Safe at Home conference returns Oct. 24 with focus on survivors and prevention strategies

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Press Release

The Child Advocacy Center of Niagara (CAC), a service of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, in collaboration with the Niagara County Family Violence Intervention Project, announced the 24th annual “Safe at Home: Seeking Solutions to End Family Violence Conference,” taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at Niagara Riverside Resort.

The conference, which stands out in the Niagara Region, unites renowned national experts and local professionals to comprehensively examine critical issues concerning family violence, child abuse and trauma. Through a mix of compelling keynote addresses and interactive workshops, this year’s event will provide attendees with new strategies and tools to support prevention, intervention and healing.

"This year, we’re focusing on the power of survivors' stories and prevention techniques anchored in the latest research," said Shelley Hitzel, LMSW, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center. "We aim to equip professionals with the knowledge and resources to drive meaningful, lasting change in their communities.”

The conference’s featured speakers include Alicia Kozakiewicz, a survivor of one of the first internet-related child abduction cases, who will discuss online grooming and child exploitation, stressing the importance of vigilance in protecting children in today’s digital age; and Andrew Campbell, an expert on family violence, who will share his personal experience as a survivor and his research on breaking cycles of abuse.

Afternoon workshops by national and local experts will include sessions led by Dr. Noelle St. Vil, associate professor at the UB School of Social Work, who will discuss survival strategies used by low-income Black women experiencing intimate partner violence; and Andrew Campbell, who will present on the bidirectional relationship between community violence and family violence, including how exposure to community violence can increase risk of abuse in homes.

Molly Burke, a certified trauma-informed yoga instructor and lead rape crisis advocate at the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier, will guide attendees through a session on asana (seated yoga) and mindful pranayama (breathwork). This session will offer self-care techniques tailored for professionals working with trauma survivors.

The conference will also include a toiletry drive, which encourages attendees to bring personal care items to support local agencies assisting survivors of family violence.

Registration is $50 and includes lunch. The registration deadline is Oct. 14. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information or to register, visit http://cacofniagara.org/services/family-violence-intervention-project/.