San Joaquin County Office of Education to host child abuse symposium

For the past 17 years, educators, counselors, therapists and others who work with children and families have attended the Child Abuse Prevention Symposium. Put on by the Children’s Services Coordinating Commission and the San Joaquin County Office of Education, the symposium helps those who work with children learn how to spot potential child abuse cases and helps families find better solutions.

“Every person in San Joaquin County can help prevent child abuse and neglect,” said Cathy Long, coordinator of the CSCC.

While registration is closed for this year’s symposium, which will be held in Stockton on Wednesday, county residents can still attend a screening of the film

“Listen” at Lincoln High

School that evening.

It’s an often overlooked problem that more than 7 percent of the children in the county face, according to the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Joaquin County. That statistic takes only substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect into account, but that leaves out cases that aren’t reported, cannot be proven or are just never noticed. The theme of this year’s symposium is “The Power of Listening.”

To that end, three speakers will be speaking about various aspects of being good listeners to children in need.

Erahm Christopher, the writer, director and producer of the new film “Listen,” will talk about the importance of active listening.

That inspired him to create “Listen,” a film that looks at how failing to listen to each other and failing to connect with one another contributes to chaos in the lives of disconnected youths. He will share some active listening skills and clips from his movie.

Dr. Flojaune Griffin Cofer, who serves as the research and state policy manager for Public Health Advocates, will share information about motivational interviewing around sensitive topics such as child abuse or domestic violence.

And Margaux Helm, a licensed marriage and family therapist, will talk about the burnout and “compassion fatigue” those who work with children in bad situations can feel. She will offer information about vicarious trauma and share some of the “ABCs of coping.”

“Those are all revolving around listening, whether you’re listening to whoever you are working with or you’re listening to your own body,” Long said.

During the lunch hour, five awards will be handed out to county residents who have gone above and beyond in their work with children in need.

One of them will be Lodi’s own Pat Hill, who will be 2017’s “Distinguished Honoree” for her work.

Hill is a member of the Children’s Services Coordinating Commission, and has served as the commission’s chairwoman in the past. She spent many years working for for Lodi Unified School District, where she was assistant superintendent of elementary education, said Bev Lacy of Lodi Soroptimist, where Hill is a fellow member.

“She’s always cared about children,” Lacy said.

Through Soroptimist, Hill helped to organize educational forums about child trafficking. She also volunteers to help local senior citizens, among other interests, Lacy said.

Denise Warmerdam is also known to the Lodi community.

She’s the legislative assistant to Supervisor Chuck Winn, who represents the city.

“She’s going to be honored as our Volunteer of the Year,” Long said.

Those who can’t make it can still work to prevent child abuse, organizers said.

“People do want to know if they can prevent child abuse, and they can,” said Zachary Johnson, the public information officer for the county Office of Education.

People can volunteer to work with agencies that focus on helping children, or organize informational forums through their own volunteer organizations.

And anyone who suspects they know a child who is being harmed can report it anonymously, Long said.

San Joaquin County has a child abuse hotline at 209-4681333. All reports made through that hotline are forwarded to Child Protective Services for investigation.