 |
Mary Shahbazian is President of The Allendale Association, a private not-for-profit social service organization established in 1897. Allendale Association specializes in treatment and educational programs for children and adolescents who suffer from mental illness or trauma resulting in severe emotional or behavioral disabilities. Allendale Association serves more than 1,300 youths and their families annually, providing intensive residential treatment, special education day programs, foster care, transitional and independent living opportunities, outpatient counseling and community based wraparound interventions.
In 2004, Mary co-authored a book with Dr. Larry Brendtro, President of Reclaiming Youth International, titled Troubled Children and Youth – Turning Problems into Opportunities. She continues to collaborate with professionals at Allendale and in the field of youth work to develop treatment models and professional curriculum. Her work aims to increase the caring, competence and commitment of adults who choose the special vocation of helping troubled children and youth to grow into healthy, contributing adults.
Mary has served as President of Allendale for the last eight years and has twenty five years of experience working with troubled youth and their families. She has experience as a child and youth care worker, group counselor, special education teacher, principal, and child welfare agency director. She is a national senior trainer in Life Space Crisis Intervention, working to break the cycle of childhood trauma and maltreatment is her professional choice and personal passion.
Mary’s undergraduate degree is in special education/psychology. She holds graduate degrees and certificates in the areas of special education, social service and educational program administration, and child and family law.
Mary serves on the Editorial Board of the professional journal Reclaiming Children and Youth and on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Child Care Association. She is advisor to numerous private and public bodies concerned with youth at risk, including the Child Welfare Advisory Committee to the Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Metropolitan Child and Adolescent Network Advisory Committee of the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Positive Behavioral Interventions in Schools Advisory Committee of the Illinois State Board of Education.
|