Lecture Series

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

With increasing frequency, law enforcement is being called upon to respond to individuals in serious mental health crises. It is necessary for law enforcement personnel to understand mental illness, and the tactics and techniques that have been proven to work most effectively when responding to individuals in these situations. These tactics and techniques are different than those routinely taught to officers to manage conflict. Generally, the underlying elements behind mental illness-related behavior is usually not criminal or malicious. Utilizing the information from this course, and implementing effective strategies can help keep the officer safe, keep the public safe, and greatly reduce civil liability. Unless completed in the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s (TCOLE’s) Basic Police Officer Curriculum, this course is a required course to be completed no later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed or the date an officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. The begin date to satisfy this requirement is April 1, 2018. This course is required to obtain TCOLE’s Intermediate and Advanced Peace Officer Proficiency Certifications. 

Sam Hanson is a passionate leader and trainer in the public safety community. Mr. Hanson is the founder and principal of Sam Hanson Group, and has over a decade of public safety operator, research and development, teaching, and consulting experience. Mr. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Public Safety Executive Leadership, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice Studies, and doctoral-related work in Psychology. Mr. Hanson holds a Master Peace Officer certification (in the State of Texas), a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Instructor certification (Basic and Advanced), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Having served with a large metropolitan law enforcement organization, Mr. Hanson has fulfilled both uniformed, covert, and administrative assignments. Mr. Hanson has served as a field training officer, fugitive apprehension operator, community engagement officer, training and personnel development coordinator, research and curriculum development administrator, and behavioral science/mental health coordinator. Additionally, Mr. Hanson serves as faculty with the Caruth Police Institute (University of North Texas at Dallas) and continues to serve as a college professor teaching both criminal justice and psychology courses. Mr. Hanson continues to serve as a leader in numerous other public safety related projects. 

TO REGISTER: http://www.cvent.com/d/whqxv7

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

With increasing frequency, law enforcement is being called upon to respond to individuals in serious mental health crises. It is necessary for law enforcement personnel to understand mental illness, and the tactics and techniques that have been proven to work most effectively when responding to individuals in these situations. These tactics and techniques are different than those routinely taught to officers to manage conflict. Generally, the underlying elements behind mental illness-related behavior is usually not criminal or malicious. Utilizing the information from this course, and implementing effective strategies can help keep the officer safe, keep the public safe, and greatly reduce civil liability. This course is required to obtain the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s (TCOLE’s) Mental Health Officer Certification.

Sam Hanson is a passionate leader and trainer in the public safety community. Mr. Hanson is the founder and principal of Sam Hanson Group, and has over a decade of public safety operator, research and development, teaching, and consulting experience. Mr. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Public Safety Executive Leadership, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice Studies, and doctoral-related work in Psychology. Mr. Hanson holds a Master Peace Officer certification (in the State of Texas), a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Instructor certification (Basic and Advanced), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Having served with a large metropolitan law enforcement organization, Mr. Hanson has fulfilled both uniformed, covert, and administrative assignments. Mr. Hanson has served as a field training officer, fugitive apprehension operator, community engagement officer, training and personnel development coordinator, research and curriculum development administrator, and behavioral science/mental health coordinator. Additionally, Mr. Hanson serves as faculty with the Caruth Police Institute (University of North Texas at Dallas) and continues to serve as a college professor teaching both criminal justice and psychology courses. Mr. Hanson continues to serve as a leader in numerous other public safety related projects.

TO REGISTER: http://www.cvent.com/d/6hqxv2

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

Attendance is limited to professionals working with child victims of crime.

In child abuse investigations, interviewees may include: victims, caretakers, siblings, neighbors, medical personnel and more. Confrontational interrogations refer to the suspected offender and will focus on the “Why” instead of the “If”. Students will learn via lecture, experiential learning, case studies and practice.

As a member of the San Diego Police Department’s Child Abuse Team in (1981), Phylip Peltier was frustrated when he encountered his first burn case, and found no practical methods in place for determining whether the case was accidental or non-accidental. Out of that frustration, and after inquiring of doctors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, child abuse investigators, and social services, through a trial and error basis, Peltier developed the immersion burn worksheet to help investigators and the blue dye demonstration for which he is known.

Phyl has taught throughout the United States, Canada, and England. He has taught for international organizations in the United States and Canada such as The International Coroners and ME’s Association and The International Forensic Nurses Assn in Montreal. He has also qualified as an expert witness on burn injuries in several courts, including the (Queen’s Court) in Australia. Phyl’s expertise is not limited to burn injuries, however. He also teaches investigative techniques on the broad spectrum of child abuse, bites, and fingerprints, demonstrative evidence, interview & interrogation and many other investigative categories.

Phyl has testified as an expert witness in suspicious burn injuries in criminal prosecutions. An instructor in the investigation of child abuse, as well as suspicious burn injuries, since 1981, Phyl received the Excellence in Instruction Award from the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation for 1999-2000 and again in 2005-2006.

To Register:  http://www.cvent.com/d/4hq16g

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lunch will be provided.

Attendance is limited to professionals working with child victims of crime.

This 6-hour day will cover various types of physical abuse, including bruising, bite marks, suspicious burns, neglect, failure to thrive, shaken baby and more. During the presentation, students will learn crime scene procedures, evidence collection, photography, court demonstrative evidence, typology, symptomology, determination of intentional vs. accidental injury and so much more. The class is taught via lecture, experiential learning, case studies and practice.

As a member of the San Diego Police Department’s Child Abuse Team in (1981), Phylip Peltier was frustrated when he encountered his first burn case, and found no practical methods in place for determining whether the case was accidental or non-accidental. Out of that frustration, and after inquiring of doctors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, child abuse investigators, and social services, through a trial and error basis, Peltier developed the immersion burn worksheet to help investigators and the blue dye demonstration for which he is known.

Phyl has taught throughout the United States, Canada, and England. He has taught for international organizations in the United States and Canada such as The International Coroners and ME’s Association and The International Forensic Nurses Assn in Montreal. He has also qualified as an expert witness on burn injuries in several courts, including the (Queen’s Court) in Australia. Phyl’s expertise is not limited to burn injuries, however. He also teaches investigative techniques on the broad spectrum of child abuse, bites, and fingerprints, demonstrative evidence, interview & interrogation and many other investigative categories.

Phyl has testified as an expert witness in suspicious burn injuries in criminal prosecutions. An instructor in the investigation of child abuse, as well as suspicious burn injuries, since 1981, Phyl received the Excellence in Instruction Award from the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation for 1999-2000 and again in 2005-2006.

To Register:  http://www.cvent.com/d/phq1y9

8:00 a.m. – noon

Breakfast will be provided.

In this 3-hour day, trainees will learn the definition of human trafficking, common misconceptions, how to recognize the physical & psychological signs of human trafficking, know how to respond using trauma informed care, and appropriately report utilizing customized protocols. 

Candace Rich is a North Texas native who has worked in the DFW hospital systems for the last 13 years; the last 6 years in pediatric medicine as a Nurse Practitioner. After learning about the high incidences of human trafficking victims that have contact with healthcare professionals and the lack of knowledge and preparedness to respond, Reclaim611 was born. She believes it is healthcare professionals and hospital systems due diligence to be educated and have the proper protocol in place to respond to our most vulnerable and unseen victims. Reclaim611 exists to fill this gap and unite front-line providers. 

Carrie Taylor is a wife, mother of 2 sweet girls, Registered Nurse, abolitionist and a co-founder of Reclaim611. She has over 13 years of healthcare experience as a Registered Nurse. Although she loves caring for her patients and serving them as a bedside nurse, she became acutely aware of an undiagnosed need within the healthcare system. Staggering statistics regarding human trafficking victims and healthcare providers led her to step into the fight to end human trafficking. She now spends her days working to further this cause and can often be found at conferences and events, or just about any forum for public speaking that will allow her to drive awareness around this global epidemic. 

Carrie Schirato is a wife, a mother of four, and a Nurse Practitioner. For the past 13 years she has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the emergency room and trauma center. Her favorite thing about emergency medicine is variety; in any given shift there may be an opportunity to save a life, perform an emergent procedure, empathize with the hurting, encourage those who are broken in spirit, advocate for the needy, make someone laugh through their fears, mourn with the grieving, and look into the eyes of another human being to see if there is something they are telling me that they may not be able to express. In 2017, she co-founded an anti-human trafficking non-profit organization called Reclaim611, with two of her long-time friends and colleagues. They each carry their own experiences with the recollection of possible missed victims, however through proper education, training and protocol implementation, share victories of now “seeing” victims. 

TO REGISTER: http://www.cvent.com/d/3hqxvf

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

This workshop will provide state-of-the-art information on traumatic impact on young children. In particular, the child’s idiosyncratic experience will be highlighted, as well as the creative and unique defensive mechanisms they employ – defenses that are useful during traumatic events, and can become problematic later on. Children’s artwork will be shown to clarify the profound impact of relational complex trauma on children’s sense of integrity, identity, and internal world views. Finally, information will be provided on consensus areas about how to best help children address traumatic impact in therapy, including a community response that consistently reinforces safety and trust, and trauma-informed responses. Eliana Gil continues her life-long commitment to training and education by sharing what she has learned and offering meaningful training opportunities. Over the years of being a public speaker, teacher, and consultant, she has found it rewarding to stimulate interest in a range of relevant topics such as working with traumatized children, play therapy and post-traumatic play, family play therapy, relational treatments, among others. In addition, over the course of a long career, several assessment and treatment models have emerged in the context of varied clinical settings and with the assistance of talented colleagues. She looks forward to continuing to share information in a relaxed and nurturing teaching environment and will also provide opportunities for colleagues to present on their areas of expertise. 

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

Family Advocate programs are growing and building a significant role within the CAC world. Come learn how the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center has grown their program from one family advocate to 17 in six years. Explore how DCAC has adapted and expanded to meet the needs of the changing population of individuals and families served. Mindy Jackson serves as the Director of Support Services for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. She has worked in client serving organizations for twenty years. Mindy served as a children’s coordinator in the domestic violence field in Tarrant County for ten years until she transitioned to the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center where she has been the Director of Support Services for seven years. As the director, she supervises two assistant directors, family advocates, on-call crisis workers, and administrative staff. Her team has grown from three to twenty-three staff members over the course of five years, and Mindy has had to navigate the significant growth of her program and the challenges and opportunities it has presented. She has also provided consulting to other CAC’s across the United States.

TO REGISTER:  http://www.cvent.com/d/yhqcy4

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

Registration is limited to licensed professionals working in child-serving organizations.

This six-hour course is especially designed for Licensed Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Chemical Dependency Counselors. The course will review codes of ethics, codes of conduct, the new BHEC (umbrella licensing agency effective September 1, 2020). Ethical situations and examples will be discussed in an interactive training setting. There will be Q and A time for participants as well as practical resources to ethically deal with dilemmas that occur when working with children involved with protective services, abuse and neglect issues, and related child services. Come prepared to discuss ethical issues you face!

Miriam Nisenbaum is a graduate of UT Austin and received her B.A. in Government with a minor in Social Work. She received an M.S.S.W. from UT Arlington. She holds a Texas license as a Master level social worker and is nationally accredited by the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She has worked in Child Protective Services as a child placement worker, in Dallas, Texas, in the first-ever sexual abuse unit in the state. She has held positions at the YWCA, A Private Non-Profit Child Abuse Prevention Agency, Dallas County Health and Human Services, St. Paul Medical Center, National Medical Enterprises, Interventions/Cornell Corrections, Goodwill Industries, Easter Seals, NAMI, NASW/TX, and an organization promoting diversity, Honoring of Peoples Everywhere, all in Dallas, Texas. These positions were supervisory or executive management. Currently she is on faculty at Texas State University, School of Social Work in the field department. Through her company, Nisenbaum and Associates, which she has operated since 1995, she provides training and consultation to a variety of non-profits throughout the United States. She is currently writing a chapter for a soon to be published book on advocacy and public policy.

She has served on numerous committees, coalitions and professional groups as a member and officer. She co-founded the Texas Association of Community Rehabilitation Providers. She has through her positions and consulting activities, developed and taught the curriculum to provide the necessary coursework for those individuals seeking designation as an LCDC. Other areas of expertise are grant writing, strategic planning, board relations, needs assessments, program design/execution, billing and reimbursements, public policy, advocacy, human resources, and licensing and accreditations have been areas of expertise highlighted in her career with other organizations as well as in her consulting business.

To register, visit: http://www.cvent.com/d/8hqqvy

9:00 a.m. – noon
Breakfast will be provided.

Once the forensic interview is over, and families are attempting to find a new norm, caregivers are faced with many challenges, heartbreak, grief, financial stress, and many additional challenges. How can Family Advocates move towards our families? We have all been faced with a non-believing caregiver. How do we support them? Meanwhile, we don’t want to forget about our supportive, believing caregivers. Join us for a half-day workshop on parent engagement, challenges, and creative ways to help families move towards hope and healing.

Mindy Jackson serves as the Director of Support Services for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. She has worked in client serving organizations for twenty years. Mindy served as a children’s coordinator in the domestic violence field in Tarrant County for ten years until she transitioned to the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center where she has been the Director of Support Services for seven years. As the director, she supervises two assistant directors, family advocates, on-call crisis workers, and administrative staff. Her team has grown from three to twenty-three staff members over the course of five years, and Mindy has had to navigate the significant growth of her program and the challenges and opportunities it has presented. She has also provided consulting to other CAC’s across the United States.

TO REGISTER:  http://www.cvent.com/d/khq3wr

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

In February of 2016, Cedar Hill Police began investigating a series of Sexual Assaults against young males. Each incident shared similar traits with the main focus of Ice Pops and Church Shoes.  Detectives began working several leads from the community, but were ultimately lead to the Offender when a Forensic Interviewer recognized the same traits in a case being worked by Dallas PD (Child Exploitation Unit). Willie Lee Bell Jr was a youth minister at a local church in Cedar Hill TX.  He relocated to Texas from Tennessee after allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor were made to the local police. It was also discovered that Mr. Bell was in the process of many other ventures in Cedar Hill, including the creation of a new youth ministry. He was charged with two counts of Aggravated Sex Assault child and one Indecency with a Child, with a sentence totaling 100 years.  

Detective Michael Hernandez has been involved in Law Enforcement since 2005 and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division in 2014. Initially investigating Domestic Violence, he was reassigned to Crimes Against Children. Michael also took on Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC), and since then has been assigned to the Dallas Police Departments ICAC Task Force, as well as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Child Crimes Task Force. As part of the Criminal Investigations, Michael has obtained several Computer and Cell Phone Forensic certifications. He is currently a Certified as a TCOLE Instructor and a Master Peace Officer. Outside of Law Enforcement, Michael attended Dallas County Community College where he pursued a Degree in Computer Information Technology. Since 2017, Michael has been an Adjunct Instructor for outside private corporations. He has traveled the country and taught law enforcement officers from several agencies in the subject of Online Investigation, Dark Web Investigations, Social Media Methods, and Open Source Investigations.

Brandie Wade is an Assistant District Attorney with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. She has been with the Dallas County DA’s Office for thirteen years, prosecuting various felony cases including sexually violent crimes against children and adults. She is currently assigned to the Crimes Against Children Division.

TO REGISTER: http://www.cvent.com/d/dnqlly/4W

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Studies show that kids ages 8-18 are spending an average of 7.5 hours a day in front of some screen; with that, the crimes associated with these ever-changing technologies and social media quickly follow and continue to evolve – maybe faster than we can keep up with. Today, working with and keeping our youth safe means being constantly aware of what they’re doing online – which can be vitally helpful in daily cases, and is essential to law enforcement work across the board. Attendees will leave with a good understanding of current app and social media trends – how and why they’re being used – along with hot topic issue such as sexting, cyberbullying and solicitation through new mediums. 

Katie Greer’s journey as an internet safety keynote speaker started off with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where, as the Director of Internet Safety, she was directly involved with the development of one of the first internet safety programs ever. From there, she transitioned into working with the Massachusetts State Police as an Intelligence Analyst. The internet was a mysterious, gargantuan force that made people nervous (“What’s happening next?”) so she developed an educational program that helped to put people at ease while keeping communities safe. Since her days working with law enforcement, she has created her own approach to internet safety that realistically considers the appeal of technology for people of all ages. Her keynote speaker work has led to features in USA Today, TIME Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Parents Magazine, the Meredith Vieira Show, the O’Reilly Factor, CNN, Inside Edition and More. She is also a contributor to ModernMom and an advisory board member on the Internet Keep Safe Coalition. She has helped shape the minds and policies of hundreds of thousands of students, parents, and people across North America. She’s spoken at schools big and small and advised governments and private agencies as they develop their own policies. Now pursuing her Ph.D. in Criminology with an exploration on teens and the internet, she is determined to push our lopsided relationship with technology to one of balance. She recognizes that her message could positively shape someone’s life outlook, and it’s a responsibility she takes seriously. She wants every household in America to have the education and tools to manage technology in healthy way.

TO REGISTER: http://www.cvent.com/d/xnqzzc/4W

9:00 a.m. – noon

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m.

Training Type: Internal Training 
**This training is limited to professionals working for DFPS** 

April 6:  http://www.cvent.com/d/fhq9w9 

June 22:  http://www.cvent.com/d/hhq9wp 

October 5: http://www.cvent.com/d/nhq9w1

All children on every DFPS case should be screened for sexual abuse at some point during the investigation. Many DFPS workers are unsure as to how to do this properly without going too far and interfering with the detailed interview that will be needed by law enforcement if a disclosure is made. This presentation is a condensed version of the full course, “P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Interviewing and Screening in the Field: A Guide for Dallas County Department of Family and Protective Services” and will focus entirely on teaching DFPS workers how to properly screen children for sexual abuse when interviewing children in the field. 

Participants will learn how to properly screen using acceptable methods, what important questions need to be asked if a child does disclose, and when to stop, contact law enforcement and request a detailed forensic interview from the forensic interview team at DCAC. A Screening Packet created by DCAC will be given to each attendee with information including important phone numbers, an overview of the sexual abuse screening procedures and helpful flashcards to assist in conducting a truth/lie scenario with children. 

Training Type: Internal Training 
**This training is limited to DCAC staff and official MDT partners only** 
8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be served.

Are you new to the child abuse field, DCAC model or the multidisciplinary team? If so, please join us for New Team Member Orientation. This orientation provides a better understanding of crimes against children, the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) investigative process, and services offered at the Center. You will walk away from orientation with a better understanding of available resources, the role you play in the process and how it all comes together in the end. 

March 18: http://www.cvent.com/d/xhqlh3

April 15: http://www.cvent.com/d/thqlhd

May 20: http://www.cvent.com/d/4hqlhv

June 17: http://www.cvent.com/d/8hqlhv

July 15: http://www.cvent.com/d/ghqlh5

August 19: http://www.cvent.com/d/4hqlht

September 16: http://www.cvent.com/d/7hqlht

October 21: http://www.cvent.com/d/shqln6

November 18: http://www.cvent.com/d/nhqln6

December 16: http://www.cvent.com/d/ghqlny