Nova Southeastern University to Host Inaugural Conference on Child Abuse, Neglect & Human Trafficking

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FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – They are America’s most precious resource – our children. Unfortunately, far too often our children suffer abuse, neglect or, even worse, they are the victims of human trafficking.

In recognition of April being Child Abuse Prevention month, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is bringing the community together to discuss the issue of Child Protection. NSU’s Department of Justice and Human Services in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, which offers a robust master’s program in child protection, will be hosting the Inaugural Conference on Child Abuse, Neglect and Human Trafficking.

The event is scheduled for 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, April 15^th at NSU’s Don Taft University Center, 3301 College Ave. on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus. The conference is free and open to anyone who works in the child protection field – from law enforcement to social workers to health care providers to victim advocates. Those professionals interested in attending must register online (www.cahss.nova.edu/cpconference).

Working in the child abuse field can be difficult as they can see the worst of people perpetrated on the most vulnerable, our children. Some professions may not have the resources for continual training or to attend “mega conferences” related to their work, which is why NSU collaboratively made the decision to host an affordable conference in South Florida.

Along with providing networking opportunities for attendees, the event features several guest speakers, including:

• Lauren Book, M.S. Ed.D., is an internationally respected and renowned child advocate, former classroom teacher and best-selling author. She is also one of 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse living in the U.S. today. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of child sexual abuse is preventable through education and awareness, Ms. Book is using her personal experience as a vehicle to create change.
• Ronald Book, chairman of the Lauren’s Kids Foundation, is a specialist in governmental affairs and administrative law, with a Juris Doctorate degree from Tulane University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University, Ron served as Director and Special Counsel for the office of Cabinet and Legislative Affairs under former Florida Governor Bob Graham
• Detective Sgt. Joe Matthews, a 30-year veteran of the Miami Beach Police Department, is a former Miami-Dade County Police Officer of the Year, credited with solving the infamous Baby Lollipop homicide, among many others. He is the founder and CEO of DNA LifePrint, Inc., a corporate-sponsored, national child-safety program.
• Maribel Del Rio-Roberts, Psy.D., an Assistant Professor within the Department of Justice and Human Services, within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at NSU. She is also the Program Director for the Masters of Science in Developmental Disabilities Dr. Del Rio-Roberts teaches courses in developmental disabilities, child protection, recreational therapy, human services administration, and mental health counseling. Furthermore, she is a Licensed Florida Psychologist who specializes in the areas of developmental disabilities, clinical child psychology, infant mental health, and psychological evaluation.
• Elli Bray, Special Agent with the Miami Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been working violent crimes against children cases for the Miami Division of the FBI for the past three years. She has extensive experience in working child sex trafficking matters and was recently the case agent on a very successful, multi-defendant investigation which resulted in the conviction of six men, some of whom were gang members, who sexually exploited numerous minors in Broward County. SA Bray also serves as the Miami FBI Child Exploitation Task Force coordinator and oversees incoming cases and complaints involving child sex trafficking matters.
• Allison Golden, Psy.D, received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2013, and specializes in providing assessment and therapeutic services for children and families who have experienced various forms of trauma. In addition to her work clinically, Dr. Golden has worked on behalf of the Lauren’s Kids Foundation for approximately 5 years, providing education on numerous topics, to children, school personnel, medical and mental health professionals as well as child welfare workers and program administrators.
• Tara Zuckerman, Psy.D, is a licensed psychologist and South Florida native, who has spent her life and career helping others in the community. She has participated in various educational and career ventures, which have helped her to hone her clinical skill-set and knowledge. She specializes in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorders and has specialized training in the assessment and treatment of behavior related issues, as well as interventions specific to OCD. Dr. Zuckerman utilizes various techniques and interventions to assist her clients in achieving their therapeutic goals.

For more information, please contact Denise Crammer-Turner, Psy.D. at 954-262-5745 or via e-mail (crammerd@nova.edu).

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About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): Located in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional degree levels. A private, not-for-profit institution with more than 26,000 students, NSU has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while maintaining a presence online globally. For more than 50 years, NSU has been awarding degrees in a wide range of fields, while fostering groundbreaking research and an impactful commitment to community. Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is 1 of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private, not-for-profit institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education’s criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit www.nova.edu for more information about NSU and realizingpotential.nova.edu for more information on the largest fundraising campaign in NSU history.

About NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS):  The college offers stimulating undergraduate and graduate programs of study that challenge and engage students through inclusive excellence and academic innovation in teaching, scholarship, and community outreach.  A central theme in the college’s doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate programs is the understanding and betterment of human interrelations through multidisciplinary, multi-professional and multicultural perspectives.  CAHSS is also home to the Performing and Visual Arts Series, the Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, the Family Therapy Clinic, the Writing Center and Campus Diversity Dialogs.  In the course of addressing emergent challenges and complex social issues, our preeminent faculty and alumni build a creative bridge across theory, research, and practice in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and helping professions.  Our commitment to experiential learning and the scholarship of engagement provides our students with opportunities to become reflective scholars, creative artists, ethical practitioners, and skilled professionals.  Please visit cahss.nova.edu for more information.

March 23, 2016

Joe Donzelli | Office of Public Affairs
|954-262-2159 (office) | 954-661-4571 (cell)
jdonzelli@nova.edu | www.nova.edu