Ross Green, Ph.D., wants to change the conversation about-and with-kids and their issues.

Instead of often fruitless efforts to control them, Green advocates collaboration-making the child part of the solution. It’s a cooperative, relationship-building approach backed by research.

Green, a nationally recognized clinical child psychologist and author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School , served on the Harvard Medical School faculty for over 20 years, and now is adjunct associate professor at Virginia Tech. He originated what’s known as the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions approach, and founded Lives in the Balance, a non-profit dedicated to changing the lives of behaviorally challenging kids and their caregivers.

He will discuss the approach and his real-world experiences with parents and educators later this month when he keynotes JUF’s 6 ^th annual Jewish Day School Night, Tuesday, March 29, at the Holiday Inn North Shore, 5300 W. Touhy Ave., Skokie. The dessert reception begins at 7:15 p.m.

As the Lives in Balance website explains, when there is a behavioral situation with a child, adults often try to take control. But some children aren’t likely to respond positively to that approach, and things escalate. The CPS process offers ways for adults and kids to resolve problems together.

“When they approach problems collaboratively and work together toward solutions that are mutually satisfactory, things head in a positive direction. It’s very hard work, but it’s a lot better than the alternative.”

The Day School Night event is chaired by Bluma Broner and Rabbi Michael Schwab. There is no charge to attend, but a meaningful pledge to the 2016 JUF Annual Campaign is strongly encouraged. Reservations are required. n

For reservations, go to www.JUF.org/dayschool . For more information, email [email protected].