More than 1,000 people attended the Ohio Attorney General’s recent Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance. The 21st annual event drew victims, advocates, social service workers, criminal justice professionals, and others for dozens of workshops, several speakers, and a foster care symposium. Some highlights:
Programs, people to emulate
The 2012 Promising Practice Award went to It’s Abuse, a program of the Center for Family Safety and Healing in Columbus. Designed to educate college students about relationship abuse, the campaign was piloted at Ohio State in 2006 and now operates on eight Ohio campuses. It is
carried out, in part, through a website at
www.itsabuse.com.
Delaware police Sgt. John Radabaugh earned the 2012 Special Achievement Award. A valued partner of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner teams, victim advocates, prosecutors, and agencies, he is a resource for survivors and a leader on the Delaware County Sexual Assault Response Team.
Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that next year’s gathering will feature the inaugural Robert Denton Special Achievement Award. It is named for Rev. Robert Denton of Akron, a state and national leader for victim rights.
Symposium gathers experts
The Ohio Foster Youth Symposium at Two Days in May drew about 180 foster alumni, child protection professionals, juvenile court judges, and community members to discuss strategies for strengthening Ohio’s foster care system. Attorney General DeWine and Commissioner Bryan Samuels of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children, Youth and Families shared state and national perspectives on foster care.
The symposium is part of the Attorney General’s comprehensive review of Ohio’s foster care system, which has included Child Safety Summits throughout the state. A report on the review’s findings is planned.