
- Caring for Women with Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions in Primary Care Settings
- Cannabis, Opioids, and Other Drug Use and Neonatal Outcomes
- Global Perspective on Women’s Access to Treatment: Stigma, Discrimination, and Other Critical Issue
- LGBTQ and Substance Use: Factors Associated with Use and Recovery
- Women and Substance Use, HIV, IPV, and Sex Trafficking
- Gender and Culturally Centered Treatment Approaches for Indigenous People with Substance Use Disorder
- The Next 10 Years: Critical Issues and Moving the Field Forward Faster
Poster Presentations
A poster session took place at the meeting with attendees presenting nearly 50 posters. Travel awards were also awarded to 19 poster presenters, who represented 9 different nations, with many coming from the United States, Singapore, and South Africa. Ms. Natasha Ludwig-Barron’s poster “Double Vulnerability: A Qualitative Analysis of Experiences of Partner Violence and Barriers to Help-Seeking among Stimulant-Using Women with Disabilities” received the 2017 Best Poster Award.
Evening Celebration
An evening celebration was also held to commemorate the 10th year of InWomen’s. Guests enjoyed a selfie booth, delicious hors d’oeuvre, dancing, and music provided by Montreal native, DJ TIZI.
Conference Photos
For conference photos visit here: Link on blog
Post-Conference Evaluation
Tell us how it went! Please complete the 2017 InWomen’s Conference online evaluation by 5pm EST on June 30, 2017, for a chance to win a gift card. We appreciate your feedback and will incorporate it into the planning of future conferences.
Click here: http://tinyurl.com/2017InWomenEval
The conference kicked off with warm welcomes from 
