Pre-Conference Seminars

Identifying Child Sexual Abusers: Applying Scientific Discrimination to Protect Children in Youth Organizations

Seminar A: Monday, March 30, 2009 || 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Gene Abel, MD, Markus Wiegel, PhD, Bret White, PhD

Participants learn how research can increase their ability to protect children from sexual abuse. Presenters outline evidence-based methodologies for identifying child sexual abusers during the hiring process and the methods abusers commonly use to avoid detection and deflect accusations. The challenges inherent in transforming the scientific model into a functional and acceptable screening tool are discussed.

Messages for Child Protection Practice from the LONGSCAN Consortium

Seminar B: Monday, March 30, 2009 || 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Desmond Runyan, MD, Howard Dubowitz, MD

This seminar describes the findings of the largest and longest longitudinal study of child maltreatment. The research reveals new information on the impact of psychological violence, neglect, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. Also considered is the influence of other life events such as exposure to violence and protective factors. Participants explore how to utilize this data to guide decisions in child protection practice.

Promoting Family Connections Thru Court/Agency/Community Partnership

Seminar C: Monday, March 30, 2009 || 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sandra Moore, MSW, Todd Hoover, Hon, Richard Gold, Esq, Peter Vriens, MSW

The focus of this seminar is the urgent need for courts and agencies to increase collaborative efforts to promote family connections. Strengthening family connections facilitates safe and timely permanence for abused and neglected children. The session explores specific components of successful partnerships and practical strategies related to implementation, resourcing, and evaluation. A panel presentation provides an opportunity to hear firsthand how these strategies are working in a partnership that is transforming services in Pennsylvania.

Partnerships, an Art and a Science: Tools for Creating, Managing, Financing, Sustaining and Evaluating Partnerships

Seminar D: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 || 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Eva Carter, MHR, Rae Anderson, MSW, Billie Young, MSW

To successfully meet the complex needs of children and families, child abuse and neglect programs must collaborate with other agencies and key stakeholders. This interactive session utilizes a comprehensive skill building tool kit to prepare participants to create and sustain successful partnerships. A variety of hands-on materials and information are used and available for participants to take back to their own agencies and communities.

Achieving Service Equity: A Forum on Using Research and Promoting Practice to Address Disproportionality

Seminar E: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 || 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

John Fluke, PhD, Kathy Deserly, Brenden Hargett, Michelle Howard, MS LP, Donna Parrish, Joyce James, Oronde Miller, Marcia Sturdivant

This session challenges organizations to move beyond exploring the widespread issue of disproportionality and disparity in child welfare services and implement research based solutions. The seminar will include practice strategies and findings that will assist agencies in developing, maintaining and fostering a culturally responsive workforce. Specific efforts by county, state, and national agencies to develop and evaluate solutions to disproportionality are featured.

Stewards of Children Facilitator Workshop hosted by the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy

Seminar F: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 || (Part 1) 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / (Part 2) 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Nikki Berger, LPC , MA

Stewards of Children is an empirically supported sexual abuse prevention training program designed to educate participants to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. This seminar is ideal for individuals intending to instruct members of their organizations and communities on child abuse prevention. Mastering the complex principles of this model and the necessary skills to implement the curriculum requires active group participation and a commitment to receive the information in its entirety; session enrollment is limited to 20 participants and requires participation in both sessions.

Engaging Parents in Substance Abuse Treatment: The Role of Recovery Specialists and Drug Testing in Child Welfare and Dependency Courts

Seminar G: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 || 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Nancy Young, PhD, Aimee Amado, Kate McGinty, Sanford Robinson

Parental substance abuse and child maltreatment are highly correlated, and the challenges of serving parents with substance use disorders are well-known. Accordingly, there is growing recognition of the need for substance abuse specialist programs. This session highlights proven strategies for engaging parents in substance abuse services and their demonstrated success for increasing reunification and permanence. The programmatic structure and evaluation findings of two existing programs are presented and discussed in order to guide states and communities as they develop their own programs.