ATSA Engagement event 2019

Over the last five years as part of its annual conference ATSA a public engagement event on the issue of sexual abuse and how we can engage communities in preventing it as well as responding to it; this year is no exception! The engagement event at this year’s ATSA conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Atlanta on the 7^th November 2019 from 15.00 – 17.00 hours.

To register:  www.Eventbrite.com/e/understanding-and-responding-tosexual-abuse-tackets-68137201203

The aim of the event is to engage professionals who have safeguarding as part of their jobs, but that it’s not their main role, and therefore would not be attending the ATSA conference. These professionals would include, but are not limited to, teachers, nurses, health care professionals, social carers, foster carers, youth workers, members of charities and NGO’s or people who would with vulnerable groups. The event will consist of 4 talks, each approximately 15 minutes, followed by a question and answers session with the panel and a networking event with representatives from the conference, members of ATSA as well as GASTA (The Georgia chapter of ATSA). This year’s topics and speakers include;

Ann Snyder, MMS, is the Public Affairs Coordinator for ATSA. She has more than 20 years of experience in media relations and crisis communications. She will discuss ways to develop effective messaging, address controversial issues, use questions from the media and public as educational opportunities, and help ensure your organization's message is heard. Ann Synder

Hayley Entrekin, EdD, LPC, ATSAF, CPCS is the ATSA Georgia Chapter (GATSA) president. She works as the Clinical Director at Haralson Behavioral Health Services, which is a rural county mental health agency. She is also the owner of Response & Prevention Counseling, where she is an evaluator of juveniles who have been charged with a sexual offense and teaches children safety empowerment strategies as a radKIDS instructor. Hayley will be briefly discussing where Georgia professionals can seek help: From prevention to acute/emergency situations to how to find/coordinate services for those that have a history of sexually harmful behaviors. 

Tyffani Monford Dent, PsyD is a licensed psychologist and the Clinical Director at a residential treatment center in Ohio. Dr. Dent has served as a consultant and trainer under various federal and state grants in the areas of working with juveniles who have engaged in problematic sexual behavior, supporting survivors of sexual abuse, family reunification after sexual abuse, sexual violence in juvenile correctional systems, and prevention/response to campus sexual assault. She will be addressing her work on both sides of the aisle of sexual violence and the importance of the collaboration between those who work with survivors and those who work with those who cause them harm.

Jocelyn Cooper is the Georgia and East Coast Outreach Coordinator for The Younique Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to heal the one and protect the many from sexual abuse. She will be highlighting a few best practices that can serve as tools to empower everyone to lead the discussion on prevention and healing in their respective circles of influence.

Kieran McCartan, PhD, is a Professor of Criminology from the University of the West of England in the United Kingdom and a member of the ATSA Board of Directors. Kieran will be discussing the causes of sexual abuse, focusing on the many reasons why a person will commit a sexual offence and how we can by better understanding these reasons, effectively prevent and respond to sexual abuse. Kieran's presentation will focus on sexual abuse from a  health, social and developmental perspective, rather than just looking at the issue from a criminal justice one.

We look forward to meeting you at the event.