Protecting Innocence Symposium 2026

Registration Deadline: October 1, 2026 

COURSE OVERVIEW: 

The topics covered in this symposium are:

    It Takes a Village: How Communities Enable Child Sex Predators
    Online Exploitation and Sextortion: Awareness and Response 
    Strengthening Organizational Policies and Procedures 
    The Family Strengthening and Family Safety: Transformation at Illinois DCFS 
  
Participants will increase their knowledge and ability to:

  • Apply evidence-based strategies for the prevention of child maltreatment, including
    recognizing protective factors and family-strengthening interventions.

 • Identify clinical, behavioral, and environmental indicators of child abuse, grooming, child
   sexual exploitation, and barriers to disclosure using a trauma-informed approach.

 • Evaluate opportunities to improve multidisciplinary collaboration and implement
   organizational and community-based strategies that enhance child safety and promote
   family well-being.

COURSE GOALS: 

Following participation, learners are expected to:

• Incorporate prevention and family-strengthening strategies into routine clinical
  encounters when appropriate.

• Improve recognition of children at risk for abuse, exploitation, or neglect and respond
  with timely, evidence-based assessment, documentation, reporting, and referral.

• Utilize trauma-informed communication techniques that support children and caregivers,
  reduce re-traumatization and encourage engagement in care.

• Strengthen collaboration with multidisciplinary partners, including child advocacy
  centers, child protective services, behavioral health providers, schools, law enforcement,
  and community organizations, to improve coordinated care and child protection.

• Identify opportunities within their own organizations to improve policies, protocols, and
  quality improvement initiatives related to child maltreatment prevention and response.

Implementation of the knowledge and skills gained from this activity is expected to contribute to:

• Earlier recognition and intervention for children experiencing abuse, neglect,
  exploitation, or trafficking.

• Improved access to timely medical, behavioral health, advocacy, and protective services.

• More consistent delivery of trauma-informed, family-centered care that supports healing
  and reduces the risk of re-traumatization.

• Enhanced collaboration among healthcare, child welfare, education, law enforcement,
  and community partners, resulting in more coordinated and effective responses to child
  maltreatment.

• Increased emphasis on prevention and protective factors, ultimately promoting safer
  environments, stronger families, and improved health and well-being for children

COURSE PREREQUISITES: 
This course will be offered to professionals who work with children and families, including physicians, mental health professionals, educators, school personnel, law enforcement, social workers, child advocacy professionals, multidisciplinary team members and representatives from child-serving organizations are invited to attend this year’s event. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford students, residents, staff and faculty are also invited to attend. 

METHODS OF EVALUATION: 
Evaluation forms will be provided by NITAB will be completed by each law enforcement participant will provide feedback to the MTU on the quality of the course content and the instructors' effectiveness in delivering this content.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: 
This is a state-certified course. Consequently, no more than 10% of class time, or .8 hours, may be missed. It is strongly suggested that students missing any time contact the instructor in advance and make suitable arrangements to pick up and/or review missed materials or information presented.
 

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING