Dear Ackerman Community,
You and your families are in our daily thoughts, as we join with families and communities around the world in a collective effort to slow, and stop, the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As work, school, and community life are transformed in the face of this pandemic, remaining connected is more important than ever. We are not alone.
While the Ackerman Institute offices are closed, our programming and services continue to operate. We are working and learning from home and actively building virtual community. Our therapy services have transitioned to teletherapy. Our clinicians are available via the telephone and online tools to support families. Our Core Curriculum Training Program has moved to a virtual learning model. Our spring workshops for mental health professionals will be presented live, online. For Ackerman alumni working on the front-line of this crisis, we have multiple formats for community connection and sharing resources.
This is, most certainly, a difficult time and I am especially thinking about the MSW students participating in Ackerman’s Social Work & Diversity Program whose final months of graduate education have been disrupted by campus closures. My heart is with our externs in their final year of training and this special time amongst their Ackerman cohort. I am assured that they will complete the program and move forward with resiliency and commitment to addressing power disparities and injustice in every way possible.
One of the most gratifying experiences for me has been to see how we are coming together to support each other at this time. Ackerman faculty, therapists, trainees, and administration are tackling each challenge with teamwork; and are thinking about the best solutions for the community. It is my honor to be part of this extraordinary undertaking, with this team.
The Ackerman community has transformed overnight and we are here for you and your family, as you balance the new complexities of family, work, and health in the midst of a pandemic. I urge you to consult trusted resources for information about your health and coping strategies.
We will be sharing more updates on Facebook and Instagram, and we invite you to join us there. We are eager to hear from Ackerman alumni and to remain connected with you.
Now, more than ever, let’s join together and embrace our shared human experiences. I stand in solidarity with you and families around the globe who are impacted by this crisis. I wish you and your family good health.
We are in this together.
Martha Fling
President & CEO
Ackerman Institute for the Family