Stephanie V. Blank Center Webinar Registration

The Impact of Parental Substance Use on Children
Thursday Jan. 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

In this webinar, Dr. Nichole Michaels joins us to speak about the psychosocial impacts that parental substance use has on children. Dr. Michaels will discuss the various strategies that can help mediate the impact of parental substance use on children. Participants will also learn about adverse childhood experience and the different strategies that may limit the impact they have on children.

Stop it Where it Starts: Ending Demand for Child Sex Trafficking
Tuesday, January 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has teamed up with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT,) whose mission as the "eyes and ears of our nation's transportation system" is to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of the trucking, bus, and energy industries to combat human trafficking. TAT has created a profound "End Demand: Man to Man" campaign which intends to create a culture where the buying and selling of human beings for another person's sexual gratification is not looked upon as normal behavior. This webinar is geared for any health care professional or member of the community who is interested in stopping child sex trafficking where it starts: with somebody purchasing a child for their own sexual pleasure.

Caring Hands Kind Words: Positive Parenting
Tuesday, Feb. 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This presentation discusses why we use alternatives to corporal punishment, how it affects children's development, and the differences between punishment and discipline. This webinar will also discuss how caregivers can encourage good behavior in children and help children better understand and follow directions. Participants will learn how to set realistic expectations and consequences, while practicing positive parenting techniques. Finally, we will touch on how caregivers can and should practice self-care.

Special Topics in Trafficking: Supply and Demand From a Global Perspective
Tuesday, March 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The global module focuses on the larger issue of human trafficking.  It is not specific to children but rather focuses on labor trafficking and global sex trafficking including international child sex trafficking and sex tourism.  An additional focus area includes how political upheaval around the world contributes to a growing refugee crisis and how that crisis contributes to trafficking. This module will also focus on recognizing and understanding the roles that traffickers and gangs play as they provide the supply of children in sex trafficking.  Additionally, the module will focus on how buyers contribute to the demand for child sex trafficking and how each group continues the cycle of victimization.  Societal factors around the acceptance of violence and how that contributes to supply and demand will also be addressed. 

Keeping Children Safe in a Digital World
Tuesday, March 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss different types of technology and how children use them. By the end of this session, participants will be able to recognize at least four social media apps, define cyberbullying, and identify steps adults can take to protect children from online risks.

When Home is Where the Hurt Is: An Exploration of Family Facilitated CSEC
Tuesday, April 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) refers to a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value (including monetary and non-monetary benefits.) One form of CSEC is Family Facilitated CSEC/Familial Exploitation, which occurs when a family member exchanges sexual acts with a child for goods, substances, rent, services, money, or status within the community. Family members can include parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. This module will provide attendees with a foundational understanding of family facilitated CSEC and utilize case studies to help participants identify family facilitated CSEC, which often hides under the guise of traditional child sexual abuse or neglect.

Co-Parenting: Helping Parents so Kids Can Be Kids
Tuesday, April 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

In this webinar, Janae Combs, the Assistant Director at the Center for Navigating Family Change, will provide participants with information and resources for navigating family transitions. This may include families experiencing divorce, separation and coparenting challenges. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the reduction of conflict in difficult family situations. As well as, cultivating environments where youth can develop into resilient, well-adjusted individuals.

Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma
Tuesday, April 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m

A traumatic event can be a scary and difficult time for most families, especially with many caregivers not knowing how to best support their child in the aftermath of a trauma. This presentation will focus on defining trauma and reviewing the physical, mental, emotional, and developmental impacts on youth. Furthermore, signs of post-traumatic stress in children will be identified and when and what kind of treatment to seek out will be discussed. Finally, strategies for how caregivers can support their child or teenager in the aftermath of a traumatic event will be highlighted.

The Intersection of Foster Care and Exploitation
Tuesday, May 7 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

May is Foster Care Month, the perfect time to discuss the unique volunerablities shared by those in foster care. This training module is designed for health care professionals as well as foster parents in order to help demonstrate the trauma that these children have already endured before their entry into the system and what makes them vulnerable to exploitation in the future. Jennifer Hossler, MSW, from the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, is the Director of Project Intersect.

Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse in Georgia
Tuesday, May 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This webinar will focus on how to recognize risk factors or signs that physical and sexual abuse, neglect, child endangerment, and sexual exploitation may be occurring. You will also learn about the basics of the mandated reporting laws relating to child abuse in Georgia, including changes to the mandated reporting statue that took place in 2022. We will also discuss policies and procedures related to making a report of suspected child abuse.

The Fundamentals of Child Sex Trafficking
Tuesday, June 4 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This module serves as a foundation to understand the complex issue of child sex trafficking. Topics covered include basic statistics on the issue, pathways to entry, identification of victims, and prevention strategies.  This webinar is ideal for the participant who is new to the issue but can be beneficial to anyone with an interest in making a difference in the lives of CSEC victims.

 The Process of Disclosure and The Trauma Response
Tuesday, June 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m

Join one of the Blank Center's Child Abuse Pediatricians, Dr. Verena Brown, to discuss the process of disclosure after sexual abuse. Dr. Brown will review why, how, and when children disclose sexual abuse; and why recantation may occur during the disclosure process. In addition, participants will learn how to better support a child during this process.

Vulnerable Child Syndrome
Tuesday, July 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Parents that confront stressful and/or traumatic experiences with their children during pregnancy or infancy may inadvertently learn to see their child as "fragile." This perception may lead to parenting practices that impede normal child development, learning, socialization, and may evolve into causing medical harm in severe cases.

Having Difficult Conversations with Children
Tuesday, August 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Join this webinar to learn about strategies adults can use when discussing hard topics with youth, such as child sexual abuse, body safety, and consent. Participants will learn how strategies like active listening, reframing, using open-ended questions, or reading can help adults cultivate a meaningful and productive conversations

Special Topics in Trafficking: Technology & Exploitation
Tuesday, August 27 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This module will look at the ways technology is used by traffickers and buyers to facilitate child sex trafficking.  Emphasis will be placed on the online strategies used by traffickers to recruit victims and facilitate the selling of those victims. Conversely, the module will also focus on how technology can be used to fight child sex trafficking. Finally, the module will address how technolory can be used as a trafficking prevention strategy.

Healthy Sexual Development
Tuesday, October 8, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The purpose of this presentation is to review and discuss healthy sexual development in children. This webinar will provide the tools and resources to ensure caregivers or professionals can effectively nurture children through the various stages of sexual development. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to identify what healthy sexual development is and what it looks like throughout various stages of life, recognize when sexual behaviors may be cause for concern, and understand how to successfully intervene if necessary.

The Medical Evaluation of Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
Tuesday, October 15 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This module focuses on the role of medical providers in the evaluation and treatment of victims of child sex trafficking.  Participants will learn about victim identification, how to properly gather information from the victim, how to conduct the medical exam, how to provide appropriate testing and treatment, and what referrals can made on behalf of the victim.

Making Child Abuse and Neglect Reports to The Statewide Child Protective Services Intake Communications Center (CICC)
Tuesday, Nov. 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Making a DFCS report can be a scary proposition. Join us on November 5^th where Nicole McDougald, CICC Program Director for GA DFCS, will help de-mystify the process. Ms. McDougald will cover who should make a DFCS report, how the report should be made, and what happens after the report is made. She will go into detail on what information DFCS needs in a report, how they make investigative decisions, and what happens with children and families after reports are received.

Special Topics in Trafficking: The Victim's Perspective
November 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This module will take a comprehensive look at trafficking from the victims' perspective and will focus on the lesser recognized victims of trafficking, males and LGBT youth.  These populations have specific risk factors that increase their likelihood of victimization and decrease the opportunities for services and prevention.  In this module, we will also discuss how advocates can best attempt to understand how a victim's perspective of their exploitation will impact them during and after leaving "the life." The speaker will address resiliency of victims during their exploitation and how they can move forward to empowerment. Additional topics include how public perception/stigma of victims impacts how they see themselves and examples of successful recovery and restoration programs. 

Keeping Children Safe in a Digital World
Tuesday, Dec. 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

 The purpose of this presentation is to discuss different types of technology and how they are used by children. By the end of this session, participants will be able to recognize at least four social media apps, define cyberbullying, and identify steps adults can take to protect children from online risks.

The Fundamentals of Child Sex Trafficking
Tuesday, December 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Join this webinar to learn about strategies adults can use when discussing hard topics with youth, such as child sexual abuse, body safety, and consent. Participants will learn how strategies like active listening, reframing, using open-ended questions, or reading can help adults cultivate a meaningful and productive conversations