Enhance your ability to advocate for children impacted by abuse and neglect at the UWEC Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Symposium—a key training resource for professionals working with children and families.
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Oct. 6, 2025 | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
UW-Eau Claire Campus: W.R. Davies Center 77 Roosevelt Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701 |
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Gain the expertise needed to effectively support victims and survivors of child maltreatment.
This Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Symposium offers practical skills and a multidisciplinary understanding of child maltreatment, enabling professionals to recognize, assess, manage, and respond to these critical situations. Join us on Wisconsin's most beautiful campus, UW-Eau Claire, on October 6th, and gain actionable insights, confidence to effectively advocate for child welfare, and a better understanding of the network of support that is available to you.
Why Attend?
- Learn from leading experts in child advocacy and protection
- Enhance your ability to identify and respond to child maltreatment
- Build confidence in your role as a mandated reporter
- Connect with a multidisciplinary network of professionals
Browse the workshops below to discover focused training on key child advocacy topics.
Keynote Address
The History of Child Protection in the United States: Everything Old Is New Again
Speaker: Victor Vieth, Chief Program Officer, Education and Research, Zero Abuse Project
Description: Explore the evolution of the child protection movement in the U.S. through this compelling keynote. Victor Vieth will trace the societal forces, key leaders, and pivotal moments that shaped the field, from the medical community’s role in mandated reporting to the impact of federal legislation on child protection systems.
Session One Workshops
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What if They Were Ready? CAST & The Future of Child Serving Professions.
Presenters:
- Tyler Counsil, Director, Child Advocacy Studies (CAST), Center for Education & Workforce Development, Zero Abuse Project
- Jamie Tester Morfoot, J.D., MSW, Associate Professor UWEC Department of Social Work CAST Coordinator
Description:
This session explores the vital role of child maltreatment training in postsecondary education and how the Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) curriculum equips future professionals to prevent, identify, and respond to abuse. Attendees will gain insights into research demonstrating CAST’s positive impact on student competencies related to child maltreatment mitigation. The presentation will also highlight key resources and support services offered by the CAST Team at Zero Abuse Project to help faculty effectively integrate CAST coursework into their academic programs.
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See, Speak, Shield: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
Presenter:
Rachel Pierce, DNP, FNP-C, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, UW–Eau Claire
Description:
A comprehensive overview of child abuse, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify, report, and respond effectively. Attendees will explore the four primary types of abuse—physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect—with a focus on clinical signs and symptoms that may present in pediatric patients. The session will also clarify the legal and ethical responsibilities of mandated reporters, including best practices for documentation and communication. Finally, participants will gain strategies for maintaining professionalism and therapeutic rapport when working with families in suspected abuse cases, ensuring child safety while upholding compassionate care standards.
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From Womb to Tomb – Why Talking About Sexuality Is Important
Presenter:
Javin Hintz, PhD, LICSW, LCSW, CST, CCTP
Description:
Sexual wellness is crucial to overall mental health and well-being at all stages of life. Unfortunately, among studies of multiple disciplines, mental health providers are the least willing to discuss sexual health concerns with consumers. Join me for this brief breakout session, an excerpt from the Curiosity is Velocity Sexuality Series, to explore why these conversations are essential regardless of what age of consumers you work with, some common barriers to talking about sexuality with consumers, and strategies that you can start using today to open the door for some professionally sexy and appropriate dialogue. This breakout is suitable for all professionals, and will be lecture-based, with a dash of personal reflection and a splash of conversation.
Session Two Workshops
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Mandated Reporting Through a Trauma Responsive and Racial Justice Lens
Presenters:
- Miriam Itzkowitz, MSW, LICSW
- Katie Olson, J.D.
Description:
Mandated reporting is a professional responsibility for all helping professionals. Despite our best intentions, and our belief in evidence-based practice, mandated reporting remains one of the few areas in which professionals do not regularly examine best practices or look beyond their perceived legal and ethical obligations. How do we incorporate all that we know about trauma, racial disproportionality in child welfare, the importance of relationships, and ethical, evidence-based practice into our legal duty as mandated reporters? In this training, professionals will learn alternatives to mandated reporting that can prevent child maltreatment, promote family preservation, and maintain client engagement. Participants will be asked to take a critical eye to the legal and ethical implications of the decision to report and consider ways in which these decisions have impact for families, and for our professions, beyond the reporting call.
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Where are the Boys? Investigating and Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse When the Victim Is Male
Presenter:
Victor Vieth, Chief Program Officer, Education and Research, Zero Abuse Project
Description:
The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study found that approximately one out of six men were sexually abused as children. Unfortunately, most sexually abused boys will never make an outcry during childhood and, even if abuse is discovered, investigators and prosecutors will face barriers that impede their ability to protect these children. This presentation explores and overview of the research on the sexual abuse of boys and offers concrete suggestions for conducting forensic interviews with these children, investigating crimes against boys, and presenting these cases to a jury. This is done, in part, through a discussion of a hypothetical case study that illustrates the challenges of responding to crimes against boys.
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Enhancing Safety: Using Immersive Reality to Teach About Environmental Safety
Presenters:
- Meg Lagunas, MEd, PhD, RN, CHSE-A
- Andy Prevenas, Technical Integration Engineer with the UWEC College of Nursing
- Kerie Olson, BS, BSN, RN, CCRN, Simulation Specialist of the Clinical Learning Center with the College of Nursing
Description:
Join us for an immersive reality simulation activity designed to help professionals learn and practice environmental safety. We will briefly touch on the value of teaching and practicing environmental safety in our professional lives. Additionally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using immersive reality as an educational tool and brainstorm how this kind of technology can be used to enhance professional training.
Session Three Workshops
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From Cabbage Patch to Crime Scene: Best Practices in Child Death Investigation
Presenter:
Dr. Tyler Counsil, Director of CAST, Zero Abuse Project
Description:
This is a course designed for death investigators (Coroners, Deputy Coroners) and the death investigation Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). Learners will be educated on best practices for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Investigations (SUIDIs). Topics covered will include conducting death scene interviews and collecting pertinent death-related information and data, anatomical SUIDI doll reenactment best practices and doll code of conduct, scene walkthrough fundamentals and photographic reconstruction considerations. Trauma-practicing investigative fundamentals and cultural humility and competency components will be integrated into the best practice considerations for this training. A special segment will also cover Secondary Traumatic Stress concepts and the need for self-care as a part of debriefing from SUIDIs.
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Enhancing Safety: Using Immersive Reality to Teach About Environmental Safety
Presenters:
- Meg Lagunas, MEd, PhD, RN, CHSE-A
- Andy Prevenas, Technical Integration Engineer
- Kerie Olson, BS, BSN, RN, CCRN
Description:
Join us for an immersive reality simulation activity designed to help professionals learn and practice environmental safety. We will briefly touch on the value of teaching and practicing environmental safety in our professional lives. Additionally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using immersive reality as an educational tool and brainstorm how this kind of technology can be used to enhance professional training.
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Building CAST: Why It’s Important Preparation for Young Professionals
Presenter:
Panel facilitated by Jamie Tester Morfoot, J.D., MSW, Associate Professor UWEC Department of Social Work CAST Coordinator
Description:
This presentation will involve a panel of recent CAST graduates or current students who will answer directed questions about their experience with the CAST curriculum, its relationship to their careers, and where they would like to see CAST expand. Time will also allow the attendees to ask questions of the panel and of the facilitator regarding the UWEC CAST Curriculum.
Session Four Workshops
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ICAC: Sextortion Trends and Victim Resources
Presenters:
- Maloree Zassenhaus, Special Agent, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation
- Josh Draeger, Special Agent, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation
- Amanda Mohr, Crime Response Specialist, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation
Description:
A brief overview of the importance of working Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases and the realities of sextortion in the community. This presentation will cover the trends of sextortion and resources DCI can provide, including Crime Response Specialists and their role with victims.
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Now What?— When Unsubstantiated Abuse Allegations Appear in the Family Court.
Presenters:
- Kimberly Reklau, Assoc. of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
- Graham Wiemer, Assoc. of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
Description:
When no criminal charges are issued or pending, can the family court go first in deciding of abuse even when there is no criminal or children’s court actions? What arguments are made? How does the family court investigate the allegations? What does the family court investigate? Where does a Guardian ad Litem fit into this?
Under Wis. Stat. § 767.407(4) addresses the responsibilities and duties of a lawyer acting as a Guardian ad Litem, and requires that the guardian ad litem shall be an advocate for the best interests of a minor child as to paternity, legal custody, physical placement, and support. The guardian ad litem functions independently, in the same manner as an attorney for a party to the action, and shall consider, but shall not be bound by, the wishes of the minor child or the positions of others as to the best interests of the minor child. The guardian ad litem shall consider the factors under Wis. Stat. § 767.41 (5) (am). The guardian ad litem shall investigate whether there is evidence that either parent has engaged in interspousal battery, or domestic abuse, and shall report to the court on the results of the investigation. Unless the child otherwise requests, the guardian ad litem shall communicate to the court the wishes of the child as to the child’s legal custody or physical placement under Wis. Stat. § 767.41(5)(am)2. The guardian ad litem has none of the rights or duties of a general guardian. The presentation will largely follow the 14 factors set forth in Wis. Stat. § 767.41(5) as an outline.
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It’s Up to Us: Navigating Compounded Trauma with LGBTQ+ Youth
Presenter:
Amanda Schumacher, Sexual Assault Program Director – Family Support Center
Description:
We know that LGBTQ+ youth, like their non-LGBTQ+ peers, experience incidents of abuse and neglect. And, when we expand our understanding of trauma to encompass not only events, but the impact of pervasive and sustained hostility, we can begin to understand how these traumas compound. This session will look at the ways existing in a traumatic social context can affect the ways in which LGBTQ+ youth identify, process, and approach healing from individual traumas, and how we can advocate for more compassionate and effective systemic responses.
Optional Additional Session
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CPS 101: I Made a Mandated CPS Report, Now What?
Presenter:
Tasha Alexander, Eau Claire County Social Work Manager – Centralized Access & CPS Initial Assessment
Description:
Decision-making in child maltreatment cases is often complex and multifaceted. This presentation will walk participants through the key steps of the Child Protective Services (CPS) process, beginning with the screening of Access reports and continuing through safety assessments, maltreatment substantiation, court intervention and case closure. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how decisions are made at each stage, and how practices are guided by Wisconsin state statutes, Department of Children and Families Standards, and evidence-informed approaches. This session is especially valuable for mandated reporters and professionals who want to better understand what happens after a CPS report is made—and how their involvement fits into the larger system of child safety and family support.
Click the button below to view bios and background information for our conference speakers.
Who should attend
Social workers, licensed professional counselors, therapists, education professionals, healthcare professionals, law enforcement , and legal professionals.