You can use the filters on the to browse the full scope of training Zero Abuse Project is able to offer for your organization. Most trainings are available for organizations to book on a fee-for-service basis.
If you are an individual seeking training, please visit our Events & Training Calendar to view and register for upcoming trainings hosted by Zero Abuse Project. Unfortunately, Zero Abuse Project cannot book an individual’s request for training.
As multidisciplinary teams and forensic interviewers we have an obligation to be trauma informed in our practice and reduce systems inflicted harm as much as possible; it is the foundation of our multidisciplinary team response. This training will discuss the nature of trauma, how it impacts victims and professionals and how teams and interviewers can incorporate trauma informed practice into
This workshop will explore common challenges to social media and digital evidence, with an emphasis on comprehending and countering authentication and hearsay challenges. Instruction will focus on relevant case law and rules of evidence, including various jurisdictional approaches and prosecutorial strategies.
This workshop will explore six common defenses in cases involving child sexual abuse material. Instruction will focus on investigative and prosecutorial response to these defenses, as well as contextualizing and/or refuting defense mitigation arguments at sentencing.
This workshop will equip multidisciplinary teams with practical investigative and prosecutorial strategies for technology-facilitated child abuse cases. Topics include systemic best practices for conducting abuse investigations, locating potential sources of corroborative evidence, understanding offender communication strategies, and utilizing hearsay exceptions.
This workshop will review tactical and substantive considerations while conducting cross-examinations of digital forensics defense experts in child exploitation cases. Instruction will include preparation strategies, review of the defense expert’s curriculum vitae, potential lines of questioning, evaluating digital forensics reports, and a live cross-examination demonstration.
A basic understanding of digital forensics is critical to a prosecutor’s assessment of evidence, guidance of child exploitation investigations, and courtroom performance. This workshop will define key terms and processes in the field of digital forensics, explore key forensic artifacts, and discuss legal challenges surrounding mobile devices and other evidentiary sources.
This workshop will review tactical and substantive considerations while conducting direct examinations of digital forensic examiners in child exploitation cases. Instruction will include key forensic terms and processes, trial preparation strategies, and jury considerations.
This workshop will explore several technological concepts with relevance to the investigation and prosecution of technology-facilitated child abuse, including the basic functions and structure of the internet, common applications and platforms, the dark web and anonymization trends, and the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation.
This workshop will provide an overview of the impact of child abuse on the spirituality of victims. In addition to an overview of research on this subject, students will receive concrete suggestions for assisting children in overcoming spiritual blocks that may impair the ability of a child to discuss maltreatment. The workshop includes a discussion on coordinating medical and mental
Children face many barriers when disclosing child abuse and maltreatment. Research tells us that even in cases where there is external corroborating evidence children only disclose 42-50% of the time in the formal interview. This training provides guidance on how to address reluctance in the forensic interview process, specifically with regard to the multidisciplinary team response, how to prepare children
Dance Professionals are uniquely positioned as mentors, leaders, and community builders to have a huge positive influence in the lives of children. We also know that parts of dance culture can attract unhealthy and, in some cases, predatory individuals looking to insert themselves into positions of power and authority as a way of causing harm. This 2-hour online class will
Self-care should be an individual priority, but it cannot be achieved without support from your professional and personal communities. True self-care requires support and resources from leadership.
Many defense attorneys attempt to deflect juror attention away from a child’s allegations of abuse by attacking the manner in which the child was interviewed. The implicit or explicit claim is that the interviewer purposefully or unwittingly planted the allegation of abuse in the child’s mind. Fearful of the anticipated attack on the investigative interview, some prosecutors decline to file
In this moving and hopeful address, students will learn the five obstacles that prevent us from ending child abuse and will learn about sweeping changes now taking place in our child protection system that will enable us to significantly reduce and perhaps eliminate child abuse over the course of the next three generations. The keynote is based on a scholarly
In this workshop, students learn of institutional dynamics that may allow child abuse to flourish. Applying this knowledge, students will be given concrete steps for policy and training reform and the need to develop stronger relationships between MDTs, faith communities, and youth serving organizations
Many maltreated children are spiritually impacted by abuse and require a coordination of medical, mental health, and spiritual care. This course examines this research and explores creative reforms for bringing faith and child protection communities together to protect children and address their needs. The course also explores how MDTs can recognize and respond to spiritual injuries before, during, and after
This course is designed for faith and child protection leaders who have completed Zero Abuse Project’s two-day Keeping Faith course. Attendees receive instruction on preventing abuse in vulnerable populations including children with disabilities and sexual and gender minority youth. There is also an in-depth workshop on the sexual behaviors of youth and a detailed exploration of the cognitive distortions of
Many child protection professionals believe child abuse is likely to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic as most abusers are parents or siblings now have more complete access to the child victim. In turn, the victim may no longer have schoolteachers, faith leaders, or other mandated reporters accessible for help or who may be able detect a sign of abuse. Children
The field of child abuse and maltreatment exposes practitioners to secondary traumatic stress; the forensic interview is where the most intimate and detailed accounts of this abuse and maltreatment are gathered. This training discusses the importance of self-care for the forensic interviewer and how individuals, organizations, and systems can best support frontline professionals.
This short webinar goes over best practices for parents and those who work with youth about how to make personal body safety messages empowering and effective.
The work we do matters. The way we treat our colleagues and clients matter. Using humor, story-telling, and anecdotes from the field, this session will remind listeners why self care is crucial and how we can learn and be inspired by others.
Emerging from isolation and sheltering at home is an unprecedented event for educators all over the world. As we continue to learn the impact of Covid-19 on the physical and mental well-being of both adults and youth, we must take action to mitigate the negative impact. Educators, pediatricians and child abuse professionals have been concerned that child abuse is thriving
A primer on the research supporting the use of media as well as research often used by defense experts to critique the usage of dolls and diagrams in forensic interviews
Social Media is not going away. As social media adapts and changes, young people are either creating the adaptations or adapting right along with it. Professionals can face a steep learning curve as they attempt to respond to new risks in the lives of the young people they serve. This presentation provides tools to help professionals get on the front
Children will learn about personal safety in this interactive session. Topics covered are: the buddy system, checking first, secrets vs. surprises, 5 trusted adults, listening to your “uh-oh” feeling, and body ownership. Never fear-based, this material is covered in a way that empowers children. (This presentation is often combined with Teachable Safety Skills presentation for parents).
Protecting children from child abuse and maltreatment requires that everyone understand how to recognize, respond and report any form of maltreatment a child may experience. FIRST response is often the single most important step in effectively responding and reporting maltreatment.
FIRST will give you and your community the tools necessary to better protect kids. The training combines both lecture and practicum, giving participants the tools and practical skills to better communicate with a child during the initial outcry of maltreatment.
The FIRST process teaches three critical components:
1. How to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and maltreatment
2. How to listen and respond to a child’s needs
3. How to effectively and accurately report any form of maltreatment to authorities
Your FIRST Response to Child Maltreatment training teaches participants how to listen to children who have experienced maltreatment and gather the correct information needed in a way that puts the child’s needs FIRST.
This training is also available as a Train-the-Trainer model with a licensing agreement to teach the material in your own community. Offerred as a 90 minute overview or a 3-hour comprehensive basic course.
Despite what TV shows and true crime podcasts suggest, DNA evidence is not a “miracle solution” that can solve every crime or prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on its own. It must be considered within the context of the entire case. In this presentation, we will explore how the defense may use DNA evidence to support its narrative, including strategies involving DNA transfer to explain away incriminating findings. Attendees will also have the opportunity to think through case-specific defenses and consider how other forms of evidence can help contextualize DNA results.
In the United States, hundreds of children have died and thousands more have endured pain or illness that could have been prevented with basic medical care. This workshop addresses instances in which medical care is withheld on the basis of religious belief. The workshop explores the basis for these beliefs and the possibility of working within myriad cultures to nonetheless treat the child. The workshop also explores when, over the objection of a parent, the government can intervene to provide necessary medical care to a child.
Although there is a large body of research finding medical and mental health risks associated with corporal punishment, most parents continue to hit their children as a means of discipline. In many instances, the practice is justified based on religious teachings. Using a case history, this presentation discusses the basis for these teaching and offers concrete, culturally sensitive approaches for moving parents away from corporal punishment and toward more effective means of discipline.
All alleged child victims should be entitled to a multidisciplinary (MDT) process and forensic interview that is aligned with best practice, research-based, and developmentally and culturally appropriate. Some youth served by the MDT may be currently or historically impacted by or involved in the criminal justice system, which will shape what they need from the process. This training will look at considerations for serving justice impacted youth, including currently or formerly incarcerated youth, and/or youth concurrently or previously accused of crimes or misconduct.
What every parent fears: an alert from their children’s school, notifying them of some event like an active shooter. Schools train, drill, and have alerts for active shooters, fires, and other disasters; however, when it comes to addressing in-school sexual assaults – particularly those committed by students – most schools find themselves with no plan. This leads to problems for investigators, prosecutors and school officials as they try to achieve justice for survivors and keep the school environment safe. This presentation will focus on building strong cases when a sexual assault occurs in a school environment, with a focus on evidence collection, obtaining digital evidence and navigating school policies. Attendees will be encouraged to think about specialized legal proceedings like waiver hearings (trying juveniles as adults). Finally, we will discuss unique trial issues, including witness intimidation, working with reluctant witnesses, and overcoming juror biases.
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 workshop explores 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.
Students will receive an overview of the literature concerning the emotional abuse of a child and will receive concrete suggestions for investigating these cases and for proving an allegation of emotional abuse in either a civil child protection or a criminal case.
When most people hear the word “rape”, they still think of the stranger rapist with the gun, despite the progress of the “Me Too” Movement and some highly publicized non-stranger sexual abuse cases. Prosecutors, police, and advocates are far more likely to encounter cases in which the survivor and the offender have some pre-existing relationship. This presentation will focus attendees on how to build strong non-stranger sexual assault cases that have jury appeal, that offer victim protections and support, and that counter defenses commonly raised in non-stranger cases.
The tragedy of youth sexually abusing other children is frequently encountered by prosecutors and forensic interviewers, yet it poses significant and persistent challenges. This workshop provides pertinent strategies and research for the effective, appropriate intervention and prosecution of juvenile offenders.
Many defense attorneys attempt to deflect juror attention away from a child’s allegations of abuse by attacking the manner in which the child was interviewed. The implicit or explicit claim is that the interviewer purposefully or unwittingly planted the allegation of abuse in the child’s mind. Fearful of the anticipated attack on the investigative interview, some prosecutors decline to file charges in cases involving only eyewitness testimony of a young child. In this workshop students will learn how to successfully defend the investigative interview.
It is a powerful responsibility to ensure that children, youth, and vulnerable adults are able to thrive within a faith community. The importance of creating and maintaining safe places for ALL members, especially those unable to protect themselves, must be considered with great care. This session provides specific policies and practices to address while detailing why faith communities must be prepared to handle the problem of child sexual abuse.
Many maltreated children are spiritually impacted by abuse and require a coordination of medical, mental health, and spiritual care. This slightly shortened presentation suitable as a keynote examines this research and explores creative reforms for bringing faith and child protection communities together to protect children and address their needs. The workshop also explores how MDTs can recognize and respond to spiritual injuries before, during and after the forensic interview.
There is corroborating evidence in every case of child abuse, including cases of sexual abuse. Using actual vignettes, the presenter helps attendees see corroborating evidence that is almost always present but often missed. Working as team, students will learn to tear apart a child’s statement and find the corroborating physical evidence in cases of child sexual abuse.
In this workshop, students will learn the importance of effective strategies and themes for opening statements and closing arguments in child abuse cases. Students will learn a theme for presenting their case. They will learn specific arguments to persuade a jury that a child is telling the truth. They will learn to debunk common defenses in child abuse cases.
This training will give youth workers, faith leaders, teachers, and caregivers tools to support them in having conversations with young people about pornography.
The work we do matters. The way we treat our colleagues and clients matter. Using humor, story-telling, and anecdotes from the field, this session will remind listeners why self care is crucial and how we can learn and be inspired by others.
As the world becomes more digitally connected, offenders can now commit multiple, virtual sexual assaults without ever leaving their homes. Sextortion – the use of coercion to compel a victim to engage in some form of sexual conduct – has been steadily increasing over the years, and now may involve international actors and financial components. This presentation will focus attendees on factors to consider when working with the victims traumatized by these offenses, including victim interviewing and evidence gathering, protecting victims during the court process, and addressing victim needs for physical safety and their mental health.
Self-care should be an individual priority, but it cannot be achieved without support from your professional and personal communities. True self-care requires support and resources from leadership. This workshop provides an overview of the research on the vicarious trauma of working with families impacted by trauma. There will be opportunities to self-assess how your professional community is helping in prevention of burnout and concrete opportunities for growth.
Corroborative evidence can often be the deciding factor on whether or not a case moves forward for charging. Many cases of abuse and assault often appear to only have the victim and suspect as the “witnesses”. This presentation will explore ways that police and prosecutors can look beyond those two witnesses and identify ways to present compelling, corroborating evidence. Using traditional methods of physical evidence and advancing ideas in technology, attendees will be encouraged to think outside the box.
Domestic violence and stalking investigations can become a tedious task for any investigator. To conduct a successful investigation, digital evidence recovery is essential to aid in the corroboration of the victim’s statement. The offender may impose physical injury, but they will also routinely harass, threaten, and inflict psychological trauma upon their victims while committing crimes in person or during online interactions. Investigators must equip themselves with the latest tools and techniques available to obtain solid evidence for the prosecution’s case against these offenders. This course will provide examples of how to locate digital evidence through using search warrants to establish a pattern of behavior, which can corroborate the victim’s statement. An emphasis will also be placed on the best legal practices for digital evidence recovery, storage, and presentation for prosecution.
In this moving and hopeful address, students will learn the five obstacles that prevent us from ending child abuse and will learn about sweeping changes now taking place in our child protection system that will enable us to significantly reduce and perhaps eliminate child abuse over the course of the next three generations. The keynote is based on a scholarly work that was published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, and in the Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy, Fall 2006.
An understanding of the forensic interviewing process is essential for supervisors in order to assist in the growth of their interviewers and to gain familiarity with the required peer review and mentoring processes. This advanced workshop includes a history and overview of the ChildFirst® Forensic Interviewing Protocol and discusses best practices in the field, new research, and the process for annual updates. Concrete suggestions regarding strengths and challenges in the field will be provided, as well as an opportunity for questions in group forum format. (Available as a full day or a half day to include only the Supervising Forensic Interviewers content)
This training explains how trauma affects youth brain functioning, especially in high-stress situations, and provides officers with strategies to interpret trauma-related behavior and reduce harm.
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.
Zero Abuse Project is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to the elimination of child sexual abuse. Our programs are designed to provide training and education to professionals and students, and to help transform institutions to effectively prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.
