2026 Protecting Delaware's Children Conference
April 14, 2026
MDT Advanced Training Day - Invitation ONLY
The 2026 PDC conference will kick off with an Advanced Training Course for multidisciplinary team members (MDT) involved in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. Local and national experts will share insights on emerging trends and best practices in juvenile trafficking investigations.
April 15, 2025
General Conference - Open to All
The PDC General Conference is geared towards all professionals who regularly respond to allegations of child abuse and neglect in Delaware. Sessions will cover organized abuse, the impact of trauma on children, hate crimes, effective strategies for sex offender management, legal advocacy in representation of immigrant children and families, and many other important topics.
Don't miss out!
The Protecting Delaware's Children Conference is an opportunity for multidisciplinary team members to connect with each other and enhance their professional knowledge on cutting edge issues in the field of child maltreatment.
Registration for the conference will close on February 27, 2026
or once the maximum number of registrants is reached.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Registration for the conference will close on February 27, 2026
or once the maximum number of registrants is reached.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Keynote Speaker
MDT Advanced Training &
General Conference
General Conference
Dr. Jeanne Allert
Founder, Institute for Survivor Care
Jeanne has an eclectic career history: from high school English teacher, to instructional designer, to technology director, to Internet consultant. For fourteen years she managed a successful consulting practice serving trade and professional societies in their use of Internet technologies. She is an international public speaker, technical trainer, industry author, and has served as adjunct faculty for several universities. Jeanne holds a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies, 2021.
Jeanne is a compelling speaker on the topic of domestic human trafficking and has delivered awareness presentations in several states. She is a member of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, Graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy, and a Human Trafficking Contributor for the National Advisory Council for the Conference on Crimes Against Women.
Jeanne founded The Samaritan Women in 2007 and serves as Executive Director. She is the chief architect behind The Samaritan Women’s spiritual healing program and spends a great deal of time educating medical, social work, and mental health professionals about the unique needs of trafficking victims. Her work has been featured in numerous articles and in the 2015 documentary “In Plain Sight.” In 2018 she created the Institute for Shelter Care, a national initiative to address gaps in service and quality for victims of sexual exploitation.
Workshop Speakers
Kristina Bensley, Esq.
Internet Crimes Against Children: Awareness, Prevention & Response
Alicia Dugger, Esq.
Representing Immigrant Children & Youth
Sgt. Jennifer Lloyd & Sgt. Thomas Ford
Case study - child torture
Allyson Hibbard & Nancy Feldmann
Tracking, Treating, and Teaming Up: A Comprehensive Strategy for Sex Offender Management
Kevin Laws
The Holy Grail: A Female International Traveling Sex Offender
Jennifer Kutney - Soper & John Taylor, Esq.
How Prosecutors and Victim Services Work Together to Address Hate
Kiera McGillivary & Shannon Fisch
Rewiring the impact of trauma: A Brain-based Approach to Healing
Eric Nation
Drug Endangered kids: Often the Forgotten Ones
David Hannah & Sharece Sellem-Hannah
The Wellness Budget: How to Spend your energy wisely in the helping professions
Matthew Torbenson, Esq.
Abusive Head Trauma From An MDT Perspective
Mike Weber
Dispelling the Myths of Munchausen by Proxy Abuse: A Multi-Disciplined Approach for a Successful Outcome
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Tamara Wilson, J.D.
Cultural Humility in Child Welfare: Strengthening Practice Through Reflection, Relationships, and Systemic Awareness
General Conference Agenda
7:30 - 9:00am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 - 10:45am
Keynote Presentation - "Organized Abuse" by Dr. Jeanne Allert
In contrast to incest, which is more often opportunistic and private, some abuse of children is premeditated, coordinated, and communal. This session builds on the work of Dr. Michael Salter, examining the modes of sexual abuse that are multiple-victim and multiple-offender and present in networks, institutions, ideological groups and families, and explores the psychological impact on victims of these types of abuse.
10:45 - 11:00am
Mid-Morning Break
11:00 - 12:30pm
Session I
Dr. Jeanne Allert - "Mommy Dearest"
Alicia Dugger, Esq. - "Representing Immigrant Children and Youth"
Kiera McGillivray & Shannon Fisch - "Rewiring the Impact of Trauma: A Brain-Based Approach to Healing"
Mike Weber - "Dispelling the Myths of Munchausen by Proxy Abuse: A Multi-Disciplined Approach for a Successful Outcome"
12:30 - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:00pm
Session II
Eric Nation - "Drug Endangered Children: Often The Forgotten Ones"
Matthew Torbenson, Esq. - "Abusive Head Trauma from an MDT Perspective"
Jennifer Kutney-Soper, LMSW & John Taylor, Esq. - "How Prosecutors and Victim Services Work Together to Address Hate"
Kevin Laws - "The Holy Grail: A Female International Traveling Sex Offender"
Tamara Wilson J.D.- "Cultural Humility in Child Welfare: Strengthening Practice Through Reflection, Relationships, and Systemic Awareness"
Matthew Torbenson, Esq. - "Abusive Head Trauma from an MDT Perspective"
Jennifer Kutney-Soper, LMSW & John Taylor, Esq. - "How Prosecutors and Victim Services Work Together to Address Hate"
Kevin Laws - "The Holy Grail: A Female International Traveling Sex Offender"
Tamara Wilson J.D.- "Cultural Humility in Child Welfare: Strengthening Practice Through Reflection, Relationships, and Systemic Awareness"
3:00 - 3:15pm
Mid-Afternoon Break
3:15 - 4:30pm
Session III
Sgt. Jennifer Lloyd & Sgt. Thomas Ford - "Child Torture Case Study"
Allyson Hibbard & Nancy Feldmann - "Tracking, Treating, and Teaming Up: A Comprehensive Strategy for Sex Offender Management"
Kristina Bensley, Esq. - "Internet Crimes Against Children: Awareness, Prevention, and Response"
David Hannah & Sharece Sellem-Hannah - "The Wellness Budget: How to Spend Your Energy Wisely in the Helping Professions"
Allyson Hibbard & Nancy Feldmann - "Tracking, Treating, and Teaming Up: A Comprehensive Strategy for Sex Offender Management"
Kristina Bensley, Esq. - "Internet Crimes Against Children: Awareness, Prevention, and Response"
David Hannah & Sharece Sellem-Hannah - "The Wellness Budget: How to Spend Your Energy Wisely in the Helping Professions"
Conference Location
Hyatt Place Dewey Beach
1301 Coastal Hwy
Dewey Beach, Delaware, 19971
1301 Coastal Hwy
Dewey Beach, Delaware, 19971
Parking
Free parking is available on Dickinson and Van Dyke Streets.
Jewelry for a Cause
For each necklace sold,
$50 will be donated to the
Protecting Delaware’s Children (PDC) Fund!
$50 will be donated to the
Protecting Delaware’s Children (PDC) Fund!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend the MDT Advanced Training Day?
Regrettably, only those who have received an invitation to attend the Advanced MDT Training Day may participate. However, if you feel that you should have received an invitation, please email [email protected] to inquire.
Will lodging be available for the Advanced MDT Training Day?
Hotel accommodations will be provided to approved attendees of the MDT Advanced Training Day by CPAC. Emails will go out to those approved for lodging in mid-March. If you are not attending the MDT Advanced Training Day or did not receive an email approval for lodging, please contact your agency for arrangements.
Where can I find the schedule for the advanced MDT training day?
The schedule for the Advanced MDT Training Day will be emailed to those participating.
I registered for the Advanced MDT Training Day, do I have to register for the general conference?
No, those who have registered for the Advanced MDT Training Day, will not have to register for the General Conference. However, lodging will only be approved for those attending both conference days.
After completing the registration, will I receive an email confirmation?
Yes. If you do not receive your email confirmation within 24 hours, please check your email spam folder and then contact our Conference team at [email protected].
When is the deadline for registration?
Registration for the both the Advanced MDT Training Day and General Conference will close on February 27, 2026.
I missed the registration deadline, can I still attend?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate registration requests after February 27, 2026.
Are meals included during the general conference?
Yes, a continental breakfast and buffet lunch are included in the in-person General Conference registration. If you have any dietary restrictions, please email our conference team at [email protected].
Do I need to wear my name badge?
Yes, your conference name badge is required for admittance to all sessions, activities, and lunches.
How do I get my Continuing Education (CE) certificate?
Only attendees who applied for Continuing Education (CE) credits such as CEUs or CLEs, will be eligible for a CE certificate. Attendance is tracked and maintained by the Conference team. Credits are issued based on session attendance. If you have questions, please fill out the Contact Us form or email the conference team at [email protected].
CE information will be listed on the Conference website as the hours are approved by each field. The Conference Agenda will identify sessions that do not qualify for certain types of contact hours.
CE information will be listed on the Conference website as the hours are approved by each field. The Conference Agenda will identify sessions that do not qualify for certain types of contact hours.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions about Conference?
If you have additional questions, please fill out the Contact Us form or email the conference team at [email protected].
Contact Us