San Diego  September 27, 2007

IVAT’s 12th Annual Conference on
Violence, Abuse and Trauma is a Resounding Success!

Over 800 social workers, advocates, psychologist, physicians, judges, attorneys, researchers, policy makers, nurses, teachers, counselors, educators, survivors, health care providers and law enforcement personnel from around the world attended IVAT’s 12th annual International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma. The event, co-hosted by Children’s Institute, Inc., took place at the Town & Country Resort & Convention Center in San Diego, California from September 14-20.

With the theme of “Moving from Dialogue to Action” the conference covered issues of intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, sexual violence, elder abuse, trauma, youth violence, children exposed to violence, disabilities and abuse and substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.
 
The conference covered multi-ethnic and multicultural issues and perspectives, multidisciplinary and international perspectives, cutting-edge research, prevention strategies, policy changes, new methods, criminal justice and legal issues, healthcare approaches and intervention techniques. It also afforded attendees skill-building opportunities, informal discussions and conversations with experts and colleagues, networking and collaboration.

There were over 45 plenary speakers and ,oderators at the conference, including Alliant’s own outgoing CSPP Interim Dean and San Diego Director of Professional Training Steven Bucky; Eric Hickey, Systemwide Director of the Center for Forensic Studies; Anabel Bejarano, CSPP Assistant Professor and alumnus Manuel Rivera.

Also presenting were:

• Brian Gorlick, a member of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
• Alyce LaViolette, founder of Alternatives to Violence, one of the first programs in the country for spouse abusers
• Jacki McKinney, Director and co-founder of the National People for Color Consumer/Survivor Network
• Oliver Williams, Executive Director for the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community

The Opening Plenary & Ceremonies took place on Monday, September 17th. Alliant President Cox, Dr. Geffner and Stephen Ambrose of Children’s Institute Inc. welcomed the crowd. Plenary remarks were given by Daphna Edwards Ziman, Chairperson and Founder of Children Uniting Nations and Dr. Joseph White, black psychology pioneer and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at UC – Irvine, who spoke on “Peace at Home, In the Community, and Globally - Moving from Dialogue to Action.”

On Tuesday evening, attendees were given another chance to socialize and network at “Stand up and Dance,” a poolside dinner and silent auction.

During the conference, several art displays were set up to dramatize those who were absent from, but nonetheless the center of, the proceedings. The Clothesline Project, started in 1992 by women in Massachusetts as a memorial to the victims and survivors of domestic abuse, displayed shirts decorated by volunteer artists, family members and friends, each one creating a visual memorial to the casualties of the war against women.

Red animal figures or “Silent Companions” were also displayed alongside the clothesline. In 2005 Christine Hartline, director of Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s Animal Safehouse Program created the silhouettes of companion animals killed as a result of domestic violence. Tiny, silent cutouts memorialized kittens killed by being thrown against the wall and puppies killed to terrorize their mistresses.

Silent human victims were also represented. The Women’s Resource Center provided the Silent Witness exhibit – an international art project featuring silhouettes that represent men and women who have died at the hands of domestic violence, with a message of hope, help and healing. (Image shown is from a Canadian organization also working on the project.)

During the conference, from Monday to Wednesday, video sessions offered short films followed by discussions. Topics covered included preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, learning about the abused man, surviving sexual abuse and transition from prison to the outside world.

Keynote Panels and Presentations covered the following conference tracks:

1. Adult Survivors
2. At-Risk Youth
3. Child Maltreatment
4. Children Exposed to Violence
5. Co-Occurring Disorders
6. Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement and/or Corrections
7. Disability and Abuse
8. Elder Abuse and Neglect
9. Intimate Partner Violence
10. Legal Issues
11. Offenders
12. Sexual Assault
13. Trauma
14. Violence in the Community and World

On Wednesday, September 19th, attendees gathered in the ballroom for the closing plenary ceremony. They were addressed by special guest speaker David Clohessy, Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and William Glasser, MD, Founder of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. Clohessy and several of his brothers were abused by a priest and since the 1980’s he has been working with survivors of similar abuse.

In recognition of his work, he received IVAT’s Lifetime Achievement in Advocacy Award. The award was presented at the Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, September 18th. Although the conference officially ended at noon that same day, many stayed to attend post-conference sessions until 5 pm.

More about IVAT at www.ivatcenters.org