Symposium on Crimes Against Children 

Mission Kids is hosting a Symposium on Crimes Against Children at Cabrini University.
The Symposium will feature workshops lead by experts and will address all aspects of child maltreatment, including, but not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, exploitation, intervention, and prevention.

Register Now! 

8:30-9:00 am-Registration and Light Breakfast
9:00 am-9:15 am- Opening Remarks

Keynote Speaker: 9:15 am-10:30 am

Honoring Our Differences, Celebrating the Strengths of Youth, William C. Kellibrew IV
William shares his story on the impact that childhood trauma and violence had on him as a child and youth following the witnessing of the murders of his mother and brother in their family living room. William endured the long term effects of major depression, suicidality, and poly-victimization and opens up about his school-aged experiences in classrooms in order to cope with trauma, until one day, he had had enough. As a teen, his anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression led him to a decision of life or death. Join William as he discusses how a strength and values-based approach became a bridge to healing and how ordinary people in his life became s/heroes. As an internationally respected speaker, trainer and technical assistance provider, William shares tools that promote a trauma-informed approach to support multidisciplinary teams, agencies, and settings where youth are free to heal and thrive.

15 minute break

Breakout Sessions 10:45-12:00 pm

• A.1. Honoring Our Differences, Celebrating the Strengths of Youth, William C. Kellibrew IV, part 2, a time for question and answers from William Kellibrew IV
  
• William has dedicated this time to have a more personal conversation with audience members and allow for question and answers after his keynote presentation
  
  
• A.2. Sibling Sexual Abuse from the MDT Perspective-Meghan Backofen, LCSW
• This workshop will address the distinct challenges that sibling sexual abuse cases present.  A case study will highlight the unique dynamics of such cases, the fallout for the family unit, and the importance of mental health services for the family. Participants will discuss how each multidisciplinary team member, including law enforcement, child welfare caseworkers, prosecutors, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, and mental health clinicians, play a critical role in helping these children and families to heal.
  
  
• A.3. Trauma Professional, Heal Thyself: Your Vicarious Trauma Prevention and Sustainability Plan – Olga Phoenix, MPA, MA
• Helping people who suffer can be difficult, traumatic, and draining. Thousands of trauma professionals struggle with depression, obesity, immune disorders, addiction, and anxiety, frequently the result of vicarious trauma. In this workshop, you will:  Discover powerful, real life tools for addressing and transforming vicarious trauma; Learn and practice effective techniques for self-soothing, renewal, and transformation; Find out how to maintain life balance by nurturing 6 important dimensions of yourself; Create your own personal vicarious trauma prevention and sustainability plan; Uncover how to create a thriving, full, and cherished life free of vicarious trauma.
  
  
• A.4.  The Changes to Megan's Law in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania State Police
• There have been recent challenges and changes to Megan's Law requirements in Pennsylvania.  This presentation will provide a basic understanding of the current law, as well as how it would affect sex offenders and their victims.

Lunch Workshop: 12:00pm-1:15 pm (Lunch will be provided)

• Child sexual abuse medical evaluations- what’s the value?  Dr. Philip Scribano, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• This workshop will describe the child abuse medical evaluation, as well as the physical and mental benefits for the child and caregiver. Dr. Scribano will explain the value to the investigation and provide guidance on cases that should be referred for an evaluation.  
  

15 minute break

 Afternoon Group Workshop: 1:30 pm-2:45 pm

• Homeland Security Investigations Prepare and Predict Method of Forensic Interviewing-Amy Allen, HSI Forensic Interview Specialist & Jackie Goldstein, HSI, Victim Assistance Specialist
• The HSI Prepare and Predict Method has been being utilized for ten years in federal investigations where physical evidence exists that an exploitation based crime has been committed with a victim.  Understanding that many victims do not self-report for a myriad of reasons, presenting evidence in these cases has become part of the forensic interview process.  HSI uses a method called Prepare and Predict to minimize trauma, maximize information and be victim-centered.  Today’s training will identify the science of presenting evidence and the art of how to actually do that in a forensic manner using the Prepare and Predict method.

15 minute break

Afternoon Breakout sessions 3:00 pm-4:15 pm

• B.1. Youth with Problematic Sexualized Behaviors – Elizabeth Bard, PhD
• In this workshop, Dr. Bard will provide an overview of problematic sexual behavior in children, the assessment and clinical decision making of children with problematic sexualized behavior and effective clinical practices with these children.
  

• B.2. Organizational Culture of Vicarious Trauma Prevention and Sustainability – Olga Phoenix, MPA, MA
• The research collected in the past twenty years is consistent: trauma professionals are at very high risk for vicarious trauma, the results of which are burnout, depression, emotional exhaustion, and turnover. The effectiveness of vicarious trauma prevention, self-care, and sustainability often rest in the hands of organizational leadership. In this workshop you will learn how to:  Measure your organization’s risk for vicarious trauma; Recognize and prevent processes of post-traumatic reactivity common in trauma organizations; Assess your organization’s culture of vicarious trauma prevention and sustainability; Utilize leadership and staff tools provided for maintaining vicarious trauma-free life at your workplace; Create sustainable, empowering, and healthy work environment for your clients and staff.
  
  
• B.3. Through a Child’s Eye:  The Impact of Domestic Violence and Abuse on Children- Susan Folwell, LCSW, LICSW, CTS
• It is estimated that more than 3.3 million children are exposed to physical and verbal domestic abuse each year.  Research shows that growing up in an abusive and violent home may be a traumatic experience that can adversely affect a child’s life, growth and development. A variety of factors influence children’s responses to domestic violence and abuse, such as age, coping strategies, prior trauma history, proximity to the violence, life circumstances, and temperament.  This workshop will explore the short- and long-term effects of domestic violence on children, children’s potential responses based upon developmental level and age, and factors that contribute to resiliency.
  
  
• B.4. Prepare and Predict - HSI (Please note this session is for CAC Forensic Interviewers’s only)

 

Evaluation and Certificates 4:15pm – 4:30pm

Thank you to our collaborative partners: