Northeast Nebraska Family Violence Summit

Professional development for those individuals working with victims of family violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

A collaboration between Faith Health Child Advocacy Center, Northeast Community College Departments of Criminal Justice and Human Services, and Bright Horizons to provide a professional development summit for investigative and treatment professionals working with victims of crime to learn about the impacts of family violence on our communities and children.

This event welcomes human service professionals working with children and families to address family violence. Human service professionals include child welfare, law enforcement, prosecutors, mental health providers, probation and parole officers, in-home service providers, advocates, first responders, medical professionals, and anyone serving children and families who may experience violence. We are excited to bring national and local experts in the fields of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault to provide high quality workshops addressing family violence in our communities.

Continuing Education Information: Conference Attendees will be issued a certificate of attendance at the conclusion of the event.

Info: Survivor-Informed Approaches to Human Trafficking and Family Violence: Centering Lived Experience to Improve Investigations, Healthcare Responses, and Advocacy Outcomes
This keynote goes beyond awareness. Rachel Fischer—a survivor of sex trafficking turned forensic nurse, private investigator, and expert witness—draws on more than a decade of work alongside law enforcement, prosecutors, healthcare providers, and advocates to show what effective multidisciplinary collaboration looks like in practice. Having testified as an expert witness in state and federal courts, conducted undercover intelligence operations, aided in the recovery of missing children, and cared for thousands of patients as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Rachel brings a perspective that bridges the gap between the streets, the exam room, and the courtroom.
Grounded in trauma-informed and survivor-informed principles, this session emphasizes that how we engage with victims matters just as much as the work itself.

Info: “Small Eyes, Big Impact: Protecting Children at the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Law Enforcement, and Community Response”
Children experiencing domestic and family violence are often: the forgotten victims, the silent witnesses, or the behavioral “problems” systems react to instead of understand. In this breakout session we will concentrate on how law enforcement, schools, clinicians, advocates, faith communities, EMS and local communities can collectively reduce long-term trauma outcomes.

Info: Digital Safety & Exploitation Prevention: How to Talk With Parents, Teachers, and Children About Online Gaming, Social Platforms, and Emerging Risks
Today’s exploitation increasingly begins on a screen. In this practical breakout, Rachel walks attendees through how predators and traffickers use online gaming platforms, social media, and emerging technology to identify, groom, recruit, and control young people—often in plain sight of trusted adults. Drawing on her work training parents, students, and educators on digital-age safety, she translates fast-moving online trends into language families and professionals can actually use.
Rather than relying on fear, this session focuses on connection and conversation. Attendees will leave with concrete, age-appropriate strategies for talking with children and teens about online risk, recognizing warning signs of grooming and exploitation, and building the kind of trust that keeps kids talking when something feels wrong.

Info: Human Trafficking Across Systems: Survivor-Informed Perspectives for Investigators, Healthcare Providers, Advocates, and MDT Members
Successful trafficking cases require a trauma-informed, survivor-informed, and multidisciplinary approach. Led by a survivor of sex trafficking who is now a forensic nurse and private investigator, this breakout offers a rare dual perspective on both the victim and offender experience. Drawing from firsthand experience in undercover operations and professional practice in healthcare, advocacy, and the courtroom, Rachel bridges investigative and survivor-centered strategies to equip professionals working across systems.
Participants will learn how to identify the crossover points between sex trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and strangulation, and why understanding these intersections is essential for effective prosecutions and lifesaving interventions.

Info: This 90-minute interactive program uses live theater and guided discussion to engage audiences in meaningful conversations about dating and sexual violence. The presentation begins with a brief introduction, followed by an original dramatization written and performed by trained actors. Drawing from real-life experiences, the performance portrays multiple relationship dynamics—including male and female-perpetrated abuse—and explores issues such as consent, sexual assault, and peer influence. Realistic elements, including strong language and simulated substance use and violence, are intentionally incorporated to authentically reflect situations young people may encounter.

Event venue

Lifelong Learning Center, 601 East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag