About the Conference
The Annual Champion for Children Conference March 26-27, 2026, held in Abilene, Texas, kicks off Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness Month in the Big Country. Our Theme this year will be Home Run for Hope: Empowering Children to Win. The goal of our conference is to foster collaboration and share knowledge across disciplines to create a more comprehensive approach to child abuse prevention and intervention.
This conference will be of interest to law enforcement, clinicians, medical support nurses, family workers, social workers, therapists, educators, child advocates, youth workers, community workers.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity to discuss and integrate the latest work and ideas involving theory, research and practice. It will reflect a wider discourse that will include solution-focused and various therapy perspectives.
Planning Committee
The purpose of this Champion for Children Conference Planning Committee is to help maximize the quality of the Annual Child Abuse Awareness Conference and providing feedback on how to handle high-level policy decisions and ways to engage agencies and other stakeholders about upcoming changes.
Diana Hall - Chair
Heather Champion - BCFS - Vice Chair
Mia Parker - TX Dept. of Family and Protective Services - At Large
Lindsay Vaughn - BCFS - Secretary
Demory Bonilla-Cowell - HSU Social Work - Treasurer
John Graham - Taylor County Sheriff’s Office - LE Speakers and TV Media
Kim Copeland - 2Ingage - Exhibitor and Sponsorship Chair
Will Meiron - 2Ingage - Exhibitor and Sponsorship
Dr. Lauren Cantrell - Hardin-Simmons University - CEU Provider
Angela Derrick - TX Department of Family and Protective Services - Awards Luncheon
Allison Wesson - New Horizons - Attendee Engagement
Cindy Fraizer - Abilene Recovery Council - Attendee Engagement
Noreen White - Betty Hardwick ECI - Attendee Engagement
Shanna Shaeffer - TX Dept. of Family and Protective Services - Awards Chair
Tiffani Smith - Hardin-Simmons University - Student Volunteers