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Workshops A

A-01

Prosecuting Child Fatalities and Serious Physical Abuse Cases In Washington:

This workshop is a prosecutor's perspective on child fatality and serious physical abuse investigations in Washington, including scene investigation, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and charging decisions. Relevant statutes and case examples will be discussed (some photos are graphic and depict severe injuries on children). This course is directed primarily at prosecutors and law enforcement, but CPS investigators are also encouraged.

A-02

Cultural Competence and Domestic Violence:

This presentation will focus on the intersection of cultural competence and domestic violence. The necessity of a culturally competent approach to domestic violence will be discussed. Implications for culturally competent practice among people of color, with a focus on African Americans, will be discussed.

A-03 

Self-reported Methods of Cessation of Adult Male Child Abusers: A Pilot Study:

This pilot research project explored sexual abuser's (n=105), who have abused children, pre-arrest cessation attempts. Findings included that 74.3% of sample participants attempted to stop, slow down or decrease their sexual offending prior to arrest. Of the 100 participants who answered the question, 56% were able to successfully temporarily cease their abusive behavior. Self-efficacy was examined as a potential predictive variable of cessation attempts and success of attempts, however, no relationship was found. Practice and research implications are discussed for intermediate and experienced clinicians who work with adult sexual abusers or families in which sexual abuse has occurred.

A-04

Interviewing Suspects in Child Sexual Abuse cases - (The Rapist Lives in the Home) Investigators must understand the exigency and circumstances that exist in a criminal investigation where the victim lives in the home of the alleged rapist. Safety of the child requires an immediate and swift response. Video taped examples will be utilized to demonstrate the value of swift and immediate responses by investigators. Participants of all skill levels should attend.

A-05

Who's Being Groomed? Child Sexual Exploitation and The Marketing of Sexual Harm - This presentation will reveal the numerous ways in which families and children are being groomed to become compliant victims. Media, advertising, literature, and music are all pieces of the puzzle in the sexualization of children and the concerns surfacing in adult and youth offenders as well as bystander behaviors. Participants will understand the links between watching sexualized behaviors and "performing" sexual behaviors. Examples of anticipatory guidance will be provided to all professionals who work with families with children.

A-06

Shaken Baby Investigations - Investigative protocols, collection of evidence, documentation, interviews, and interrogations will be presented at this workshop.

A-07

Understanding the roles of CPS and Law Enforcement - Understanding the roles of CPS and Law Enforcement is a lecture on understanding each agencies role during a joint investigation. The instructor will present the role each agency plays during a child abuse investigation. CPS professionals will understand what law enforcement is looking for and why. Law enforcement will understand the unique and on-going investigation that is being conducted by CPS. The workshop is designed to facilitate these investigations and help the investigators from each agency understand the role and limits of the other investigator.

A-08

Families, Communities, and CPS: Partnering to Strengthen Children and Families - To quote one family partner, "Nothing about us without us!" Children, youth, parents, caregivers, CPS, service providers, and the community all bring different and valuable perspectives to strengthening and protecting children and families. Working together, they can help child welfare agencies to communicate more effectively about agency strengths and purposes and to engage the community in efforts to make needed systemic improvements. Come and find out how and where these partnerships are growing and what lessons have been learned!

A-09

"Special Pops": 800 Child Welfare Children with Sexually Coercive Behavior - This presentation will be an introduction to a 5 year study of 800+ boys and girls who are wards of the Department of Social Services and have been flagged as a "special population" due to their sexually inappropriate and coercive behavior. We will discuss the law that created this legal "net" and what the youth captured by this net look like clinically and behaviorally.

A-10

The Interrelationship Between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse - This workshop will explore the interrelationship between domestic violence and child abuse. Statistical information and publications in the field will be discussed. An emphasis on the positive impact that investigating these cases in a multidisciplinary fashion will be discussed. Tips for law enforcement in the investigation of these cases will be emphasized.

A-11

Child Physical Abuse 101: Medical Findings for Nonmedical Professionals - Intended to aid in distinguishing abusive trauma from accident, this talk has been well-received by medical and non-medical audiences alike. Common presentations for physical abuse are demonstrated, including skin trauma (bruises, bites, and burns), fractures, abdominal injuries, and head injuries including Shaken Baby Syndrome. "Look-alike" syndromes and common mistakes in diagnosis are discussed.

A-12

Effects of Early Stress on Brain and Behavioral Development - Early stress stemming from abuse or neglect has serious behavioral and medical consequences. New research suggests that these consequences may be the result, at least in part, of stress-related alterations in brain development. This workshop will familiarize individuals at all levels of experience with research from imaging studies delineating areas of the brain that appear to be affected by exposure to early abuse. The workshop will present the evidence and discuss the potential consequences of these abnormalities, focusing particularly on aspects of impulse control. Factors influencing outcome, such as gender, genetics, and timing of abuse will also be discussed.

A-13

Prosecuting Cases with Developmentally Delayed Victims and Witnesses - People who are developmentally delayed are at 5 times the risk of being sexually victimized. There are many misconceptions and fallacies about people with developmental delays. These myths will be shattered as we discuss the actual developmental and linguistic characteristics of people with mental retardation.

Strategies for properly investigating and prosecuting cases with these victims and witnesses will be addressed.

A-14

Improving Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders - This workshop addresses national perspectives on improving outcomes for families with substance use disorders in the child welfare and family court systems. Topics include: the "clocks" affecting families based on the timelines of the Adoptions and Safe Families Act, substance abuse treatment, child development, and TANF; and a framework of essential system linkages and policy tools aimed collaboration. This workshop will be presented in lecture format with opportunities for discussion.

A-15

The Ravaging of a Child: Case Study: MDT investigation of severe physical abuse - A three year old child was with her drug-using father and his girl friend when she was murdered. The way she was murdered and the devastating impact on the child's sister who watched the brutality will be reviewed by the multidisciplinary team who fought for justice on behalf of this child and her siblings. You will hear the emotion around what was done right or not by the MDT, and feel their passion about stopping this kind of violent abuse.

A-16

This workshop will demonstrate how to use effective strategies for compliance with ICWA. Learning how to engage multiple service providers, and practice the multiple elements of the Indian Child Welfare Act, will be the focus for the presentation. How various systems can work with tribes to achieve the intent of the Act would be described through a thoughtful description of the Washington tribal inter-governmental agreement and the Centennial accord.