​8:30 am - 11:45 am

Pre-Conference Institutes

​

​

1. Child Maltreatment Pioneers: History Matters

Part 1- Celebrating African American Pioneers in the Field of Child Maltreatment

Prevention: Implications for Current Practice

This presentation highlights contributions of African American professionals

that were pioneers in the child maltreatment field from the late-1970s to

mid-1990s. We will discuss their contributions and the impact on the field.

Joyce N. Thomas, RN, MPH, PNP, FAAN

 

Part 2- The Evolution of Child Maltreatment Prevention and Intervention in

Multicultural Populations

Panel Discussion – 

APSAC is committed to ending systemic racism in child welfare. For more

than 30 years, APSAC has addressed the importance of culture on child

maltreatment in shaping our prevention and interventions strategies. This

panel of pioneers will address social justice and policy issues from a

multicultural perspective.

Viola Vaughan-Eden, PhD, MSW, MJ – Moderator

​

2. The Medical Evaluation of Suspected Child Maltreatment (Medical Institute) 

Physical abuse may manifest with a wide range of signs and symptoms, from subtle bruising to significant traumatic brain or abdominal injury. Evaluating children who are suspected victims of physical abuse requires a multidisciplinary approach with collaboration between medical professionals, child protective services worker, and law enforcement. Medical findings, terminology, and biomechanics of injury may be very perplexing for non-medical community partners. Therefore, this pre-conference institute and APSAC conference lectures will cover the basics of child physical abuse including cutaneous lesions (bruises, bumps and burns), oral injuries, fractures, and internal injuries plus address advanced and emerging issues in the field through a review of the current literature.

Barbara Knox MD, FAAP, Debra Esernio-Jenssen, MD, FAAP and Stacie LeBlanc, JD

​

3. Keeping Faith Institute: Empowering Faith Communities to Recognize and Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect (Intermediate)

This course empowers faith communities to recognize and respond to cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. The course is also ideal for child protection professionals seeking to develop collaborations with faith communities or looking to implement a CAC chaplaincy program. Included are discussions detailing the impact of child abuse on a victim’s sense of spirituality and offering concrete suggestions for working with medical and mental health professionals to assist a child in coping with maltreatment. The course also discusses ideal child protection policies for a faith-based institution, including handling a situation in which a convicted sex offender seeks to join a congregation. A review of various child abuse case scenarios and a discussion on appropriate and inappropriate responses allows for real-life problem-solving and feedback.

Victor Vieth, JD, MA

​

4. Investigative Institute: MDT Investigation involving Serious Injuries and Death of Infants and Children (Investigative Institute) 

This session will discuss some of the most difficult challenges to investigating death and serious injuries to children. When victims are unable to tell us their story, the importance of an adequate investigation is paramount. We will explain how a collaborative MDT is key as we discuss scene reconstruction and investigation, distinguishing types of inflicted trauma and identifying/interviewing alleged perpetrators.

Michael V. Johnson, BSCJ; Jennifer Hillgoth, BACJ

​

5. Basic Workshop Training in Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) – Part of a Comprehensive Year-Long Learning Community (Mental Health Institute) 

 This institute provides the initial Basic Training Workshop that is included as part of a Year-Long Learning Community to learn how to implement Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT; www.afcbt.org) in diverse settings. AF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for school-aged children and their parents who have experienced anger, aggression, and/or child physical abuse that emphasizes individual and join skills training sessions to enhance family support and safety. Prior to the institute, participants will be asked to complete an initial readiness survey and review orientation videos (links will be sent to your email in advance). During the conference institute, participants will receive training in two of the three phases of AF-CBT during a Basic Training Workshop. Participants will receive session guides (manual, handouts) and links to all assessment tools. This treatment content will be taught and illustrated using didactic presentations/slides, recorded examples of skill demonstrations and applications (e.g., engagement, safety monitoring, individual cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills, family communication and problem-solving), discussions, and role-play activities to reinforce their therapeutic repertoires. Recommendations will be provided to highlight ways to overcome the use of coercion and hostility. The institute cost covers these activities and material. 

David J. Kolko, PhD, ABPP; Barbara L. Baumann, PhD 

​

6. The End Zone: A Pitch for Preventing Child Maltreatment 

The use of corporal punishment, a common form of discipline, is associated with many negative health outcomes and is a key risk factor for child abuse. Parents' attitudes toward and use of spanking are influenced by trusted professionals such as medical professionals, faith leaders, mental health professionals, teachers, parent educators, victim advocates, as well as friends and family. When professionals can communicate the dangers of spanking in a non-shamming or judgmental way, they can shift parents' perspective, which leads to healthier outcomes for children. This workshop introduces a promising and simple program, No Hit Zones, for changing social norms related to spanking/hitting of children. The presentation provides resources for attendees to pitch and successfully launch a No Hit Zone.

Lolita McDavid, MD; Kelly Dauk, MD; Ellen Chiocca, PhD, CPNP; Deborah Sendek; Melynda Ciccotti; Pastor Darryl Armstrong; Viola Vaughan-Eden, PhD; Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc, JD, MEd

​

7. YAPSAC Pre- Conference Free Institute for Young Professionals

This institute is designed for students and young professionals looking to advance their practice in child maltreatment. The day will include a diverse panel of young and seasoned professionals speaking candidly on their experience working in various child welfare fields and answering questions about building their careers. Following the panel, YAPSAC committee members will lead a discussion on the “do’s and don'ts” of the job application process.

Leslie Schmerler, MA & Panelist 

​

​

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Lunch on your own

​

1:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Opening Colloquium Workshop Sessions 

​

1. Recantation: Recommendations for the MDT and CAC Response - Parts 1 & 2 (Intermediate)

This session will provide research-based information focusing on reducing the risk of recantation and offer recommendations for multidisciplinary teams to address recantation when it coccurs.

Jerri Sites, MA; Susan Hardie, PhD

​

2. Combined Parent-Child CBT: Enhancing Parental Engagement and Empathy to Promote Safety in Physical Abuse Cases (Intermediate)

An EBT for families at risk of physical abuse and its adaptions for treatment and training during the pandemic are presented, with lessons learned from a statewide virtual Learning Collaborative.

Kris Dean, Ph.D., ABPP; Michele R. Moser, Ph.D.

​

3. Beyond the Basics: Advanced Peer and Self-Review Strategies for Forensic Interviewers (Advanced)

This workshop will teach advanced forensic interviewers to move beyond the basics and develop improved peer and self-review techniques. 

Jacqueline Goldstein, MSW; Amy Allen, MS

​

4. Check Out the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Advanced)

Within this APSAC seminar, Thomas Mitchell, LPC and Stacy Faulkner, LPC of CAC Hope House will provide an overview of their recent publication, Check Out the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Stacy Faulkner, MA, LPC, NCC; Thomas Mitchell, LPC, NCC; Stacie LeBlanc, MEd, JD

​

​

​

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Opening Welcome: Stacie Leblanc JD, MEd 

 

Plenary with Dr. Machelle Madsen Thompson

​

Childhood Trauma Resilience: Protective Factors for a Conflicted World

Dr. Madsen Thompson will exhibit known protective factors that lead to resilience across cultures.  She will expand on how to promote these factors following traumatic events ranging from interpersonal violence to international events including offsetting the effects of COVID and armed conflicts on our children.

​

​

​

​

Introduction to the Walk Together with EndCAN & APSAC 

​

6:00 pm

Second Line Parade through the French Quarter with Police Escort 

​

​

​