A number of childhood problems are particularly worrisome to parents. Lying, stealing, anger or aggression, refusal to follow family rules, withdrawal, and depression are just a few of them. In addition, parents may be troubled because they do not feel a sense of connection with their child even at a very early age, or they secretly find their child unusually frustrating or even unlikable.

It is common for children and teenagers to display bouts of irritability, frustration, and disobedience over the course of their growth and development. For example, the 4 year old who throws a tantrum because she has to stop playing; the 8 year old who picks on his younger sister; the 13 year old who argues with her mother about going to a movie. Still, there are many families who struggle with child behavior that goes beyond stubbornness or occasional talking back.

Infertility is commonly defined as the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to full term. It is one of the most severe crises that a person or couple may ever face, and presents a tremendous physical, emotional, and financial challenge.

We are pleased to inform that the Task Force on Comics has been formed, with Mr. Ivan Tam from Wofoo Social Enterprises as convenor, and three other members including Mrs. Cecilia Kwan (Hong Kong Family Welfare Society), Agnes Ng (Christian Family Service Center), and Ms. Miranda Ng (Wofoo Social Enterprises).

CIFA is pleased to announce that a Sharing Session on 3A Project will be held in Hong Kong on November 30, which is sponsored and supported by the Family Council of the HKSAR government. All finalist teams will be invited to present their projects at the session. This is the first attempt to provide an opportunity for exchange of experience, knowledge and practice wisdom among professionals and stakeholders from different regions. To facilitate and encourage the overseas teams to join the session, subsidy will be provided for air flight and daily expenses, and free accommodation will be arranged as well. Watch out for further details.

Each year in the United States, 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are diagnosed,

adding to the 1.5 million Americans who currently have this disease. PD is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that has no age, race, sex, or socioeconomic boundaries, and is without a known cause. The main characteristic of PD is a lack of dopamine in the brain, forcing one to experience challenges with motor and non-motor skills. Typically, PD affects those above the age of 65; however, 15 percent of those diagnosed are under the age of 50.

CIFA is pleased to announce that strategic partnership has been formed with Ah Chung (亞虫).

Ah Chung has kindly consented to serve as advisor to the Working Group on Comics/Paintings to be formed with Mr. Ivan Tam, a member of the Promotion & Fund-raising Committee, as the convenor. Ah Chung will become our indigenous icon for using comic to convey messages on family in the Asian region.

“Diabetes” is actually a class of several chronic illnesses, including immune mediated diabetes mellitus (Type 1), insulin resistant diabetes mellitus (Type 2), and gestational diabetes mellitus. The common thread across all diabetes types is that patients’ bodies are not able to produce or use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that allows us to convert sugar from the food we eat into energy for our body’s cells.

Case example: Michael was driving home from work one day and was caught in traffic. He suddenly noticed that his heart was beginning to race. He then felt short of breath, and tightness in his chest. When he began to sweat, he became concerned and drove to the nearest emergency room where they could find nothing physically wrong with

him. Michael had just experienced his first panic attack. Over the next few weeks, the attacks became worse, and he started to avoid driving altogether.

CIFA, being a supporting organisation of the 2010 Joint Conference on Social Work and Social Development, takes the opportunity to publizise its work and appeal for participation at the coming Regional Symposium in Japan in November. The CIFA leaflet (3rd edition) has been distributed at counter. Participants from many countries in the region have indicated interest in the work of CIFA and CIFA members on duty answered enquiries to provide further information.