ROCHESTER, NEW YORK- April 24, 2009

The Bivona Child Advocacy Center announces its first Bivona Summit on Child Abuse, a one-day conference for professionals who work with children to learn more about child sexual and physical abuse issues.

The Bivona Summit on Child Abuse will be held Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel & Conference Center. The event marks the conclusion of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and is partially sponsored by Monroe Plan for Medical Care.

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The Bivona Child Advocacy Center, a non-profit agency that offers comprehensive services to children and families who have been sexually or physically abused, saw a pressing need to build awareness and education about child sexual abuse.

“The Bivona Child Advocacy Center is a key partner and resource in our fight against those who abuse our children. The Summit on Child Abuse will help raise awareness in the community regarding the prevalence and devastating consequences of child abuse,” says Michael C. Green, Monroe County District Attorney, who will give remarks at the Summit.” It also will ensure that we are doing everything we can to attack this serious problem in the most effective way possible, holding abusers accountable and helping our children.”

The Summit is also an opportunity for professionals to learn about the resources the Bivona Child Advocacy Center offers children and families devastated by the effects of abuse. More than 1,000 children from Greater Rochester are helped at Bivona Child Advocacy Center each year.

Law enforcement, attorneys and judges, mental health professionals, advocates, the pediatric medical community, social workers, school personnel and day care providers are the types of professionals who will attend. The Summit’s has surpassed its initial goal for 200-250 attendees; over 330 people from all over New York State, as far away as Plattsburg, are registered.

Victor Vieth, Esq., will be presenting the keynote address. Vieth is a nationally recognized child abuse expert and Director of the National Child Protection Training Center (http://www.ncptc.org).  Vieth’s presentation will discuss obstacles that prevent the end of child abuse, and changes taking place in the child protection system which will enable significant reduction, and possible elimination of child abuse within the next three generations

“As both County Executive and a mother, I am thankful that the Bivona Child Advocacy Center is taking an active approach to child abuse prevention,” says Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive, who will also make remarks at the Summit. “Through the Bivona Summit on Child Abuse, local residents who help children will be given the necessary tools and resources to have an even greater impact in combating child abuse and protecting Monroe County’s future generations.”

A welcome ceremony, beginning at 8:30 a.m., will include comments from Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks District Attorney, Michael C. Green and Monroe County Sheriff, Patrick M. O’Flynn. In addition, Bivona Child Advocacy Center will unveil its new marketing/branding materials, including a new logo, tagline, agency brochure and website, which more clearly represent and communicate the collaboration and partnerships necessary to operate the organization.

At the conclusion of the Summit, from 4:30-6:00 pm., participants are invited to tour the offices of the Bivona Child Advocacy Center and enjoy a wine tasting reception courtesy of Casa Larga Vineyards.

“We have been involved with the center since its inception,” adds Monroe County Sheriff Patrick M. O’Flynn. “It’s a tremendous asset to young victims and a one-stop center coordinating services for the police, child protective services, medical personnel, counselors and prosecutors thus preventing the victim from reliving the tragedy many times over. Its effectiveness has been proven by a great track record.”

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About Bivona Child Advocacy Center

Bivona Child Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization, is a safe, welcoming place where children who have been sexually or physically abused can begin their journey to recovery. Bivona staff facilitate an under-one-roof collaboration of social and legal agencies to protect, treat and counsel child victims and their families, and to investigate and prosecute the abusers. Bivona provides a compassionate, efficient, cost-effective infrastructure for child abuse intervention.

Bivona Child Advocacy Center is the only agency in the Greater Rochester community to provide these services. More than 1,000 children are helped at the Center each year. Although Bivona receives some government funding, the majority of its support comes from donors. Bivona Child Advocacy Center is an accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance (nca-online.org). The Bivona Child Advocacy Center has quickly become a resource to the community for all issues related to child sexual abuse. For more information, please visit www.BivonaCAC.org.
 

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