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Martha Spera, 973.655.4333

Can there be an end child abuse within the next 120 years? Child abuse expert Dr. Victor Vieth will explore the possibility in his keynote address at a national conference sponsored by the Center for Child Advocacy at Montclair State University and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.

"Child Maltreatment and Beyond: New Approaches and Initiatives" will take place Friday, April 21, on the Montclair State campus. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Following a welcome by Dr. Mary Papazian, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr. Robert McCormick, director of Montclair State's Center for Child Advocacy, Vieth will present "Unto the Third Generation: A Call to End Child Abuse Within 120 Years."

A graduate of Hamline University School of Law, Vieth worked as a prosecutor in rural Minnesota where he gained national recognition for his work to address child abuse in small communities. Named to the President's Honor Roll of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, he has authored numerous articles on child abuse and domestic violence. In 1977 he joined the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse as a senior attorney and, in 1988, launched "Finding Words: Interviewing Children and Preparing for Court," which has been adopted by many states nationwide.

In 1999, Vieth became director of the Center and was appointed in 2003 to serve as the first director of the National Child Protection Training Center on the campus of Winona State University. During his career, Vieth has trained professionals from around the world on topics involving child ause investigations, prosecutions, trial strategies and prevention methods.

"In his address, Vieth will talk about the five obstacles that prevent us from ending child abuse and the sweeping changes taking place in our child protection system," said Dr. McCormick.

The afternoon keynote address, "Sham or Champagne: The Controversial Decline in Sexual Abuse and Other Forms of Child Victimization," will be presented by Dr. David Finkelhor, director of Crimes Against Children Research Center and co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire. Finkelhor has been studying the problems of child victimization, child maltreatment and family violence since 1977. Author of Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse and Nursery Crimes, he also has written about child homicide, missing and abducted children, children exposed to domestic and peer violence, and other forms of family violence.

"After rising for many years, data now indicate that substantiated cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse and other forms of child victimization have declined dramatically since 1992," McCormick said.  "Dr. Finkelhor will present evidence about this dramatic trend and explore some of its reasons and future implications."

The free, daylong event also will include workshops, presentations and a symposium lead by nationally recognized experts in the field. To register or for the day's agenda, call 973-655-4188 or go to http://chss2.montclair.edu/cca.

The Center for Child Advocacy at Montclair State offers the first and only child advocacy program in New Jersey. The programs—a post-baccalaureate certificate or a master's degree—are designed to provide students with an understanding of the role of the child advocate as seen through the disciplines of law, sociology, education, psychology and social work.