• Topic: Transforming Treatment: Symptoms, Substances, and Axis IV
  
  
• Presenters:
  
  
  • Steve Mayberg, MD. - CA Dept. of Mental Health Director, &
  • Michael Cunningham - CA Dept. of Alchol & Drug Chief Deputy Director -
    
    participated in a panel presentation on effective treatment for people with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse symptoms
  
  
  
  • J. Randall Noblitt, Ph.D., Ann Jennings Ph.D., & Susan Curry MFT -
    presented evidence-based innovative approaches to treatment that can lead to improved outcomes, wellness, and recovery while providing social and cost savings
  
  
  

• Topic: RITUAL ABUSE in the 21st CENTURY
  
  
• Keynote Speaker:
  
  
  • Randy Noblitt, Ph.D. -
    
    What is ritual abuse? How does it happen? What is the evidence? How do survivors heal?
    
    Ritual Abuse in the 21st Century, edited by clinical psychologist Randy Noblitt Ph.D. and Pamela Perskin Noblitt, is a sweeping overview of the subject of ritual abuse by an international, multi-disciplinary team of writers, researchers, therapists and survivors.
    
    Dr. Noblitt discussed the evidence of ritual abuse, international research data from over 1,500 survivors, efforts to discredit allegations made by survivors, and the psychological, behavioral and physical devastation left by such abuse.
  
  
  
  
• Nw video films presented during lunchtime:
  
  
• Afternoon Panels: Author-Survivors of ritual abuse focused discussion on pathways to wellness and recovery -
  
  
  • Pamela Noblitt, co-author with Dr. Noblitt of Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology and Recent Discovery in Contemporary America
  
  
  • Jeanne Adams, author of Drawn Swords
  
  
  • Anne Davis, author of Hell Minus One
    

• networking activities
• letter-writing
• survivor quilts displayed

• Topic: Innovative Treatment: A Paradigm Shift
  
  
• Keynote Speakers:
  
  
  • Charles Whitfield, M.D. -
    psychiatrist & author on the subject of mental health, with an innovative & contemporary approach to wellness & recovery
    
    
  • Steve Mayberg, MD. - CA Dept. of Mental Health Director
  
  
  
  • Michael Cunningham - CA Dept. of Alchol & Drug Chief Deputy Director
  
  
  
  • J. Randall Noblitt, Ph.D., Wanda Karriker, Ph.D., & Pam Perskin - author/psychologists
  
  
  
• Lunchtime viewing of new videos:
  "Stories of Survival: Domestic Violence & Child Custody"
  "Family Court Crisis: Our Children at Risk"
  

• Topic: INCEST: The Ultimate Betrayal
  
  
• Keynote Speakers:
  
  
  • Jessica Hendra -
    actress/author ("Dejar" in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) discussed her books & exposure of her own family's secrets.
    
    
  • Wanda Karriker, Ph.D. - Research on Extreme Abuse
  
  
  
• Lunchtime viewing of new video films:
  "Stories of Survival: Domestic Violence & Child Custody"
  "Family Court Crisis: Our Children at Risk"
  
  
• Afternoon Panels:
  
  
  • Courageous Kids/Protective Parents -
    Panel Chair: Karen Anderson, Director of CA Protective Parents Association
    
    
  • Are Incest Victims Safer Since the "Incest Exception" was Removed? -
    Panel: Law Enforcement & Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Agencies -
    
    • Seth Goldstein, Child Abuse Forensic Institute
      
    • Jim Provenza, Special Assistant DA for LA District Attorneys Association
      
    • Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center (SADVC)
      
    • Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE)
      
    • Actress Allison Arngrim (“Nellie” in Little House on the Prairie) representing the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT)
      
    • Betsy Salkind, comedian/activist discussing PROTECT Project accomplishments
      
      
  • Additional activities:
    • Carolyn Lehman will receive an award for her book Strong At Heart
      
      
    • Music that "soothes as it heals" by International recording artist Karie Hillery
      
      
    • networking activities
    • letter-writing
    • survivor quilts displayed
    
    
    SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008 7:30 pm BOOK SIGNING:
    A book signing event was held at the Avid Reader, 617 Second Street in Davis with Jessica Hendra and Carolyn Lehman. More information will be available at www.avidreaderbooks.com.
    
    
  THIRTEENTH ANNUAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
  CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS CONFERENCE
  
  Co-sponsored by the Incest Survivors Speakers' Bureau, California Protective Parents Association &
  Hearts Home Foundation
  
  Saturday, April 7, 2007, 9:30am - 5:00pm
  At the Veterans' Memorial Center in Davis, CA
  
  This conference was offered at no-cost and no-registration. Continuing education units were offered.
  
  
  • Topic: The Abuse Survivor Movement & the Backlash
    
    
  • Keynote Speakers:
    
    
    • James Randall Noblitt, Ph.D. & Pamela Perskin -
      authors of Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology, & Recent Discovery in Contemporary America
      
      They discussed the “False Memory Syndrome” and its junior version “Parental Alienation Syndrome,” along with the lukewarm media attention to child abuse and how this impacts reporting/litigating child abuse cases.
      
      
  • Lunchtime viewing of the video:
    "The Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma"
    
    
  • Afternoon Panels:
    
    
    • Child Abuse or Alienation? You Be the Judge -
      Panel Chair: Karen Anderson, Executive Director of CA Protective Parents Association
      
      
    • The Safe Child Coalition: Proposed Solutions -
      Panel Chair: Meera Fox, Executive Director of Child Abuse Solutions, Inc.
      
      
  • Additional activities:
    • Courageous Kids Pizza Party Celebration! 5-7:00 pm
      Music by Dennis, Peter, & friends
      
    • networking activities
    • letter-writing
    • survivor quilts displayed
    
    
  CEU and MCLE credits were offered through Alliant University's Institute of Violence, Abuse and Trauma (formerly Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute).
  
  
  * * *   There was also a special invitation for participation in:    * * *
  
  

  A DAY WITH CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS
  Friday April 6, 2007, 10:30am-3:00pm

  
  
  

  OTHER EVENTS

  A DAY WITH CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS
  
  Friday April 6, 2007
  10:30am to 3:00pm
  
  
  Safe Child Coalition members met with Legislators and their aides at the California State Capitol, 10th and L Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814. Children placed with abusers by Family Court were invited to give victim impact statements.
  
  The public was invited to briefly meet with CA Senator and Assembly Member (or the aides who specialize in domestic violence and child abuse issues) in their district offices with their one-page case summaries ready. Legislators need to know that Family Court endangers children. You can find your Legislator at www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
  
  
  
  June 14-16, 2007: San Francisco, CA
  September 13-15, 2007: San Diego, CA
  
  CONDUCTING CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS
  IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD
  
  Training content was designed for and Continuing Education Credits and were available to all psychologists, counselors, nurses, LCSWs and attorneys. These trainings satisfy requirements for custody evaluator training [CA Rules of Court #5.225 and 5.230].
  
  
  8-hour Annual Advanced Update
  Child Custody Evaluator Training:
  Saturday 8am to 5:30pm
  June 16 in San Francisco; Sept 15 in San Diego
  
  4-hour Annual Update Domestic Violence Training:
  Friday 1:30 to 5:00pm
  June 15 in San Francisco; Sept 14 in San Diego
  
  20-hour Initial Child Custody Evaluator Training
  Thursday - Saturday 8am to 5:30pm
  June 14-16 in San Francisco; Sept 13-15 in San Diego
  
  Presented by Child Abuse Solutions, Inc., in collaboration with Alliant International University’s Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT).
  
  For more information on Conducting Child Custody Evaluations Training, please call 510- 521-0438 or visit www.childabusesolutions.com
  
  
  

• Topic: The Healing Power of Words
  
  
• Keynote Speakers:
  
  
  • Carolyn Lehman, Award Winning Author - her newest book: Strong at the Heart, helps teens heal from sexual abuse
    
    
  • Molly Fisk, Award Winning Poet
    
    
• Lunchtime viewing of the PBS Documentary:
  "Breaking the Silence: Children’s Stories"
  
  
• Afternoon Panels:
  
  
  • Protective Parents & Courageous Kids Speak Out
    
    
  • How to Make Change Happen
    
    
    • Presentations by coalition members who lobbied successfully to remove the CA incest exception. Invitee: CA Senator Jim Battin, author of SB 33 The Miracle Bill
      
      
    • Legislative update and positive actions for CA protective parents
      
      
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display
  
  

• Introductions by:
  
  
  • Kathryn Jett, Director of CA Dept. of Alcohol & Drug Programs, &
    
    
  • Steve Mayberg, PhD, Director of CA Dept. of Mental Health
    
    
• Topic: Counterintuitive Approaches to Treatment
  Innovative treatment methods for addressing complex psychological/social/physiological problems
  
  
• Steve Frankel, JD, PhD.
  
  
• Sally Wood, PhD
  

• Topic: The Link Between Childhood Obesity & Teenage Substance Abuse
  
  
• Keynote Speaker: Karen Hawthorne, Ph.D.
  
  
• Optional: Danielle Duperette, Ph.D. - Trauma release technique
  
  
• ACE Study: Childhood Trauma & Adult Health discussion
  
  
• Effective action workshop - Melissa Knight & Betsy Salkind
  
  
• Eat, Drink & Be Numb - panel & discussion co-chaired by Andrea Ransdall, M.S., R.D. & Karen Hawthorne, Ph.D.
  
  
• Closing music by Andrea Ransdall & Rose
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Child Custody Scandal Cases:
  What's Happening in Family Court?
  
  
  • Karen Anderson, Director, CA Protective Parents Assoc.
    
    
  • Video-Small Justice: Little Justice in America's Family Courts
    
    
  • Courageous Kids Network & presentations of awards
    
    
  • Karen Anderson/Geri Stahly - workshop What Next?
    
    

• Trauma and Recovery: Transforming Treatment
  for people with co-occurring disorders
  
  
  • Kathryn Jett, Director, Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs
    
    
  • Steve Mayberg, Ph.D., Director , Department of Mental Health
    
    
  • Presenter: Elke Rechberger, Ph.D.
    
    

CONCURRENT ASSOCIATE TRAININGS:

• Update of legislation regarding domestic violence
  
  
• Update of current research and literature particularly related to the impact of exposure to domestic violence on children
  
  
• Review of national guidelines for judges in assessing custody evaluations in cases with domestic violence
  
  
• Assessment tools, resources, and information appropriate for evaluations
  
  
• Case studies
  
  
• New trends in the field of domestic violence and batterer treatment
  
  
• Ethical issues & guidelines
  
  

• Megan Lehmer, Ph.D., President, San Francisco Psychological Association
  
  
• Meera Fox, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Solutions, Inc
  
  
• Geraldine Butts Stahly, Ph.D., Cal State University, San Bernardino
  
  
• Seth Goldstein, Esq., Executive Director, Child Abuse Forensic Institute
  
  
• Karen Hawthorne, Ph.D., CA School of Professional Psychology, Alliant IU
  
  

• Topic: Men in Robes
  
  
• Keynote Speaker: Davis Clohessy, President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
  • Presentation on abuse by Catholic priests
  
  
• Melissa Knight, Director Legislative Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse
  
  
• Jeanne Adams, Director of Mr. Light & Associates; and
  
• Deborah Parker
  • Presentation on ritual abuse
  
  
• Karen Anderson, Director CA Protective Parents Association and the Courageous Kids Network
  • presention on the effects on children who are placed with their identified perpetrators by family court
  
  
• Closing music by Andrea Ransdall, Niid, and Rose
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Topic: Trauma and Recovery from Ritual/Sexual Abuse
  • Jeanne Adams, Director of Mr. Light and Associates and Deborah Parker
  • Arlton Jackson MFT, specialist in counseling women victims of childhood sexual abuse
  • Survivor panel: Jeanne, Deborah, Connie, Niid, Jo

• Topic: Which Court Best Protects Sexually Abused Children? The Answer May Surprise You
  
  
• Opening address by Laurie Jones, JD, MBA and presentation of award to Cameron Handley, director of the Yolo County Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center and to Boston Phoenix investigative reporter Kristen Lombardi for her expose of the priest sex abuse and family court scandals

• Attorney Keith Perkins
  • Civil tort litigator from Never Again Foundation
  
  
• Nationally-known attorneys:
  Richard Ducote & Seth Goldstein
  • discussed the failure of family & criminal courts to protect sexually abused children, & their $135 million lawsuit on behalf of a now adult woman against court-appointees whom she believes deliberately refused to protect her from child physical abuse.
  
  
• Professor Geraldine Stahly, PhD
  • discussed findings from her national survey of parents who are attempting to protect their children from sexual abuse.
  
  
• Special guest Kristen Lombardi, Boston Phoenix reporter
  • whose work on the priest-abuse crisis in Boston began in March 2001 and continued until Cardinal Law resigned in December 2002. She then began coverage of the family court scandal.
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Garland Waller's award-winning film SMALL JUSTICE, about the problems in family courts, at the Davis Public Library: 14th & B Streets, Davis, CA

• Topic: Trauma And Recovery- Medical Consequences & Healing From Adverse Childhood Experiences
  
  
• Opening address by moderator Laurie Jones, JD, MBA and Shannon Smith MD



• Keynote Speaker: Vincent Felitti, MD
  • Chief of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA
  • Researcher on the long-term medical consequences of childhood sexual abuse & other forms of adverse childhood experiences
  
  
• Speakers and Discussion Panel:
  • Survivors of severe childhood abuse describing their healing process & it's effect on their physical & emotional health
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Topic: Are Children's Reports of Sexual Abuse Minimized or Ignored If So, Why?
  
  
• Opening address by Bud Wolf, Davis Rotary Club and moderator Laurie Jones, JD, MBA



• Speakers:
  
  • Judith Reisman, PhD
    • author of Kinsley: Crimes and Consequences
    • described the effects of Alfred Kinsley's fraudulent research on society and law
    
    
  • Robert Geffner, PhD
    • author
    • judicial educator
    • expert witness & private evaluator of court evaluations
    • Director of Family Violence & Sexual Assualt Institute, San Diego, CA
    • discussed legal issues in child sex abuse cases
    
    
• Additional Speakers:
  
  • Mia White, PhD
  • Alanna Krause, teen who ran from custodian father
  • Sheryl Patterson, Attorney
  
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Topic: Child Sexual Abuse and Professional Ethics
  
  
• Opening address by moderator Laurie Jones, JD, MBA



• Keynote Speaker: Prof. John E. Myers, McGeorge Law School
  • national expert on evidence in child sex abuse cases
  • author of law textbook & "A Mother's Nightmare, Incest"
  • family law court impact on protecting sexually abused children
  
  
• Speakers and Discussion Panel:
  • Neil Brick - memory recovery
  • Karen Anderson - mother whose children are in full custody of man they state molested them
  • Linda Barnard,PhD - custody evaluator and expert witness in domestic violence cases
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Topic: The Hidden Holocaust, from Horror to Healing: Ritual Abuse and it's after-effects
  
  
• Opening address by Laurie Jones, JD, MBA
  
  
• Speakers:
  
  • Molly Fisk, editor and award winning poet
  • Pastor Jim Kitchens, Davis Community Church
  • Paul Chrissy, Solano County Child Abuse Prevention Council
  
  
• Additional activities:
  • networking activities
  • letter-writing
  • survivor quilts on display

• Topic: An Ounce of Prevention
  
  
• Opening address by moderator Laurie Jones, JD, MBA



• Keynote Speaker: Syrus Devers, Legislative Aide to Legislator Sheila Kuehl
  
  • presentation on recent California laws designed to better protect children
  
  
• Sharon Ito, special guest speaker from Channel 10
  • presentation on Prevention by Education Through the Media, and her experiences producing the story of twin boys who were placed in the custody of their convicted sex offender father
  
  
• Panel presentation on prevention of child abuse by:
  • Jean Jordan from Yolo County Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center
  • Mary Jo Bryan from Yolo Connections
  • Staci Haines from San Francisco Generation Five, Stopping Incest in Five Generations
  • Linda Kimura from Sacramento Sutter Women's & Children's Services Creating Healthy Environments for Children (CHEC)
  
  
• Survivor panel by:
  • Karla Grant; Armand Lareau; & Sandy Dubois
  
  
• Protective parent panel by:
  • Kathy Justi; Teresa Gardiner; and Robin Yeamans
  
  
• Focus groups on how to prevent child sexual abuse
  
  
• Music by the Sacramento Women's Chorus

• Topic: Personal Recovery; Community Recovery
  
  
• Opening address by Davis Mayor Lois Wolk and moderator Laurie Jones, JD, MBA
  
  
• Speakers:
  
  • Sally Wood, Ph.D.
    • presentation on What is Trauma Therapy and How Can it Help?
    
    
  • Kathy Dreyer
    • presentation on Healing from Severe Trauma
  
  
• Panel presentation by:
  • Randy Tryon, Cache Creek Lodge
  • Judy Tischer, Yolo County Sexual Assaualt & Domestic Violence Center
  • Tamara Navarro, Ph.D., Sierra Children's Home
  
  
• Survivor panel by:
  • Kerry Leigh Ellison, educator & writer
  • Susanne McLennon, psychiatric technicial & legal advocate
  • Roz Beasley, protective mother
  
  
• Music by Susan C.

• Topic: The Body Remembers
  
  
• Opening address by Davis Mayor Dave Rosenberg, moderated by Laurie Jones, JD, MBA
  
  
• Speakers:
  
  • Shannon Smith, MD, Woodland Clinic Medical Group Family Practice physician
    • presentation on the physiological aftereffects of child sexual abuse
    
    
  • Cathy Neuhauser, Ph.D., Woodland Clinic Medical Group Psychotherapist
    • presentation on the psychological aftereffects of child sexual abuse
  
  
• Showing of the film True/Not True
  
  
• Survivor/Therapist panel
  
  
• Music by the Sacramento Women's Chorus

• Topic: It Takes a Whole Village to Raise a Child
  
  
• Opening address by Woodland Mayor Gary Sandy and moderator Andrea R.
  
  
• Keynote Speaker: Heidi Herzig
  • Survivor of childhood sexual abuse who successfully prosecuted her perpetrators
  
  
• Agency panel presentation by:
  • Woodland Police Department
  • Yolo County Sheriff's Department
  • Office of the District Attorney
  • Department of Social Services
  
  
• Showing of the film True/Not True
  
  
• Presentation by Patty Jiles
  • Survivor of childhood sexual abuse who was abused by a therapist and had a successful agency response to that crime
  
  
• Treatment resource panel presentation by speakers from:
  • The Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center
  • Progress Ranch
  • FamiliesFirst
  • Incest Survivors Anonymous
  
  

• Topic: Once Upon A Time
  
  
• Opening address by Davis Mayor Dave Rosenberg
  
  
• Therapist panel discussed signs & symptoms of sexual abuse, coordinated by:
  • Mick Rogers, LCSW
  • Yolo County Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center
  
  
• Survivor Panel presentation
• Father Bernie Bush
  • discussed the history and realities of ritual abuse
  
  
• the first survivor quilt was displayed

FUTURE CONFERENCES