First Coast Girls Initiative, a coalition organized in 2001 of individuals and organizations to serve girls, will host “The Big Disconnect – Implications of Technology and Communications on Girls’ Self-esteem” at the Schultz Center in Jacksonville on May 16.

The event will feature a keynote by Harvard-based clinical psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair followed by a roundtable discussion after lunch about how to grow emotionally healthy girls in the age of technologies, like Facebook.

“Dr. Steiner-Adair has consulted to over 350 independent and public schools, parents and students on a wide range of topics related to strengthening children’s social and emotional development, shaping school culture and deepening parents’ connections to their children,” said Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of Jewish Family & Community Services, whose organization provides programs for young people and who also serves as chair of First Coast Girls Initiative communications committee.

“Her insights – as well as those of the roundtable – should be invaluable to parents and representatives of any organization working to help develop great girls,” Rodriguez said.

The event begins with registration at 10:30 a.m. and concludes with advocacy awards at 1:30 p.m. More information is available on the First Coast Girls Initiative website.