Child Abuse and Neglect Cross-Training

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Circuit judges, probation officers, court-appointed advocates, attorneys, social workers, counselors, nurses, domestic violence advocates, and others from around West Virginia will gather at meetings in Wheeling and Beckley next week to learn the latest techniques for working together to combat child abuse and neglect.

Both two-day seminars are sponsored by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the West Virginia Court Improvement Program, and the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Attendees will learn the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, ways to identify child abuse and neglect, the proper procedure for handling a child abuse and neglect case, updates on the law, and ways for the different professions to work together.

Speakers will include a survivor, attorneys who specialize in child abuse and neglect cases, circuit judges, and family court judges.

The conferences, to be held on July 13 and 14 at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling and on July 16 and July 17 at Tamarack in Beckley, are open to the press. They are closed to the public because registration was required due to the capacity of 200 at each location, which has been reached. There is a waiting list for attendance.

The West Virginia Court Improvement Program is funded through the federal Administration for Children and Families and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. For more information on the program, visit its Web site at www.wvcip.com.