Forrest City Medical Center ‘gets personal’ with area moms and teenage daughters

Forrest City Medical Center ‘gets personal’ with area moms and teenage daughters

FCMC to host Mother-Daughter Expo April 30

From Janet Benson Forrest City Medical Center

Sometimes general information just isn't enough. When it comes to the healthcare needs of East Arkansans, Forrest City Medical Center has decided it's time to get personal, and that's just what they plan to do with the attendees of the First Annual Mother-Daughter Expo, presented by The Women's Place at Forrest City Medical Center. Personal communication styles, personal safety & awareness, and personal empowerment will be the themes of the three individual segments that comprise the event, scheduled for Saturday, April 30.

The event is targeted primarily to mothers and their teenage daughters, and is designed to equip these women with tools that will enable them to live healthier, safer, and more productive lives. “We have to focus our attention on preventive health and wellness,” said Janet Benson, Marketing Director at Forrest City Medical Center. “Diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are rampant in the Eastern Arkansas counties. It's time for us turn our attention toward maintaining good health early in life, rather than waiting until health problems arise and then trying to treat them.” That, according to Benson, is what FCMC hopes to accomplish through the Expo.

Personalities and personal communication styles will be the topic of the opening session at this year's event. Licensed Professional Counselor Marilyn Cullum will present the session. Cullum has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for more than 20 years, having worked with individuals and families in mental health agencies in St. Francis and Cross counties. She has served as a therapist, presenter, Clinical Supervisor, Clinic Co-Founder and Clinic Director. Cullum served for three years as the Clinic Coordinator for the University of Central Arkansas Counseling Clinic, where her responsibilities included therapy for students, staff and faculty, as well as frequently presenting on numerous mental health issues across campus. She has been a certified Life Purpose Coach since 2004, helping people better understand themselves, their purpose and their potential. For the past two years, Cullum has worked in her private counseling practice at the Hicky & Collins Law Firm in Forrest City.

Beginning the Expo with a session on personalities and communication styles will serve a twofold purpose, according to Benson. “This session will be both enlightening and entertaining. First of all we want all of the attendees to enjoy themselves while they are with us. In this session everyone will have questions to answer that will help them learn a little more about themselves and why they communicate the way they do. It will also help moms better understand what their daughters are trying to communicate to them, and will help the teens better understand what their moms are saying,” Benson said. “Communication plays such a key role in healthy family relationships, and we want to do whatever we can to help strengthen that foundation.”

Personal Safety and Awareness will be the focus of the second session of this year's Mother-Daughter Expo. This session will be presented by Nathaniel Thomas, Self Defense Instructor and Investigative Specialist at the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of how to be more aware of the possibilities of dangerous situations and how to handle those situations should they arise.

Following a light lunch, the final session will consist of personal health and wellness information, with emphasis placed on taking control of one's own health. The mothers and daughters will go into separate breakout sessions for information specifically tailored to each age group. Daughters will hear from author and motivational speaker Takeitha Peterson-Carter who will present a message of personal strength and empowerment. The Mother-Daughter Expo, presented by The Women's Place at Forrest City Medical Center, is a free event to be held Saturday, April 30.