Rarely a Simple Story: examining how drug, set, and setting influence parenting behaviors during periods of addiction and recovery with Nancy Jo Williams, PhD, LMSW

• Defining drug, cognitive set, and setting as if relates to parenting behaviors
• Hypothesized nexus between substance use and problematic parenting behaviors, including variation observed across types of psychotropic drugs.
• Understanding trajectories of use and healing
• Influence of social policy and social context on substance-related harms
• Promising interventions

Presenter’s Bio:  Nancy Jo Williams, PhD, LMSW  (formerly Kepple) is an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare and affiliate faculty at the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment. She earned her MSW and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Kepple’s research broadly examines the social consequences of the availability, distribution, and use of psychoactive substances. Her research focuses on the interplay between parent substance use, neuropsychological functioning, and the social environment and how these interactions may influence parenting behaviors. Currently, she is exploring how parenting populations navigate recovery experiences after previously experiencing substance-related challenges.

April 10, 2025, 1-3pm CDT on Zoom
The Prevention of Online Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth with Prof. David Finkelhor

This talk will make these points about online child sexual abuse:

• Current stereotypes of the problem are misleading.
• An unfortunate overwhelming primary emphasis is being placed on stranger danger
• There is considerable unrecognized diversity to the problem
• Victim perspective yields insights missed by police perspective
• Prevention of this problem needs new ideas

Presenter’s Bio: David Finkelhor is the Director of Crimes against Children Research Center, Co-Director of the Family Research Laboratory, Professor of Sociology, and University Professor, at the University of New Hampshire. He has been studying the problems of child victimization, child maltreatment and family violence since 1977. David is best known for his conceptual and empirical work on the problem of child sexual abuse, reflected in publications such as Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse (Sage, 1986) and Nursery Crimes (Sage, 1988). He has also written about child homicide, missing and abducted children, children exposed to domestic and peer violence, commercial sexual exploitation and internet victimization. David is the co-founder of several large national data collection efforts including the National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence (NatSCEV) and the National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART). In his recent work, for example, his book, Child Victimization (Oxford University Press, 2008), he has tried to unify and integrate knowledge about all the diverse forms of child victimization in a field he has termed Developmental Victimology. This book received the Daniel Schneider Child Welfare Book of the Year award in 2009. Altogether, he is the editor and author of 12 books and over 250 journal articles and book chapters. David has received grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the US Department of Justice, and a variety of other sources.

April 17, 2025, 1-3pm CDT on Zoom
The Spiritual Impact of Child Abuse with Victor Vieth, J.D.

We may never be able to prevent all cases of child abuse. We can, though, make sure we respond with excellence to the cases that come to light. To this end, we can no longer ignore the large body of research on the spiritual impact of child abuse. We must be proactive in educating our communities about this research and responding in a more culturally sensitive manner.

Presenter’s bio: Victor Vieth, J.D. has trained thousands of child-protection professionals from all 50 states, two U.S. Territories, and 17 countries on numerous topics pertaining to child abuse investigations, prosecutions and prevention. Victor gained national recognition for his work in addressing child abuse in small communities as a prosecutor in rural Minnesota, and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. In 2012, Victor was awarded the Pro Humanitate Award from the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare.

Victor is the Chief Program Officer, Education and Research of the Zero Abuse Project, a 501©(3) public charity based in St Paul, MN, committed to education, training, and survivor support in order to eradicate child sex abuse and remedy its resulting harms. He is the 2018 President of the Academy on Violence & Abuse, and founder of the National Child Protection Training Center. With NCPTC and its partners, Victor has been instrumental in implementing 22 state and international forensic interview training programs and dozens of undergraduate and graduate programs on child maltreatment.

Mr. Vieth graduated magna cum laude from WSU and earned his Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law (HUSL). In 2017, Victor earned an MA in theology from Wartburg Seminary. Mr. Vieth has published countless articles related to the investigation, prosecution and prevention of child abuse and neglect. He is author of Unto the Third Generation, a bold initiative that outlines the necessary steps we must all take to eliminate child abuse in America in three generations, and On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Works of Jesus (Wiff & Stock 2018).

April 24, 2025, 9-11am CDT on Zoom
“He is my everything” – Siblings in the Context of Child Abuse with Prof. Carmit Katz

The dynamics among siblings within the context of child abuse are crucially important. This presentation sheds light on a comprehensive investigation led by Katz and her team, spanning several research years. It delves into key findings concerning sibling relationships from childhood through adulthood, even during periods of ” black holes”. The research encompassed 150 abused children, 83 interviews with adults who experienced childhood abuse, and 48 interviews with professionals, complemented by statistics from the Israeli welfare office. Beyond presenting key findings, the session will discuss a theoretical framework highlighting pivotal concepts essential for understanding sibling dynamics. These include sibling camaraderie, sibling abuse, parentified siblings, and sibling cut-off, exploring their interplay and fluidity. Additionally, the presentation will offer valuable insights derived from the study’s findings, enriching understanding in this critical area.

Presenter’s Bio: Carmit Katz is a Full Professor of Social Work at Tel Aviv University. Katz is also the Director of Haruv Institute. With a profound focus on combating child maltreatment, Katz champions the belief that preventing such abuses stands as a paramount moral duty. Katz ardently advocates for interdisciplinary dialogue, stressing the imperative of engaging directly with children within the contexts of their lives—an ethos that underpins her entire professional ethos. Katz is committed to policy change and works both in the national and international arenas in order to promote the rights of all children to a life without violence. Katz is the founder and director of The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Abuse. Katz is also the founder and director of the International Group of Scholars Protecting Children from Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Katz is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Child Maltreatment and Associate Editor in Child Abuse and Neglect. Following the Swords of Iron war that began after the October 7th (2023) massacre, Katz had been leading, together with the Israeli Welfare office, all the work with children who were directly affected by the war and had been leading the intervention with children who returned from captivity.

The post Haruv USA & OSDH Understanding Child Maltreatment Virtual Series April 3, 10, 17 & 24 appeared first on haruv.

Marcus Shaw, Ph.D.

CEUs available for Social Work and LPC: $10 for 2 credit hours

Workshop Description: This workshop will center on the following areas: 1) An overview of the current research and consequences of parental incarceration, 2) A discussion around secrecy and potential long-term consequences of this form of child-parent separation, 3) A practical approach to best practices when dealing with this population, 4) A discussion of best interests of the child.

Dr. Marcus Shaw is an Associate Professor of Criminology at California State University Fresno. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California Merced, Masters in Social Sciences from University of California Merced, and his Bachelors in Sociology from California State University Stanislaus. His research concerns the intergenerational impacts of mass incarceration on children and more specifically, the deleterious impacts of parental incarceration on child well-being. Dr. Shaw has published both quantitative and qualitative studies in this area and has served as an expert in Federal and State court in cases regarding children of incarcerated parents. Dr. Shaw works one on one counseling adolescents and runs successful mentoring and service-learning programs at Fresno State. He has worked with hundreds of youth during his tenure and as he grew up a troubled youth, he has a heart for reintegration, rehabilitation, and redemption.

The post Children of Incarcerated Parents: Consequences and Best Practices appeared first on haruv.

OU-Tulsa Learning Center, room 145 (4502 E 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135)

DeJon Knapp, LCSW, Haruv USA Director

DeJon Knapp is a licensed clinical social worker and Director of Haruv USA.  Haruv USA is an international training institute focused on training students and professionals on the treatment, identification, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.  Prior to her work at Haruv USA, DeJon worked for Oklahoma Human Services in Child Welfare, for Youth Services of Tulsa in Street Outreach, and served as the Vice President of Safe Housing at Domestic Violence Intervention Services.  DeJon is also a board approved clinical supervisor, a Tulsa Service Year Fellowship Mentor, and an adjunct professor at the University of Tulsa where she teaches a course on child abuse & neglect.

Workshop description

This workshop is designed for anyone working with at-risk youth, providing them with essential knowledge and practical skills to implement trauma-informed care. Participants will learn how to create safe, supportive environments that acknowledge the impact of trauma on young people’s lives and promote healing and resilience.

The post Haruv USA for Youth at Heart Team: Trauma Informed Care – It’s Who You Are appeared first on haruv.

FCJJ Training Room, 500 W Archer St, Tulsa, OK 74103

with Lauren Garder, LPC

Lauren Garder is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a decade of experience in mental health and victim services. The focus of Lauren’s career has been chronic trauma and victimization. Lauren has worked at across the spectrum of services from hotlines to therapy to working in administration for the ODMHSAS overseeing trauma services and outpatient treatment for suicidality across the State. Lauren is now “back in the chair” in private practice in Oklahoma City providing therapy, expert witness, and consulting in her areas of expertise.

Workshop description

Trauma-informed care is an approach in healthcare and social services that recognizes and responds to the effects of all types of trauma. It emphasizes understanding, recognizing, and responding to the signs, symptoms, and risks of trauma to better support the well-being of individuals who have experienced traumatic events. The goal of this training is for Safe Babies Court Team to continue to build an environment that fosters healing and recovery and reduces the risk of re-traumatization for the families we serve.

The post Haruv USA for Safe Babies Court Team: Trauma Informed Care – It’s Who You Are appeared first on haruv.

February 26, 9am-11am CST on Zoom

Registration: $10

CEUs available for social work and LPC: $20 for 2 credit hours

Victor Vieth, J.D. has trained thousands of child-protection professionals from all 50 states, two U.S. Territories, and 17 countries on numerous topics pertaining to child abuse investigations, prosecutions, and prevention. Victor gained national recognition for his work in addressing child abuse in small communities as a prosecutor in rural Minnesota, and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Victor earned an MA in theology from Wartburg Seminary. Victor is the Chief Program Officer of Education and Research for the Zero Abuse Project, a public charity based in St Paul, MN, committed to education, training, and survivor support in order to eradicate child sex abuse.

Workshop Description:

In this workshop, attendees will receive an overview of the impact of trauma on children with a special focus on how sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other forms of trauma impact boys. Research suggests boys who have endured trauma are more reluctant to disclose abuse and, when they do, less likely to receive services. In light of these dynamics, the workshop offers suggestions for improved medical and mental health services for boys, as well as suggestions for forensic interviewers and investigators responding to cases of abuse or neglect involving boys.

Learning Objectives:

1. Articulate factors identified by researchers that make boys particularly reluctant to disclose child abuse and neglect.
2. Articulate concrete steps for more sensitive responses to male victims during forensic interviews, police or child protection investigations, as well as medical and mental health screenings.

The post Understanding the Impact of Child Abuse on Boys appeared first on haruv.

The 10th Patricia Van Horn Memorial Lecture

Monday, January 29, 10am – 12pm CST on Zoom

Registration: $12

CEUs available for social work and LPC: $20 for 2 credit hours

Greetings: Prof. Asher Ben-Arieh, General Director, Haruv Institute

The post Engaging Relationships to Treat Early Trauma appeared first on haruv.

OU-Norman, Zarrow Hall (Community Room) 700 Elm Ave., Norman, OK

CEUs available for LCSW and LPC: $15 for 1.5 credit hours

Lunch will be provided, starting at 12:30pm

Sandra White Hawk, Founder and Director of First Nations Repatriation Institute, Director of Healing Programs, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Prof. Sabine Andresen, Head of the Educational Science Department at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main

We are incredibly fortunate to have Sandra White Hawk and Professor Sabine Andresen join us for the 2023 Melton Visiting Professor events. Both have led national efforts to address and facilitate justice and healing for survivors of childhood trauma. Sandra White Hawk is a Sicangu Lakota adoptee from the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota. Abused in her adoptive home, Sandra White Hawk has been a national leader in organizing Truth Healing Reconciliation Community Forums to help First Nations people impacted by foster care or adoption return home, reconnect, and reclaim their identity. Professor Andresen led a similar effort in her home country of Germany, but with a different structure. She co-founded German’s Independent Commission for Child Sexual Abuse Issues from a roundtable created after numerous children came forward with horrifying accounts of childhood sexual abuse by trusted adults and institutions. Professor Andresen is now the head of the Educational Science Department at Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main. A report in English on the German inquiry can be found here.

The post Truth-telling Initiatives for Survivors of Child Abuse (OU-Norman) appeared first on haruv.

OU-Tulsa Learning Center (Founders Hall): 4502 E 41st Street, Tulsa, OK

CEUs available for LCSW and LPC: $15 for 1.5 credit hours

Lunch will be provided, starting at 12:30pm

Sandra White Hawk, Founder and Director of First Nations Repatriation Institute, Director of Healing Programs, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Prof. Sabine Andresen, Head of the Educational Science Department at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main

We are incredibly fortunate to have Sandra White Hawk and Professor Sabine Andresen join us for the 2023 Melton Visiting Professor events. Both have led national efforts to address and facilitate justice and healing for survivors of childhood trauma. Sandra White Hawk is a Sicangu Lakota adoptee from the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota. Abused in her adoptive home, Sandra White Hawk has been a national leader in organizing Truth Healing Reconciliation Community Forums to help First Nations people impacted by foster care or adoption return home, reconnect, and reclaim their identity. Professor Andresen led a similar effort in her home country of Germany, but with a different structure. She co-founded German’s Independent Commission for Child Sexual Abuse Issues from a roundtable created after numerous children came forward with horrifying accounts of childhood sexual abuse by trusted adults and institutions. Professor Andresen is now the head of the Educational Science Department at Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main. A report in English on the German inquiry can be found here.

The post Truth-telling Initiatives for Survivors of Child Abuse (OU-Tulsa) appeared first on haruv.

CEUs available for LCSW & LPC ($20 for 2 credit hours)

Presenter’s bio

Jordan Gustin, LPC & Supervisor, IMH-E®(III) has been with DVIS since October of 2015. She started out as a Children’s Trauma Therapist then moved into the Children’s Trauma Program Manager and is now one of the Vice Presidents of Clinical Services. After receiving a B.A. in Psychology from Northeastern State University, Jordan earned an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach. While in Virginia Beach, she also completed training to become a Certified Traumatologist through the Green Cross Academy.  Throughout her career, she has primarily worked with children and adults who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence, physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and other traumas or stressors.

The post Domestic Violence Through A Child’s Eyes appeared first on haruv.

Estep Center at ECU 1100 E 14^th Street, Ada, OK 74820

FREE CEUs available for LCSW and LPC

Workshop description

Caregivers are the most powerful agents of healing for children who have traumatic experiences.  Attendees will learn how to support caregivers in talking with children about trauma. Through lecture, reflection, and discussion, participants will explore the following topics:

Why should we talk with children about trauma?

Why are adults hesitant to talk with children about trauma?

How do we talk with children about traumatic experiences?

Presenter’s bio

Ashleigh Kraft, LPC-S is the owner of Balanced Perspectives LLC where she provides consultation and training in the areas of infant mental health, non-profit leadership, and trauma informed care.  The major areas of focus in her professional experiences have included working with survivors of domestic violence, child maltreatment, and interpersonal trauma.  She is trained to provide Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Circle of Security and Reflective Supervision.  She is a state-wide trainer for CPP in Oklahoma and is endorsed through Zero to Three as a provisionally certified state trainer for DC:0-5.  Ashleigh is passionate about the power of relationships, supporting the professional growth of therapists, and the importance of early relationships.

The post Haruv USA and ECU Present: Talking to Children and Their Caregivers about Trauma appeared first on haruv.