Organizations Partner to Train on Child Abuse Prevention in October

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 9, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031

Organizations Partner to Train on Child Abuse Prevention

PIERRE, S.D.—Hundreds of professionals and community members from across the region will come together for the 25th Annual Community Response to Child Abuse Conference on Oct. 2-3, 2025, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. 

The training event connects multidisciplinary team members while offering continuing education. The professional training and educational opportunities are geared toward teachers, medical professionals, school officials, dentists, law enforcement, social workers, mental health providers, youth service providers, the legal community, and other community members and child advocates.

Attendees will be able to hear from national and regional speakers on topics that will help professionals and the public better understand child abuse and strengthen response efforts.

Keynote addresses will include:

• Be the Difference: Belonging is the Support We Need: Gaelin Elmore, Speaker, Trainer and Belonging Expert
• Parenting Pathways: Real Talk with Real Providers: Panel Discussion
• Hope in Action: Turning Struggle into Strength: Tifanie Petro, Victim Services Director, Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office

Conference participants have the opportunity to choose from multiple breakout session opportunities. Examples of additional learning opportunities include:

• Honoring Lakota Ways to Protect and Uplift Children: Damon Leader Charge
• Apply Brain Science to Work as Frontline Professionals: Audra Fullerton
• Mastering the Stand: Best Practices for Testifying as an Expert Witness in Criminal Trials: Sarah Thorne
• Building Developmental Relationships with Vulnerable Youth: Ali Teesedale and Dana Martens

Registration is now available and includes an early bird discount through Aug. 1, 2025, as well as a student discount.

Conference co-hosts include South Dakota’s Unified Judicial System Court Improvement Program, Child’s Voice at Sanford Health, and Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment at the University of South Dakota. Conference details and registration are available at https://SDCPCM.com/Conference. 

—30—

About South Dakota Courts: The Unified Judicial System (UJS) consists of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts and State Court Administrator’s Office. The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and final decision maker on South Dakota law. The Circuit Courts are the state’s trial courts where criminal proceedings and civil litigation are handled. The State Court Administrator’s Office provides centralized administrative assistance and support services for the South Dakota judiciary. Learn more at https://ujs.sd.gov.