Child Maltreatment Symposium 2026

Presentation

From Pixels to Reality: The Impact of AI-Generated CSAM

The increased accessibility and popularity of Generative Artificial Intelligence has transformed the digital landscape and made innovation easier than ever. While beneficial for many use cases, bad actors are leveraging generative AI to sexually exploit children and there is growing concern about the dangers that this technology poses to the global fight for child safety. This session will discuss emerging trends seen by NCMEC’s CyberTipline, the implications of generative AI to the child safety ecosystem, and highlight available prevention, educational, and support resources for child-serving professionals. 

Presentation

A Global Landscape: Current Threats and Trends in Online Child Sexual Exploitation  

Responding to tens of millions of CyberTipline reports concerning offenders and child victims around the world, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) will share the current landscape of online child sexual exploitation. Emerging threats include a staggering increase in online enticement, child sex trafficking, financial sexual extortion of children, sadistic and violent exploitation groups, and challenges ahead with the rise of generative artificial intelligence. The session will also highlight NCMEC’s prevention and safety messaging for children and caregivers, educational and outreach resources available to child-serving professionals, and support resources available for victims and families.

Biography

Kathryn Rifenbark is the Director for CyberTipline, Public Reports, in the Exploited Children Division (ECD) at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), where she has worked for over 16 years. Kathryn is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of NCMEC's CyberTipline, the reporting mechanism within the U.S. for suspected online child sexual exploitation, with a concentration on its response to reports received from members of the public. In addition, she manages NCMEC's programs to notify companies of hosted CSAM material, to reduce revictimization of survivors. Kathryn helped spearhead NCMEC’s efforts to improve resources for reporting people and survivors of child sexual abuse material and continues that work today by liaising with law enforcement, victim service providers, and child serving professionals.

Presentation

The Science of Hope: Strengthening Children, Families, and the Systems that Support Them

The Science of Hope offers a research-based framework for understanding how children, families, and professionals move forward after trauma and adversity. This keynote will introduce the core components of hope—goals, pathways, and agency—and examine how experiences of maltreatment, chronic stress, and system involvement can disrupt a person’s sense of future possibility. Participants will leave with practical strategies to nurture and restore hope in their work with children, families, teams, and systems.

Biography

Dr. Angela Pharris is an Associate Professor at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma, Director of the Child Welfare Impact Institute, and Senior Researcher with the Hope Research Center. Her work focuses on applying the Science of Hope and trauma-informed practices across child welfare and human service systems. She is committed to developing hope-centered training, leadership, and organizational strategies that buffer against stress, adversity, and burnout while strengthening well-being and outcomes for professionals, children, families, and communities.

Presentation

Torture as a Form of Child Abuse

Torture has historically referred to deliberate, extreme, and inhumane physical and psychological harm, perpetrated commonly within politically or militarily motivated contexts by state actors to intimidate, coerce behaviors, degrade or even for the torturer’s sadistic pleasure. Few appreciate that torture also occurs within the family context, representing a distinct category of child maltreatment. This presentation will review common features of torture as a form of child abuse, including physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect/deprivation of basic necessities and social isolation that characterize most cases. Torture dynamics render this form of abuse distinguishable from other maltreatment types; rather than an act of impulse, torture is systematic, often protracted, and pervasive.

This presentation will discuss varied and bizarre maltreatment tactics experienced by tortured children, ingenuity of perpetrators, common perpetrator characteristics and possible indicators of torture that should be further evaluated by healthcare, social services, and other child-serving professionals. Illustrative photo-documentation and case-based examples will be used to highlight features of torture key to identification and protective intervention. Recommended aspects of the medical and mental health evaluation for tortured children will be reviewed, along with what is known about long-term physical and emotional outcomes. Unique medico-legal issues impacting child torture cases will be discussed and future directions for research and advocacy identified.

Biography

Dr. Stephanie Anne Deutsch is the Division Chief of Child Advocacy at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Deutsch serves as the Medical Director of the Nemours CARE (Children at Risk Evaluation) Program, a hospital-based child maltreatment assessment program, and is board certified in the fields of Child Abuse Pediatrics and General Pediatrics. Dr. Deutsch completed her residency training in General Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, New York and fellowship training in Child Abuse Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Deutsch earned a Master of Science in Physiology prior to medical school and a Master of Science in Clinical Research in 2023 from the Medical University of South Carolina. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and clinical faculty for two advanced pediatric medicine fellowship training programs at Nemours, including the Academic Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine programs. She has worked in clinical medical practice for over a decade and was recently recognized for achievements, receiving the Physician of Excellence 2022 Award from Nemours Children’s Health Medical Staff Board.

In her clinical role, Dr. Deutsch is involved in the care of several hundred suspected child victims of neglect, physical and sexual abuse annually, including those children who have experienced medical and dental neglect, physical neglect, abusive fractures, bruises, head and abdominal injury, child torture, drug ingestions, sexual abuse and assault. This reflects direct clinical care of infants, children and adolescents hospitalized at Nemours Children’s Health, outpatient assessments conducted through Nemours CARE Clinic, and the review and clinical oversight of the Nemours emergency department-based Forensic Nurse Examiner Program. Regarding her scholarly activity, Dr. Deutsch has authored over 40 publications (encompassing peer-reviewed manuscripts, editorials, book chapters) related to child abuse, neglect and other pediatric medical topics. She has presented at national research conferences and has lectured by invitation both nationally and internationally on child abuse.

Dr. Deutsch was appointed Co-Director of the Nemours Summer Undergraduate Research Program in 2019, wherein she mentors and supports the scholarly activity of college students participating in research projects in Delaware and Florida across all Nemours campuses. Dr. Deutsch has a diverse research repertoire and is interested in infant and child fatality prevention, child torture, radiologic imaging of child abuse, supporting families impacted by substance use, pediatric drug ingestion prevention, and child welfare policy.

Presentation

The Widespread Burden: How Child Maltreatment Impacts Children's Trajectories

A lecture on the widespread burden of child maltreatment in its various forms on children, and how this burden impacts the long-term trajectories of children's health and social outcomes. 

Biography

Nicholas Lopez is a child abuse pediatrician at OHSU, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, and CARES Northwest in Portland Oregon. He completed his pediatric training at Seattle Children's Hospital and his Child Abuse Fellowship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. He is passionate about helping children find stability, working towards healthy caregiver child relationships, and seeing children and families thrive.

Presentation

Bad Press: Child Abuse Medicine in the Media

How did so many people become convinced that the doctors are accusing innocent parents of child abuse? This session examines how science denialism techniques borrowed from the tobacco and climate wars have been systematically applied to child abuse medicine, and how a coordinated advocacy ecosystem translates fringe medical opinions into viral new stories, Netflix documentaries, legislative action, and court verdicts. By examining case studies from media coverage in NBC, Serial podcast, and the Netflix film Take Care of Maya, participants will learn to identify the structural features of manufactured controversy, understand how journalism incentives make even well-intentioned reporters vulnerable to these narratives, and develop concrete strategies for pushing back effectively in professional and public contexts.

Biography

Andrea Dunlop is the author of five books, including The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy, and the creator and host of Nobody Should Believe Me, an true crime podcast about the intersection of medicine and child abuse that The New York Times called “a rich and harrowing chronicle of the condition.” Since its debut in 2022, the award-winning show has been downloaded more than 20 million times.

Andrea is the founder of Munchausen Support, the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors and families affected by Munchausen by proxy. She serves on the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s Munchausen by Proxy Committee alongside leading experts in the field, and is a frequent keynote speaker at major medical and child protection conferences, including Stanford School of Medicine, APSAC Colloquia, and the International Conference on Abusive Head Trauma.

Presentation

Before the Disclosure: Recognizing the Pathway to Child Maltreatment

Child maltreatment rarely begins with abuse itself. Instead, it often develops through a gradual process in which offenders gain access, build trust, test boundaries, and create opportunities for exploitation. This presentation explores the pathway that can precede a child's disclosure of abuse, helping professionals recognize early warning signs that may otherwise appear harmless or even beneficial. Through a visual examination of grooming behaviors, relationship dynamics, and vulnerability factors, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how abuse develops over time and will be able to identify opportunities for prevention and early intervention before a child is harmed.

Biography

Dr. Lisa Liggins-Chambers, known professionally as “Dr. Lisa,” is a school psychologist with more than 28 years of experience specializing in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, psychological testing, and assessment. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and holds degrees from Tennessee State University and Fisk University.

A dedicated advocate for children and families, Dr. Lisa is an accomplished writer whose Psychology Today articles, including “Don’t Ignore Negative Behaviors in Sons” and “Shattering the Illusion of Invincibility in Black Women,” have received national recognition.

Dr. Lisa currently serves as Executive Director of the Champaign County Children’s Advocacy Center, where she leads efforts to support child abuse investigations, prevention, and victim advocacy. A sought-after speaker, she has been featured on radio and television programs and highlighted in CanvasRebel Magazine for her professional contributions and community impact.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Lisa is a proud wife, mother of three, and devoted fur mama to three beloved pets.

Presentation

The juxtaposition of silence, sexual violence and youth of color

Sexual violence interventions have historically failed to fully account for how intersectionality shapes survivors’ experiences of harm. For Youth Survivors of Color, these intersecting identities may influence whether they are believed, criminalized, or connected to meaningful care. Participants will examine how sexual violence movements, child welfare, juvenile justice, and multidisciplinary teams have sometimes overlooked the needs of Youth Survivors of Color, particularly when trauma responses are misidentified.  Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and survivor-centered practice, this workshop will address individual, community and societal factors which perpetuate harm. Participants will leave with practical strategies to improve engagement, assessment, advocacy, and multidisciplinary collaboration while reducing re-traumatization and promoting more equitable responses.

Biography

Dr. Tanisha L. Knighton is a licensed clinical psychologist, forensic consultant, and national trainer with over 15 years of experience in clinical, forensic, and academic settings. She is the founder of COHR Psychologists & Associates, LLC and Knighton Consulting Group, LLC, where she provides therapy, forensic evaluation, and organizational consultation.

Dr. Knighton specializes in ethics, trauma-informed care, supervision, culturally responsive practice, and adolescent engagement. A sought-after speaker, she delivers national trainings for multidisciplinary professionals on ethical decision-making, power dynamics in supervision, AI in behavioral health, and culturally grounded wellness. Her work centers on restoration, accountability, and sustainable systemic change. 

Presentation

Building the Case: Anticipating and Addressing Defense Challenges in Child Abuse Litigation

This presentation examines common defense theories advanced in child abuse litigation and explores how those opinions are developed, the methodologies upon which they rely, and the limitations inherent in those approaches. Particular attention will be given to abusive head trauma and fracture cases, including recurring themes, assumptions, and tactics used to challenge abuse diagnoses in both criminal and child protection proceedings.

Drawing upon case examples and litigation experience, the program will compare the processes utilized by defense experts with those of treating physicians and multidisciplinary child abuse professionals. Participants will gain insight into why treating medical teams are better positioned than defense experts to render reliable diagnostic conclusions through collaboration with multidisciplinary team members.

The presentation concludes with practical recommendations for physicians, social workers, law enforcement officers, and attorneys on evidence collection, documentation, communication, and case preparation. Attendees will leave with strategies for anticipating defense challenges, reinforcing the reliability of treating medical team's findings, and how to best position the prosecutor to challenge the retained expert's findings in court. 

Biography

Since graduating law school and becoming a licensed attorney in 2005, Robert has dedicated his career to public service and improving the lives of children in the greater Cook County community. 

Between 2006 and 2010, Robert represented youth in foster care as an Assistant Public Guardian at the Cook County Public Guardian's Office. In 2010, he was recruited to join the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as an Assistant State's Attorney, Child Protection Specialist- focusing his career on the protection of children and the provision of services to families by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. 

Robert transferred to the Juvenile Justice division where he saw to the fair and balanced resolution of criminal cases committed by defendant's under the age of 18 in 2015. 

Robert returned to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office's Child Protection Division as a supervisor in 2017 where he oversaw the Division's training, represented the State's Attorney in multiple local and statewide committees, and provided leadership and 

direction in the Division's efforts to serve dual system youth, protect children and support families. 

Robert was charged with developing and supervising the Cook County State's Attorney's Office's Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Division in 2025. As supervisor of VCAC, Robert is responsible for overseeing the charging and prosecution of violent crimes perpetrated by caregivers against children in Cook County. 

In addition to his supervisory and prosecutorial responsibilities, Robert regularly provides training to local, statewide, and national audiences on issues central to child protection and juvenile justice. His training focuses on the effective prosecution of child abuse, best practices when working with dual-system youth, and the coordination of child protection efforts across legal systems. He is recognized for translating complex legal and clinical concepts into practical strategies that strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration and improve outcomes for children and families. 

In 2018, Robert completed an executive fellowship with the Erikson Institute’s Early Childhood Leadership Academy. Robert was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to the state’s Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force in 2022. Robert was a member of the University of Chicago's Civic Leadership Academy 2025 cohort.

Presentation

From Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction

This presentation is a transformative workshop designed for professionals in caregiving roles who want to better understand the emotional impact of their work and reconnect with a deeper sense of meaning. Rather than viewing compassion fatigue through outdated or overly simplistic lenses, this session offers a fresh perspective that challenges old assumptions and invites participants to rethink what it truly means to care for others sustainably. Participants will explore the nuanced dynamics of compassion fatigue, examine how it shows up in their thoughts, emotions, bodies, and relationships, and reconsider common narratives about empathy, responsibility, and professional identity. Through engaging theory, practical exercises, and guided self-reflection, learners will develop personalized strategies for cultivating compassion satisfaction, the genuine fulfillment that can emerge from helping work done with awareness and intention.

Biography

Dr. Kate Watson is the President and Founder of The Advocacy Academy, a consulting company focused on developing skilled victim and family advocates to reduce violence around the world. With a master’s degree in psychological counseling and a doctorate in health policy and social justice, Dr. Watson’s expertise sits at the intersection of clinical care and systems advocacy. Her work bridges the deeply human experience of trauma, healing, and helping with the broader policies, systems, and institutions that shape survivors’ access to safety and support.

Through her work with The Advocacy Academy, Dr. Watson has conducted educational workshops in 32 states, 8 countries, and across many fields, including healthcare, education, social services, financial advising, victim advocacy, corrections, and leadership. On average, she speaks to 10,000 live audience members each year. She is an ongoing consultant to the Department of Defense, the NFL, and major television networks.

• B.A. Psychology, Towson University
• M.A. and Ed.M. Psychological Counseling, Columbia University
• Dr.PH Health Policy and Social Justice, Drexel University
• Certificate of Diversity and Inclusion, Cornell University Online
• Certificate of Feminist Organizing, Women’s March, Inc.
• Certificate in Polyvagal Therapy Coaching, Elevated Institute