Opening Keynote
Dr. Ross Cheit, J.D., Ph.D., author of “The Witch-Hunt Narrative: Politics, Psychology, and the Sexual Abuse of Children”
Workshops – Session #1
Developmentally Informed and Trauma Focuse Child Welfare Practice:Nassau County Babies Can’t Wait
– Marcy Safyer, PhD, LCSW-R, Director- Institute for Parenting at Adelphi University
– Michelle Green, LCSW, Institute for Parenting at Adelphi University
The training will be a mini course in Attachment, Emotional Regulation and Trauma regarding 0-5 year olds who have experienced profound neglect or a range of abuse including emotional, physical or sexual as well as witnessing family violence. An evidence-based program with an evidenced based clinical intervention as its foundation will be described.
Participants will Learn:
– To identify attachment quality in young children
– To Define Complex Trauma
– To recognize the connection between adverse childhood experiences and the symptoms and behaviors of children
Domestic Abuse through the Eyes of the Child
– Debbie Lyons, LMFT, Assistant Director of Children’s Mental Health Services at The Safe Center
This presentation outlines the effects of domestic abuse on children. An overview of the dynamics of domestic abuse and common symptoms observed in children will be provided. The focus will be on utilizing trauma-informed therapeutic services to provide safety and healing while working to enhance the natural resilience in children and families. It will be discussed how treatment interventions can be tailored to meet the developmental needs of the child.
Participants will Learn:
– To describe the range of effects on children who have been exposed to domestic abuse.
– The risk and protective factors for children exposed to domestic abuse.
– To identify trauma-informed treatment approaches for working with children who have been impacted by domestic abuse.
I Made a Report, What Happens Now: The CAC Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
– Joshua Hanson, MA, Director of the Nassau County Child Advocacy Center at The Safe Center
– Bella Silecchia, M.D., F.A.A.P., Director, Child Abuse Evaluation Program at NuHealth
This workshop will explore the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) approach to collaboratively addressing allegations of child sexual abuse. A brief history of the CAC model will be discussed, as well as how the Nassau County CAC functions. This presentation will guide participants through the systemic response triggered by an allegation of child sexual abuse, including the Forensic Interview, Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services investigative responses, emergent and non-emergent medical examinations, victim advocacy services, and mental health services.
Participants will Learn:
– The purpose of a CAC and best practice responses to child sexual abuse allegations.
– How the Nassau County CAC responds to allegations of child sexual abuse and services available to families following a disclosure of abuse.
– To dispel some of the myths around child sexual abuse and the CAC process, including: medical exams, mental health treatment and structure and content of Forensic Interviews.
Workshops – Session #2
Healing the Wounds of Child Sexual Abuse
– Debbie Lyons, LMFT, Assistant Director of Children’s Mental Health Services at The Safe Center
– Thomas Neuschul, LMSW, Group Work Coordinator at The Safe Center
The presentation is focused on trauma-informed therapy and group work services for children who have experienced sexual abuse and their non-offending family members. Information will be provided on the dynamics and effects of sexual abuse to help professionals respond appropriately to the unique needs of these families. An overview of the healing process will be discussed highlighting a variety of interventions for working with the family at different stages of the healing process.
Participants will Learn:
– About the impact of sexual abuse on the family system.
– Specific intervention strategies to address the impact of sexual abuse on the family system.
– The curative qualities of a variety of treatment modalities.
Nassau County’s Safe Harbour Response to Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth
– Serena Curry, Safe Harbor Coordinator at The Safe Center
– Bill Best, Director, Nassau Haven
The purpose of Nassau County’s Safe Harbour Program is to foster collaboration and coordination among community agencies to improve the County’s capacity to identify and serve youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation. This presentation will highlight the collaborative efforts of Nassau Haven, Nassau County’s only runaway and homeless youth shelter, and the Nassau County Safe Harbour program, to identify and provide services to trafficked youth. Representatives from each program will identify case trends, and discuss the factors that make runaway and homeless youth especially vulnerable to exploitation.
Participants will Learn:
– About the facts and dynamics associated with both runaway youth and commercial sexual exploitation, including how these two issues overlap
What is a Sex Offender:Clarifying Misconceptions and Emerging Best Practices
– Bill O’Leary, PsyD, Forensic Therapist
This workshop will explain the different categories and classifications of sexual offenders and how they are determined. There will also be a discussion about the effectiveness of the instruments used to determine levels of risk and how they are used to inform the community. The workshop will end with a look at where research indicates we should be headed in the future.
Participants will Learn:
– The different classifications of sexual offenders including Article X, discretionary, and registered levels.
– About some of the instruments used to assess risk of re-offending.
– About some of the laws regarding sexual offenders including SORA, SARA, and Civil Confinement.
Closing Plenary
Anthony Zenkus, LMSW, Director of Education at The Safe Center