16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect

In April 2007, Portland State University's School of Social Work and Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services joined with Oregon's Department of Human Services to serve as local hosts of the 16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Center provided local coordination with an extensive planning committee, co-chaired by Dean Kristine Nelson of the School of Social Work and Ramona Foley of the Department of Human Services.

Protecting Children, Promoting Healthy Families, and Preserving Communities was the theme of the conference held April 16-21 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The biennial conference is sponsored by the federal Office of Child Abuse and Neglect.

The Conference theme reflects our resolve to ensure that every child enjoys a healthy family life in a nurturing community. It emphasizes our need to create safe havens for our children, enabling them to thrive at home and in their neighborhood. Further, the theme promotes the idea of communities joining to establish collaborative relationships and strategies to prevent child maltreatment and provide responsive services and treatment.

Conference offerings included Pre-Conference Seminars, Plenary and Mini-Plenary Sessions, Skill Seminars, Workshops, and Roundtables. Experiential Learning Opportunities introduced participants to a unique vehicle for gaining knowledge and insight into local history and culture, as well as practice issues.

The Center coordinated a multi-agency local planning committee responsible for recruitment of local sponsors, hospitality, public relations and volunteers. For more information, contact Katharine Cahn (cahnk@pdx.edu).