Education + Discussion = Prevention:  the best way!

Reykjavík, Iceland - May 24 ^– 25, 2007

 Registration 9500 ISK

 Conference Registration!

Assistance with conference registration please contact:  Þorbjörg Þráinsdóttir with Congress -  tobba@congress.is or call -354-585-3900 

The objective of the conference is to look at the ways the community can prevent the sexual abuse of children.  When faced with the discussion of sexual abuse, people are often limited to their emotional responses of outrage, fear, anger and denial.  We have a great responsibility as spokespeople to set a good example and discuss it openly.  We do that by drawing attention to the many ways we can learn about and prevent the sexual abuse of children.

Presenters:

David Burton, Ph.D, has worked in the field of sexual aggression for over 20 years, as a clinician working primarily with adolescents and children.

Dr. Burton has been published in several journals including Child Abuse and Neglect, Victims and Violence, Sexual Aggression, Evidenced Based Social Work, and Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Practice.  At Smith College School for Social Work, Dr. Burton teaches research and a cognitive behavioral theory and methods course. 

More about Burton

Robert E. Longo, MRC, LPC, Director of Clinical Services at Old Vineyard Youth Service, a Psychiatric Residential Hospital, in Winston-Salem, NC. He also serves as a consultant, educator, and author dedicated to sexual abuse prevention and treatment. In addition, Rob has written and published five books, nine workbooks, more than forty-five chapters and articles in the field of sexual abuse treatment.  He has specialized in the sexual abuse field, worked with victims and with juvenile and adult sex abusers in residential hospitals, prison, and community-based settings since 1978.  www.saperi.us  More on Longo

Shirley Paceley, trainer, counselor, author and the founder and director of Blue Tower Training Center, which provides training, consultation and resources on an international basis.  She has a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and 33 years experience working with persons with disabilities.  Shirley has received numerous awards for her work in sexual abuse prevention and intervention for persons with developmental disabilities.   www.maconresources.org/bluetower/default.aspx

More about Paceley

John C. Patterson, Senior Program Director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Washington, D.C.  He consults with nonprofit and community-serving organizations on risk management issues related to protection of vulnerable populations.  John offers policy guidance and develops training curricula and materials for the Center's nonprofit clients.  www.nonprofitrisk.org  More about Patterson

Prevention: the Best Way!

Thursday May 24, 2007

Schedule

Moderator:  Guðrún Ebba Ólafsdóttir, elementary school teacher.

9:00 am  Conference Opening 

Bragi Guðbrandsson, Head of The Government Agency for Child Protection in Iceland. www.bvs.is

9:15  Introduction of presenters, sponsors and goals of the conference 

Svava Björnsdóttir Brooks, Co-founder of Blátt Áfram.

9:30 - 10:30  Sexual abuse of children with disabilities  

Shirley Paceley, M.A.  A comprehensive approach to reducing risk of sexual abuse of persons with developmental disabilities.  According to research, it is believed that the incidence of sexual abuse is 50% higher for this population than for children with no disability. 

10:30 – 11:30 Risk assessment as prevention  

John C. Patterson, Senior Program Director.  Risk management in youth-serving organizations with a focus on child abuse prevention. Prevention involves dealing with the facts.  The fact is that sexual predators seek out employment with children. Introduction to risk assessment of organizations serving children and youth. Often small changes are all it takes to increase children’s safety.

11:30 – 12:00 The Icelandic Association of the Deaf

Valdís Ívarsdóttir.  Introduction of a recent study done on the prevalence of sexual abuse among the deaf.  Discussion of differences in the prevalence of sexual abuse among hearing and non-hearing children as well as prevention methods currently used by the organization.  

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 14:00 Young Offenders: "Shifting Paradigms: Moving Away from Tradition”

Robert E. Longo.  Over the past decade, and more so over the past five years, numerous changes have occurred within the field of treating youth with sexual behavior problems. Holistic/ecological models have emerged; recognition of developmental issues and brain development have challenged traditional treatment concepts and methods; the recognition of multiple pathways of offending and new typologies are being developed; co-morbid diagnosis and risk assessment now influence treatment. Traditional treatment models and Relapse Prevention for sexually abusive youth are no longer best practice.  This presentation will provide an overview of emerging issues and concerns related to working with this highly specialized population.

14:00 – 15:00 Research

David Burton MSW, Ph.D.  Evidenced Based Practice with Juvenile Sexual Abusers.  Research is important in today’s rapidly changing world in which there is an ever-growing demand for evidenced based practice.  David Burton, MSW, Ph.D., a professor and researcher-clinician at Smith College, will present a review of the implications of recent research indicating needed changes in treatment of sexual aggression by adolescents. These include a reemphasis on therapeutic alliance, changes in the complexity of treatment, recognition of the limits of memory and iatrogenic effects in treatment. Dr. Burton will also encourage attendees to get actively involved in the research process!

15:00 – 15:15 Break

15:15 – 15:30  Prevention training for staff and volunteers who work with children and adolescents:  Introduction to Stewards of Children.    

Svava Björnsdóttir Brooks.  Darkness to Light’s^® Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.  The program believes and teaches that child safety is an adult's job. Stewards of Children is designed for organizations that serve children and youth.  www.darknesstolight.org

15:30 – 17:00  Sponsor Presentations  (TBA)

Registration for the May 25 workshops with foreign lecturers will open at the end of day, May 24.  Lecturers will go into more depth on their respective topics and will be available for discussions.

Friday May 25, 2007

Schedule

8:30 am           Registration

9:00 –  12:00    Morning session

12:00 – 13:00  Lunch

13:00 – 14:30  Afternoon session

A.  Shirley Paceley, M.A.

“Honoring and empowering children with disabilities in the solution to the violence epidemic”.  A comprehensive approach to reducing the risk of the sexual abuse of persons with developmental disabilities.

B.  John C. Patterson, Senior Program Director  

Risk management in youth serving organizations with a focus on child abuse prevention.

C.  Robert E. Longo and Debbie Longo 

"Current Perspectives:  Working with Young People Who Sexually Abuse"  This workshop will provide an overview of current research and the literature addressing the treatment of children and adolescents with sexual behavior problems.  The focus will be on current thinking regarding treatment models (holistic, ecological, wellness and recovery, and resiliency), treatment modalities, and a focus on typologies, experiential and expressive therapies, working with shame and fairness, cognitive-behavioral treatment, cultural issues, developmental issues, learning styles, brain-based learning, co-morbid diagnosis, attachment issues, legal issues, and risk assessment/risk factors.

D.  David Burton M.S.W, Ph.D.

A Translation of Recent Research as Related to Treatment David Burton MSW, Ph.D., a professor and researcher-clinician at Smith College, has evaluated programs and published research studies with young and adult offenders for several years with several foci including etiological research, evaluation of the victim-to-victimizer hypothesis (the trauma experienced by adolescent sexual abusers), attachment, therapeutic alliance, personality and other areas. Dr. Burton will discuss these and related areas in terms of treatment implications.

14:45 – 16:30 Closing remarks and call for action!

Conference Sponsors:  Government CPA, Blátt Áfram (a non-profit, child sexual abuse prevention organization), The Icelandic Association of the Deaf, Reykjavík University, The Benefit Society of Children with Disabilities, National Association of Intellectual Disabilities, Stígamót Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence and 112, the emergency systems organization.

Conference Registration

Handouts and presentations will be available on a disk at the opening day of the conference.

For more information about the conference please contact Svava Björnsdóttir Brooks Svava@blattafram.is 

Please follow the General Information link for information about Iceland and accommodations.  General Information