The REAL Academy CEO Kevin Marino and Director of Research Robert Wright, are releasing a new book exploring the NC child protection landscape and how to improve MDT collaboration via a novel theory known as ‘Administrative Tethering.’
The Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan, a project of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan, is now available. This resource delves into current research regarding interpersonal violence, providing a well-rounded look at topics including but not limited to historical context, intervention and treatment, policy discussion and case review.
This article provides a roadmap for child abuse prosecutors to use in drafting and delivering an opening statement or closing argument.
To protect children from confusing, even abusive practices while testifying, and to facilitate testimony that is fair and accurate, there are seven pre-trial motions prosecutors should file in most, if not every, case of child maltreatment.
Zero Abuse Project is pleased to announce that Marquette University Law School CAST Professor Lori Kornblum has been appointed by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to the Court of Appeals District II effective in January 2022. We want to congratulate Lori on this professional achievement. All of us at Zero Abuse are forever grateful for her dedication to CAST instruction in WI and
Zero Abuse Project is pleased to see the number of strong proposals contained in the U.S. National Blueprint to End Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents. We are particularly excited to see the strong recommendations to improve undergraduate and graduate training of future child protection professionals–a reform we have taken the lead on through our Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) initiative.
Zero Abuse Project is pleased to announce that the statewide evaluation of CAST programming in Mississippi has concluded and the results are available for review here. Highlights of the study show that: CAST learners possess better child abuse and neglect (CAN) knowledge and skills versus non-CAST learners. CAST certificate and minor programming shows the greatest improvement of key CAN competency
Assessment of Menlo Church’s Response to a Congregant Expressing an Attraction to Children In December of 2020, Zero Abuse Project entered into a contract with Menlo Church to assess whether a former volunteer, who had confided to having an attraction to children, had engaged in any acts of sexual misconduct. Zero Abuse interviewed 104 witnesses and reviewed or analyzed more
Zero Abuse Project is excited to announce the appointment of three new members to their Board of Directors: Michael Johnson (Detective Mike), Elizabeth Hobbs, and Michael Galantino. These new directors are dedicated to protecting children from abuse and sexual assault and have been imperative and influential in their support of the cause.
Shared with us from the University of Missouri-St. Louis As one of the few Child Advocacy Centers embedded within a university since 1997, Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis knew we wanted to align with the University of Missouri-St. Louis’s teaching mission in a meaningful way and leverage the expertise of working professionals in our center for UMSL students.
Researchers Ted Cross and Yu-Ling Chiu have analyzed the implementation of Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) in Mississippi and concluded the “CAST initiative has had considerable success and good prospects for enduring.” This is the 9th peer reviewed and published study on CAST. Read the study here.
The Academy on Violence and Abuse (AVA) is a worldwide organization dedicated to promoting health education and research as it pertains to the recognition, treatment, and prevention of the health effects of violence and abuse throughout the lifespan. As such, AVA has been a long supporter of Zero Abuse Project’s Child Advocacy Studies and Child Advocacy and Adult Studies (CAST,
Digital evidence is increasingly stored remotely on servers across state lines, around the globe, and beyond. Accordingly, prosecuting technology-facilitated child abuse in the 21st century requires a familiarity with the Stored Communications Act, trajectory of Fourth Amendment jurisprudence, and complex international considerations. Robert Peters and colleagues have written a pioneering law review article to equip prosecutors with strategies for obtaining
Expert testimony on the forensic interview remains a relatively new subject with significant variations from state to state, and even judge to judge as to what is permissible. To assist prosecutors, forensic interviewers and other professionals, Victor Vieth has written a comprehensive law review article that summarizes the case law on this subject and proposes guidelines for the scope of expert testimony from the forensic interviewer
The Center for Child Advocacy Studies is a program of Zero Abuse Project that works in partnership with institutions of higher education throughout the United States to fully prepare future child protection professionals to adequately recognize, report, and respond to child maltreatment.
A success story shared with us by Dr. Jamie Tester Morfoot, Assistant Professor of Social Work at UWEC.
The University of Illinois Springfield has partnered with Creative InformationTechnology, Inc. to beta-test app-based software to help modernize and improve childwelfare investigations. CAST students, under the guidance of Dr. Betsy Goulet, will be involved in the preliminary research surrounding these apps.
A success story shared with us by Dr. Jamie Tester Morfoot, Assistant Professor of Social Work at UWEC.
Students at Wartburg Theological Seminary interacted with numerous child abuse experts and reviewed multiple scientific and theological works related to child abuse. From this work, the students developed a social statement on child abuse and child protection. Zero Abuse Project was honored to consult on this project and hopes this publication will aid faith communities in responding to child abuse.
Providing Results: Mississippi CAST Initiative Eighteen months into a two-year evaluation project, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CAC) is discovering valuable data to support their Children’s Advocacy Studies (CAST) Initiative. With the help of University of Illinois’s research team, the preliminary data has reinforced the significance of CAST courses at participating Mississippi colleges and universities. A two-year study was
A new Advanced Certificate in Child Advocacy Studies (CAST), designed to better prepare educators and other professionals to respond to child maltreatment, has been approved for Fredonia. The university anticipates enrolling its first students in Child Advocacy Studies during the Summer of 2021. Admission requirements include a master’s degree or current enrollment in a master’s degree program. Read full article
It has long been considered, and is widely accepted as best practices to respond to cases of child abuse as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT
In addition to providing simulation training in its CAST program, UIS provides additional simulation training to child protection professionals in the field through its Child Protection Training Academy. This publication serves as both a testament to what CAST can do and how it can grow into new venues to better those already working in child-serving career paths.
One of our CAST medical schools, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, was ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report for producing the highest percentage of primary care residents.
Congrats, WCUCOM!
Zero Abuse Project is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to the elimination of child sexual abuse. Our programs are designed to provide training and education to professionals and students, and to help transform institutions to effectively prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.
