 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
Marie Kanne Poulsen, Ph.D. A Lifelong Mission Spanning more than four decades, Dr. Poulsen has dedicated her career to helping infants, young children, and their families thrive in spite of developmental disabilities such as autism or environmental challenges such as homelessness, domestic violence, and drug addiction. An advocate for women and children, Dr. Poulsen partners with mothers who are struggling to read the muted cues of their babies’ very low birth weights, enhance the development of their children born with Downs Syndrome, or connect with their young children who have been diagnosed with autism. She does all she can to ensure that they are given the opportunity, support, and resources they need to thrive. Heroes in Unlikely Places For example, during the 1980s, millions of children were born to women who were addicted to crack cocaine and other drugs. These babies had sensitive, disorganized nervous systems—often crying when sung to, refusing to suckle, and even being unable to cuddle. Babies born to crack-addicted mothers were taken into foster care. Dr. Poulsen developed a ‘Baby and Me’ program to support the biological and foster mothers who were caring for these infants. The goal of the program was to ensure that the biological mothers were able to bond with their babies. “The heroines in my life are the mothers who conquer the insatiable need for crack in order to care for their babies and give them a better life than they had. To overcome their drug addictions meant that these women had to give up all their friends who were using crack and go it alone,” says Dr. Poulsen. “It has been 20 years since the crack epidemic hit its peak. Crack has diminished, but methamphetamine abuse is rampant. And hundreds of grandmothers are raising little ones. So the work goes on.” A Champion for Women & Children In addition to her hands-on work, Dr. Poulsen develops programs, designs and conducts research, and trains interdisciplinary professionals. She has co-authored several books, written numerous articles and book chapters, and given countless presentations. Holding two Governor’s Appointments—one to the California Early Intervention Coordinating Council and one to the Child Development Policy Advisory Committee—she tirelessly champions policies related to the mental health of infants, young children, and families. She was an invited participant to the 1999 White House Conference on Mental Health and she serves on numerous national, regional, and local boards and advisory committees. “Over the many years that I have known Marie, I’ve always been impressed with her gracious and caring spirit,” shares Jeanne Marie Hatch, SHCJ, who nominated Dr. Poulsen for the 2010 Holy Child Spirit Award. “I witnessed her generous spirit serving on the boards of both Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child and Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child and her joyful, fun spirit raising her family. In all of this, I have always recognized a special Holy Child spirit.” Dr. Poulsen is currently a member of Mayfield Senior School’s Board of Trustees. Sheila McNiff, SHCJ, who serves on the board of Mayfield Senior School with Marie, adds, “She has stature in the academic and medical fields, but leaves her heart open with compassion to the everyday persons who come to her University clinic and Childrens Hospital.” Family Life Dr. Poulsen’s three children and three grandchildren attended Mayfield Junior School, with the girls going on to attend Mayfield Senior School. “My husband and I raised our family with the Holy Child philosophical commitment to foster the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional gifts of each of our children, so that they in turn would make meaningful contributions as parents and members of the community. As a mother, I have been blessed with the spiritual, social, emotional, and economic foundations that allowed me to reflect on the significance of such a role and to support the development and spiritual well-being of our children. It is within this context that I chose how I would endeavor to live the Holy Child philosophy of trying to ‘reach beyond self and render service to others,’” says Dr. Poulsen. Return to the 2010 Holy Child Awards Dinner Homepage
|
|||
|
||||
“Being a mother is challenging no matter what, but when one is alone and struggling to conquer such challenges as drug addiction, domestic violence, or perinatal depression, it’s even more daunting,” says Marie Poulsen, Ph.D., who is both the Chief Psychologist of the University of Southern California’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, Calif.