Child Development Specialist Offers Street-Wise Advice For Meeting 21st Century Parental Challenges

When was the last time you heard of a doctor making a house call? If the doctor is Susan Turben, Ph.D., nationally known child development specialist, the answer is probably just yesterday. That’s because Susan (as she prefers to be called) believes that the only way to get to the root of a family’s issues and concerns is to observe its members in their natural surroundings – in their home, on a playground, or even at the local Denny’s.

But making house calls is only one of the many attributes that makes Susan very different and, at times, more controversial than your average child development expert. Aside from being a family counselor and child advocate, Susan is also a mother of five, a researcher, and a teacher. She understands the modern day, non-traditional families. Her family practice takes her (on a daily basis) into the lives of families. Susan takes a direct personal approach, incorporating family stories and collaborating with parents so that practical child-rearing methods allow families to decide for themselves how to raise their children.

As head of Turben Developmental Services, a Beachwood Ohio firm providing child development and parenting services for adults and their young children, Susan has developed a national reputation for offering straight-forward, street-wise advice.

Susan has done extensive work with disenfranchised groups, particularly low income working families, children and youth with Autism spectrum disorders, Head Start, Amish Communities, and disadvantaged families in Russia and soon, China. She is accepted as a practical, positive problem-solver! The doctor who makes house calls works with Human Services and Juvenile and Domestic Courts, and serves on numerous Boards and Community Advocacy groups.

Susan has published educational curricula for private and public schools, the Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio, and the State of Ohio Health Department and the Ohio Bureau of Early Intervention. Families and professionals use Susan’s The Good Information Child Development Video/DVD Series in settings where knowledge of practices for strengthening family life offers a first-hand look at options available to modern families as they raise children. Child Care: Options for the 80’s was first released in 1982 and since then, she has produced A Parent Guide: The Games Babies Play, Our Families, This Generation: Raising Children in the 90’s and Teach Your Children Well: Every Parent’s Responsibility.

Susan’s expertise comes from an academic background of research relevant to infant, child and family studies. She began her career at Head Start in Albany, New York in 1974 and received a grant from the Handicapped Children Early Education Program (HCEEP) to start the first infant stimulation program in the capital district of New York State.

During the next 20 years, Susan designed, implemented, and evaluated programs to serve families with infants and toddlers. As an Assistant Professor of Education at John Carroll University from 1989-1996, Susan taught a range of Teacher Education and Early Childhood-Special Education undergraduate and graduate level courses. She taught at Lake Erie College, Lakeland Community College, and lectures at colleges and universities throughout Ohio.

Susan is sought out as an “expert” by major media outlets including CBS, Dateline Cleveland, Morning Exchange, Cleveland Live Web site, Women Professionals in Ohio, and outlets in the Albany, New York and Cleveland, Ohio areas. She is listed in the Who’s Who of American Educators for pioneering clinical work in parent-infant/child studies.

Susan has appeared on WCPN 90.3 Public Radio in Cleveland, Voice America’s Health and Wellness Channel and she recently completed an 18 month run launching her own program called “Friend of the Family”, now available on her website, www.friendofthefamilyradio.com.

Susan’s radio shows bring together experts and guests who offer help to families by just by clicking on “Ask Susan!” In her radio show Susan discusses how babies think to the essential need for childhood dentistry. Other recent topics include obesity, late talkers, and why autism has become more than a diagnosis! Guests share their expertise as they take families’ questions and phone calls on Friend of the Family radio.” Parents need reassurance as well as advice! What are the effects of gentle vs. assertive discipline and school reform: should children have homework at all?

Dr. Susan Turben is available by email or in person to present the very latest body of brain research affecting “Family Life 2010” and “Practically Perfect Parents.”. Contact Susan by email at susant@turben.com.