Conference focus is on child abuse

Conference focus is on child abuse
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A Better Way 2018 conference will be at the Amish Country Theater and will focus on a proactive approach to preventing sexual abuse.

                        

“I think it’s going to be a new and refreshing way of looking at things,” said Candy L. Barr, program director at House of Samuel in Cambridge. “We’d like to talk about more gentle, encouraging, nurturing ways to parent and to help people understand what trauma does to children.”

Barr will be one of several speakers at A Better Way 2018 conference in Walnut Creek on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Amish Country Theater. The conference will focus on a proactive approach to preventing sexual abuse.

“The conference is for anyone who cares about protecting children from childhood sexual abuse,” said Hope Anne Dueck, founder of the sponsoring organization, A Better Way.

Founded last year, A Better Way is a nondenominational Christian-based organization dedicated to working to equip all the adults in a child’s life with the tools to recognize and address child sexual abuse, whether potential or actual.

“We want to serve as an educational resource,” Barr said, “and as a point of contact to help people find the resources they need to fulfill this important responsibility.”

The organization is geared toward reaching teachers, clergy, coaches, counselors, organizational leaders and anyone who lives or works with children.

The seeds of the organization were sown when Dueck was serving with a nonprofit that focused on helping women heal from sexual abuse.

“While that was a positive and fulfilling 10 years of my life,” she said, “it helped me realize the magnitude of the problem of childhood sexual abuse.”

Dueck started A Better Way as a private Facebook page. With the help and support of her husband and friends, the small group grew.

“As a mom including several adopted children who came from hard places,” Dueck has a deep concern for children and for fostering healthy parenting methods.

“I truly believe there is a better way to raise children,” Dueck said, “a way that equips parents and other adults to know how to protect and care well for children.”

The organization also is focused on supporting the professionals who are called upon to investigate cases of childhood sexual abuse.

The conference, A Better Way’s first such event, is for “anyone who cares about protecting children from childhood sexual abuse,” Dueck said. “Parents, teachers, pastors, grandparents, baby sitters, school staff, foster parents, law enforcement, anyone who has contact with children, we anticipate it being a very positive day, filled with support and networking.”

One of the goals of conference presenter Barr is to “shift the responsibility to prevent child abuse onto adults.”

Barr explained how the current model is often focused on teaching children what to be aware of and do. “We still want them to know those things, but we want parents to be able to see when things aren’t quite what they should be with their child,” Barr said. “We want churches to take appropriate steps to be sure they are safe and for victims to be believed.”

Barr’s husband also will speak. “The Barrs are both licensed social workers with many years experience working with children,” Dueck said. “They bring a wealth of not only personal experience to draw from, but many years of training in their field.”

Detective Dan Bobo from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office also will present at the conference. Bobo investigates cases of child abuse and is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The detective will be assisted by Knox County Job and Family Services social worker Danielle Swendal in answering questions posed prior to the conference.

Currently A Better Way is in the process of preparing to become a nonprofit. The organization welcomes anyone interested in becoming involved. “There is going to be a lot of work to do,” Dueck said.

The organization has many needs including seeking a lawyer interested in working pro-bono on setting up nonprofit status. A Better Way also is interested in finding organizations to host future seminars. Financial donations are always welcome as well.

“As our organization grows, there will definitely be many other volunteer opportunities,” Dueck said. “We encourage anyone who has interest in helping or connecting us with others who can help to get in touch with us.”

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Lunch will be provided with any interested attendees bringing pie or cobbler to share for dessert.

A donor is enabling A Better Way to offer the conference free so that all may attend. Donations from attendees who are able to contribute are appreciated.

Register for the conference online at www.abetterway.org, via email at registration@abetterway.org or call 330-775-7432.

Use the same email and phone for more information, to donate or to volunteer.

Foster parents should contact their licensing agency to determine if the conference may be counted toward education credits.

Find A Better Way on Facebook.

For those attending the conference, questions may be submitted ahead of time to Bobo by Facebook messenger or to the email address listed above. There also will be a Q-and-A period at the end of the conference for same-day questions to all speakers.

Amish Country Theater is located at 3149 OH-39, Walnut Creek.


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