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Keep Kids Safe

Conference 2024

FREE

August 21-22, 2024

Augusta, ME 04330

Penney Memorial United Baptist Church
393 Water St

Two Day Sexual Abuse Prevention Conference for Faith Communities

Join us as experts in child sexual abuse prevention within faith-based organizations provide insight into the reality and impact of child sexual abuse — it’s a widespread problem affecting 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys.

During this conference, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify signs of sexual abuse in children, so you or church staff can intervene
  • Talk to a child you suspect is being abused
  • Report abuse to recommended agencies if you’re a mandated reporter
  • Conduct comprehensive background checks on any staff working with children
  • Work with & counsel victims that have already been abused

Lunch will be provided both days as well as coffee and snacks in the morning! All free of charge!

Agenda & Times: (Eastern Time)

  • Day 1
    • 8:00-8:15 AM - Registration
    • 8:15-8:20 AM– Welcome: Catherine Wilson, Executive Director, Stop Trafficking US
    • 8:20-8:30 AM – Welcome and Introductions – Victor Vieth, J.D., M.A., Chief Program Officer and Director Center for Faith and Child Protection, Zero Abuse Project
    • 8:30-10:00 AM - When Faith Hurts: Recognizing and responding to the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of child abuse.
    • 10:00-10:15 AM – Break
    • 10:15-12:00 PM – When Faith Hurts (cont)
    • 12:00-1:00 PM – Lunch
    • 1:00-2:00 PM – When Faith Hurts (cont)
    • 2:00-2:15 PM – Break
    • 2:15-3:45 PM – Small Group Exercises – Addressing Spiritual Injuries
    • 3:45-5:00 PM – Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behaviors of Children

    This workshop details normal and abnormal sexual behaviors of youth and offers concrete recommendations for treatment and other services for children with sexual behavior problems. How a child who has offended against others can be integrated back into a family or group setting, and when, will also be discussed.

Agenda & Times: (Eastern Time)

  • Day 2
    • 8:30-10:00 AM – From Sticks to Flowers: Working with Parents Justifying Corporal Punishment with Scripture
    • 10:00-10:15 AM – Break
    • 10:15-11:45 AM – Responding to a Crisis
    • 11:45-12:00 PM – Q & A, Discussion, Wrap-Up
    • 12:00-1:00PM - Lunch

Meet the Guest Speakers

Victor Vieth, JD, MA, is the Chief Program Officer for Education & Research for Zero Abuse Project. He is a former child abuse prosecutor who received national recognition for his work addressing child abuse in rural communities. He went on to serve as Director of the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse. Mr. Vieth spearheaded the implementation of 22 state and international forensic interviewing courses. Mr. Vieth was also instrumental in developing Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) undergraduate and graduate programs now implemented in more than 90 colleges, universities, law schools, medical schools and seminaries in 30 states.

Mr. Vieth is a founding board member of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) as well as Sacred Spaces, which partners with Jewish institutions to prevent and respond to violence across the lifespan. Mr. Vieth developed the concept of Children’s Advocacy Center Chaplains and has assisted six accredited CACs in four states implement chaplaincy programs to address the spiritual needs of survivors of abuse. He also designed and teaches a seminary course on child abuse at Lutheran seminaries in Iowa and Pennsylvania.

Mr. Vieth has published numerous scholarly articles related to the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. He is the author of “Unto the Third Generation,” an initiative outlining the necessary steps to eliminate child abuse in the United States within three generations. Mr. Vieth is also a prolific trainer who has taught thousands of child protection professionals from all 50 states and numerous countries.

Mr. Vieth has received numerous awards including the Victim Rights Legend Award from the United States Department of Justice, the Pro Humanitate Award from the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare, the Heritage Service Award from the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence (NPEIV), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma (IVAT).

Mr. Vieth has served on the board of directors of the National Children’s Alliance, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, and is past president and board chair of the Academy on Violence & Abuse (AVA).

Mr.Vieth holds degrees from Winona State University, Hamline University School of Law, and Wartburg Theological Seminary. His seminary thesis received highest honors and was later published as a book entitled On this Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Words of Jesus.

Boz Tchividjian is the sole shareholder of BozLaw PA located in DeLand. An experienced litigator who has handled hundreds of civil and criminal cases, Boz has dedicated his career to empowering survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment to step forward and seek justice against perpetrators and the institutions legally responsible for their trauma. His current practice focuses almost exclusively on representing child and adult abuse survivors throughout the country. Prior to becoming a civil litigator, Boz served as an Assistant State Attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida, where he created the first Sex Crimes Division at the Office of the State Attorney and served as Division Chief.

As the grandson of the late Dr. Billy Graham, Boz has a unique knowledge and understanding of the common and uncommon institutional and cultural dynamics that are prevalent within so many protestant faith communities. Boz uses this knowledge to the benefit of his clients when working to ensure that such institutions are held legally accountable for the abuses his clients have suffered.

Boz is also the Founder and former Executive Director of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), an internationally recognized non-profit organization that equips faith-based organizations with the tools they need to correctly respond to allegations of sexual abuse and educates them on how to create safeguards to protect children and other vulnerable people within their communities. As a renowned expert on abuse, particularly within faith communities, Boz has been widely quoted in media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and NBC Nightly News. Boz is the co-author of The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide, a handbook for faith based non-profit organizations looking to improve their child safeguarding policies.

Catherine Ann Wilson, Founder & Executive Director, Stop Trafficking US.

Abused repeatedly from first grade on for nearly 20 years of her life, Catherine spent most of her years from ages 12-17 living on the street. By age 15, she was lured into sex trafficking. After finding her own freedom from suffering and thriving in her late 40s, she founded Stop Trafficking US. The organization’s goal is to stop grown-ups from sexually exploiting children. Stop Trafficking US tenaciously works to reach that goal by educating the community through a variety of strategic educational means, offering hope for victims and resources for first responders, faith-based groups, and schools. All resources are free of charge to all participants.

We thank our community partners

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