Calendar of Events - Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children

Each year, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of research articles published in a variety of journals in disciplines which address important issues in child abuse and neglect. These range from basic sciences, neuroscience, and psychology, to epidemiology, public health, medicine, law, law enforcement, and other areas that report new and potentially important information for professionals responding to child abuse and neglect. This presenters for this session will search the world’s published literature for 2024 to review articles with information that can be used to improve practice and policy, while highlighting articles from APSAC’s journal Child Maltreatment and publications which participants can use in their work and that reflect the best science across disciplines. These are foundational articles which provide information that can be transformative in the field and can assist the participants throughout their professional careers. The presenters will make the articles “accessible” to the participants and will discuss important aspects of their study design, study sample and generalizability of results.

Theme: Connecting. Solving. Bridging. 
June 14–18, 2026 | Sheraton New Orleans

For over three decades, the APSAC Colloquium has been a cornerstone for professionals and researchers working to prevent and respond to child maltreatment. Now in its 33rd year, this go-to conference continues to bring together the field’s most respected voices and emerging innovators for a one-of-a-kind learning and networking experience.

The 33rd APSAC Colloquium brings together professionals, researchers, and advocates who believe that real progress happens when we connect across disciplines, solve with shared purpose, and bridge gaps in systems, communities, and understanding. Set in vibrant New Orleans, where collaboration and culture meet, this year’s gathering invites voices to come together -where various voices harmonize like jazz, creating bold, lasting solutions for children and families.

For the third year in a row, the Colloquium returns to New Orleans—a city where scholarship meets soul. Attendees don’t just come for the sessions—they return for the connection, culture, and community. Past participants have paraded in second lines, joined jazz-infused bar crawls, and built meaningful collaborations over beignets and bold ideas.

Group Registration Discounts
APSAC offers a discount for groups of five or more at a savings of 10% off the regular registration rate for each attendee in the group. Use the discount code GROUPREG to activate this discount. ​

Cancellations:
No cancellations. No refunds. Registration is transferable. Requests for transfer to a future event will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions please email us at apsaccolloquium@apsac.org.

Book your room here
The 2026 APSAC Colloquium will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. The discounted rate for conference attendees is $215 per night.

Interested in exhibiting at the 2026 APSAC Colloquium? Register here!

A First-of-Its-Kind, Multi-Module Training Series

For professionals who may talk with children about abuse — outside official CAC forensic interview roles. Whether in mental health, healthcare, education, child welfare, law enforcement, or frontline work, gain the skills to respond safely without causing harm.

Learn the Why, When & How

Safe, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed interviewing skills — stay in your role and reduce risk.

Why does this training matter?

• Fills a national gap for non-CAC interviewers
• Promotes trauma-informed, child-centered, legally sound practice
• Led by national experts in forensic interviewing & child protection

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Module 1: The Why and the When?

Module 2: The Practice of How? 

• Demonstrate Non-Invasive Interviewing Skills: Participants will learn techniques to establish rapport and conduct child-friendly, non-invasive conversations that encourage children to share concerns and basic information.
• Apply Open-Ended Questioning Techniques: Participants will learn how to utilize open-ended questions and narrative event practice to gather accurate, reliable information from children about their experiences.
• Understand Child Development and Memory: Participants will enhance their understanding of how children recall and communicate traumatic events.
• Support Investigations and Child Well-being: Professionals will be able to more effectively respond to children's statements in a manner that supports ongoing investigations, maintains trust, and prioritizes the child's emotional safety.

• Define the time and place for these interviews. Attendees will demonstrate the ability to differentiate from a formal child forensic interview. 
• Assess quality of interview questions: Attendees will be able to evaluate the quality of interview questions. 
• Advanced questioning: Demonstrate knowledge of language and memory development to generating interview questions  
• Advanced practice: Gain knowledge of challenges to talking with children and ways of reducing drift. Make a plan for avoiding draft. 

*Pre-Requisites for Module 3: Must complete Module 1 and have completed or registered for Module 2 prior to attending Module 3.
 
 

More Information

Professionals in many settings have contact with children who may have witnessed or been a victim of violence. Children sometimes make statements that are as alarming as they are unclear, resulting in a professional feeling anxious about child safety and confusion about how to manage a mandated report. In some situations, professionals need clarity regarding a child’s statement and in other situations professionals need to get some information from a child before or after an investigation and child forensic interview.
 
This training will teach child serving professionals across disciplines how to talk with the child in a non-invasive manner that allows the child to provide basic information about the concerns and feel supported in the process. Specific emphasis will be on how to enhance rapport building throughout an interview, address the importance of including narrative event practice prior to talking about the issue of concern, and will teach specific interview techniques focusing on the use of open-ended questions from narrative event practice through basic questioning about the concerns.
 
Presenters will cover memory and cognitive development research and the values of these skills. Presenters will also provide an overview of the components of child maltreatment investigations and child forensic interviewing. Attendees will learn and practice new skills that may help them respond effectively to children who make statements that raise child maltreatment or family violence concerns. The goal of using these skills is to support the child, get helpful basic information, and enhance, not hinder an investigation.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Limited space available!

Continuing Education for Modules 1 and 3 pending.

Continuing Education credits for module 2 may be earned and can be added in person at the San Diego conference or by calling 858-966-4972. Additional fees apply.

Chadwick Center: sandiegoconference.org