One of the most important events in the world to protect children originates from right here in North Texas.
The 33rd annual Crimes Against Children Conference hosted by Dallas Children's Advocacy Center kicks off August 9 and runs through December 17.
The Conference provides training to those in law enforcement, child protective services, social work, children’s advocacy, therapy, prosecution and medicine who work directly with child victims of crime.
"We bring in the premier speakers," says DCAC CEO Irish Burch. "It is an event that is recognized internationally, in order to ensure that you are getting the best education possible."
By the numbers, there are 181 sessions, more than 180 speakers, and 226 continuing education credits available to professionals who work to protect children.
Continuing education is a huge factor when it comes to this field.
"If you think about the multiple disciplines that it takes in order to investigate these cases, their individual best practices are going to change," says Burch.
COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise for the Crimes Against Children Conference in 2020. The conference had to be held virutally for the first time, but it allowed them to reach more than 7,000 attendees, a bigger audience than ever before.
"There is a certain limitation of people we can host in person," says Burch. "We were able to reach even more, especially on an international level, that might not ever be able to travel in for this conference."
Burch says they would like to hold in-person events again in the future, while also offering the training virtually, but for 2021, the conference will be virtual.
For more information, and to register, go here.
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