11th Annual International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma is a Success for the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma

San Francisco – Oct. 2, 2006 -- Alliant International University, along with Children’s Institute Incorporated and The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT), hosted the 11th Annual International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, CA, September 14-19, 2006.

Guest speakers included Arun Gandhi, grandson of India’s legendary leader Mahatma Gandhi, New York Times writer Kurt Eichenwald, William Glaser, internationally recognized psychiatrist and author of Reality Therapy, and Angela Shelton, writer and documentary filmmaker. "Getting to meet fellow warriors in the movement is why I continue doing what I do,” said Shelton, whose multi-award winning documentary Searching for Angela Shelton has started a grassroots movement of healing for survivors of abuse. “The conference gives us all reason to never give up.”

This year’s conference included 15 tracks covering all aspects of violence, abuse and trauma including child custody evaluations, treatment of traumatized children and adults, children exposed to violence, and domestic violence within the African-American community. The theme for this year’s conference was “Moving from Dialogue into Action.”  Special tracks on human trafficking and commercial exploitation of children and on consumers and survivors were also included.

"We treasure the collaboration with other professionals and are grateful for the focus on protection of children,” said Connie Valentine, who is among the 1,500 professionals, students, activists and agencies that attended this year’s conference.

IVAT, which includes the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute, is a leader in the development and dissemination of strategies to eliminate violence, abuse and trauma. It was founded in July 2005 when the nationally acclaimed Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute (FVSAI) joined Alliant International University. It works closely with Alliant’s center for forensic studies and with other academic units to intersect with the University’s training, research and outreach missions.

The conference offered the opportunity for reporters to meet and talk to many Alliant University experts in the areas of violence and trauma. Dr. Robert Geffner, Founder and President of IVAT, Dr. Robert Jay Green and Dr. Milton Z. Brown are just some of the experts who were available to discuss topics such as domestic violence, child abuse, custody and parental alienation, criminal offenders and defendants and the death penalty, Gay and Lesbian individual and family issues, self-harm and self-mutilation.

The response to this year's conference was overwhelming. "I appreciated the plenary speakers and the depth and wisdom that was shared. The program pieces were exceptional," said presenter Dave Mathews. The conference also proved to be a great networking opportunity for many attendees. "I had a great time, saw a lot of colleagues I rarely get to see and met lots of new ones, said presenter Betsy Salkind. "Already collaborations have come out of it."

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