Keynote Address

SURVIVING SEXUAL MOLESTATION

John B. Warnick, Child Sexual Abuse Survivor & National Speaker

John B. Warnick was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming, and is the only son and second child of two lawyers, John A. and Carol Warnick. As John B. grew from an active toddler to an energetic young boy, he excelled at swimming, tennis, baseball, and youth soccer.

When John was ten years old he was carrying a secret he didn’t share with anyone; he had been sexually molested by someone he idolized and trusted. For the next ten years, John would bury that secret. John could never shake the secret that haunted him until he found the courage and faith to seek and confront the molester.

Today John B. shares with law enforcement agencies, school administrators, youth counselors, and concerned adults the incredible story of how his decision to go to the police and district attorney, led him to participate in a sting operation that attacked a nationwide child porn network.

Over the last nine years, John B. has had the opportunity to be a presenter and keynote speaker at numerous National conferences and local law enforcement training programs through out the United States and Canada. John B. has an undergraduate a degree in Electrical Engineering from Brigham Young University and a Masters Degree from The Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. John B. is currently the Chief Executive Officer for a Real Estate Management Company in Lakewood Colorado. John B. and his wife Amy have three children, JC, Kade, and Max. 

WORKSHOP SESSION #1 (attend one workshop)

APOLOGY, RECONCILIATION AND REUNIFICATION: SHOULD SEX OFFENDERS REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES?

David G. Heffler, Ph.D., LMHC, Forensic Specialist, Forensic Mental Health Counseling of WNY, PLLC

Over the past twenty years the provision of sexual offender treatment has evolved considerably. A service that was once offered solely by corrections staff, is now a clinical service. During this same time, research on sexual offending has become more sophisticated and reliable. As a result, methodologies and practices once generally supported by the treatment community are under challenge. One of those practices involves the question of offender reunification with family. This seminar will discuss existing practices and their rationale as well as the potential risks and benefits of offender apology, reconciliation, and reunification.

I TAKE IT BACK

Victor Vieth, Director National Child Protection Training Center

Children recant for a number of reasons. If prosecutors routinely dismiss cases involving recanting victims, these children and other children may not be safe. If children do not disclose having been sexually abused, they may not be able to overcome the trauma of the abuse. Furthermore, child sexual abusers may take the threat of prosecution less seriously.

This presentation will show a number of interventions that can be made to prevent recantation and to minimize its effects. Victims of sexual abuse should have advocates appointed for them early in the proceedings to provide them with early and continual support. Both children and abusers should receive mental health treatment directly following disclosure as another source of support for the children. Finally, judicial changes should take place so the experience of testifying and gathering evidence is less traumatic for the children.

(In cooperation with the Monroe County Bar Association, this workshop will qualify for 1.0 CLE credit in Practice Management.)

LETHAL WEAPON – THE MEDIA & OUR CHILDREN

Pam Herendeen, DNP, PNP-B.C, Golisano Children’s Hospital REACH Program

The media is one of the most significant and unrecognized influences on our children’s growth and development. This presentation will discuss the negative effects of the media on children’s health and behavior. Attendees will also learn the strategies to assist parents and children in effectively managing media exposure.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SYSTEM – A MANDATED REPORTERS PERSPECTIVE

Pat Coury-Doniger, FNPC, Center for Health & Behavioral Training, University of Rochester
Paula Jarquin, Supervisor, Monroe County Child Protective Services

Mandated reporters to CPS are often frustrated about many issues when it comes to the child abuse reporting system: What really is child abuse? Why was my referral not taken? What can I do if a referral is not taken? What questions do I ask a child I think might be abused? Those are a few of the many questions discussed in this workshop which will be presented by a mandated reporter. The CPS Hotline supervisor will also be there to provide guidance and information during this presentation.

WORKSHOP SESSION #2 (attend one workshop)

ADOLESCENT SEXUAL ABUSERS: DISTINCTIONS AMONG ABUSERS. ARE THEY TOMORROW’S ADULT OFFENDERS?

David G. Heffler, Ph.D., LMHC, Forensic Specialist, Forensic Mental Health Counseling of WNY, PLLC

Historically, mental health treatment of children and adolescents has taken a back seat to adult treatment. Assessment and management of adolescent sexual abusers has been no different. As the research and practices for treatment of adult sexual offenders immerged, these models were often super-imposed in the treatment of adolescents. Essentially, they were perceived to be “budding” adult offenders. More recent research has demonstrated this may not be accurate. This seminar will address distinctions among adolescent offenders and appropriate corresponding treatment/management methodologies.

THE EFFECTS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT ON DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

Sheree Toth, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester

Information on the prevalence of maltreatment and definitional considerations will be presented. The effects of maltreatment on development will be described. Research on effective interventions will be discussed. Attendees will learn about the effects of child maltreatment on the course of development. Effective interventions will be understood.

KEEPING UP WITH CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILD VICTIMIZATION

Ed Suk, MSW, LCSW-R, Executive Director, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NY Branch

Attendees of this workshop will learn about the rapidly changing face of technology related to computers, cell phones, personal computing devices and technology advances to come. They will also learn about safety education programming for children, adults, educators and professionals through the Netsmartz Workshop of NCMEC.

PREPARING A CHILD FOR THE COURT PROCESS: A TEAM APPROACH

Kristina Karle, Esq., Bureau Chief of the Domestic Violence / Child Abuse Bureau, Monroe County District Attorney’s Office

Once a credible disclosure of sexual or physical abuse is made, the criminal family court process is triggered. It is the obligation of the multi-disciplinary team to prepare the child for the court process. The purpose of this presentation is to give hands-on, practical advice and techniques. These techniques are valuable for social workers, therapists, lawyers, law enforcement, doctors, victim advocates, as well as all professionals involved in the court process. These techniques are essential in order to ensure that a child understands the court process, understands her rights as a victim, and understands how to confidently relay the abuse to the trier-of-fact.

WORKSHOP SESSION #3 (attend one workshop)

The ABC’S OF a CAC (Child Advocacy Center)

Mary Whittier, Executive Director, Bivona Child Advocacy Center
Bob Barnes, Supervisor, Monroe County Child Protective Services
Kimberly Cline, Psy.D., Linden Oaks Sexual Abuse Treatment Services
Danielle Thomas-Taylor, MD, MPH, Golisano Children’s Hospital REACH Program

Learn about the multi-disciplinary approach to child sexual abuse in this community and how the Bivona Child Advocacy Center helps children begin their journey of healing. A panel of team members will discuss the benefits of collaboration in the investigation and treatment of child abuse.

CONTROLLED PHONE CALLS – A VALUABLE INVESTIGATIVE TOOL

Kevin Revere, Law Enforcement Coordinator, Oneida County Child Advocacy Center

Overview of New York State laws regarding the use of controlled phone calls, discussion of equipment, investigative steps, presentation and examination of actual calls. Attendees will become familiar with the advantages of using controlled phone calls to assist in child sexual abuse investigations, and their impact on case outcomes.

KEEPING THE FAITH: A CALL FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FAITH AND CHILD PROTECTIVE COMMUNITIES

Victor Vieth, Director National Child Protection Training Center

In this presentation, attendees will learn the dynamics that cause friction between the faith and child protection communities, the cost of the friction, and concrete strategies for building bridges between these communities. At the core of this dilemma is that both groups know far too little about the work of the other. The sad consequence of the “unknown” is that children are more likely to fall through the cracks in our faith and child protective communities.

For a PDF schedule of the day, click here.

For more information about the Summit, or to be added to our Summit mailing list, please contact Lindsay Bureaux, Special Events Manager at (585) 935-7838 or at lbureauxbivonacac [dot] org

For general information about Bivona, please call (585) 935-7800 or email KidsCountBivonaCAC [dot] org.