On Friday, September 25, the Indiana University Northwest School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), and its community partners, will host the 30th Annual Forum on Child Abuse and Neglect, one of the state's largest and longest-running conferences on the topic.

This year's theme is "Reframing Child Welfare." Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the forum will be hosted online and feature five additional workshops between now and Oct. 30. All events are free and open to the public; continuing education (CEU) credits will be available to licensed social workers. Each event requires separate registration.

Expert Keynote Speakers

The first event will begin on Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. with opening remarks from Terry Stigdon, director of the Indiana Department of Child Services, and Sharon Pierce, CEO of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, followed by two keynote speakers:

9:15 to 10 a.m. - "Strengthening Children and Families Through Primary Prevention," led by Jerry Milner, associate commissioner of the US Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

10:40 to noon - "The Restorative Approach to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)," led by Monica Evans, trainer in Restorative Practices and Crisis Intervention and Trauma Responses

To register for the opening event, visit go.iu.edu/3j3H

Impactful workshops

In the coming weeks, the following additional workshops will cover a range of topics encouraging attendees to revise the way they see the child welfare system. Each workshop is led by noted child welfare advocates from throughout the state.

Oct. 2, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “The Restorative Approach to Situational Crisis,” led by Monica Evans. To register, visit go.iu.edu/3j3I

Oct. 9, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “Domestic Violence, Animal Abuse and Child Abuse and Neglect,” led by Andrew Campbell. To register, visit go.iu.edu/3j3J

Oct. 16, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “Implicit Bias and Institutional Racism: Making the Connection,” led by Brenda Graves-Croom, Joann Price, Jená Bellezza, Naara Olivero, and Anthony McDonald. To register, visit go.iu.edu/3j3K

Oct. 23, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “Parenting While Poor: Product of Poverty,” led by Jená Bellezza. To register, visit go.iu.edu/3j3L

Oct. 23, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “Using the CDC’s Essentials for Childhood Framework to Promote Great Childhoods for All,” led by Bart Klika. To register, visit go.iu.edu/3j3M

Partners for the 2020 IUN Forum on Child Abuse and Neglect include IU Northwest’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Schools of Nursing and Social Work, and the Center for Urban and Regional Excellence; as well as Prevent Child Abuse Lake County; Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana; The Villages of Indiana; Early Learning Partnership of Northwest Indiana; Indiana Department of Child Services; Calumet College of St. Joseph; Geminus Community Partners; The Indiana Kids First Trust Fund; and the Lake County CASA Program.

For more information about all the events and notes on obtaining CEU’s, download the full Forum flyer from the Prevent Child Abuse Lake County website at pcalc.org or call 219-762-3465.