University Times

Pitt's Office of Child Development (OCD) marked its 10th anniversary on Nov. 24 with a celebration at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum on the North Side.

Among the guests at the event were Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, former speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives K. Leroy Irvis, State Rep. Ron Cowell and Allegheny County Commissioner Robert Cranmer.

Honored with plaques for their support for OCD were former Allegheny County Commissioner Tom Foerster, the Howard Heinz Foundation and the Buhl Foundation.

OCD promotes and disseminates research and information on children, youth and families to government policy-makers, service professionals, parents and citizens.

Since its inception, OCD has served approximately 50,000 primarily low-income families across Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.

The center's interdisciplinary research and training programs include the areas of child abuse and child welfare. It also administers several county-wide family support centers designed to help families assist themselves in job training, child care and other parenting skills.