About the Conference
The Annual Champion for Children Conference March 27-28, 2025, held in Abilene, Texas, kicks off Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness Month in the Big Country. Our Theme this year will be Making Children Champions for Life . The 1 1/2-day interdisciplinary conference will explore key themes related to resiliency in children and their families.
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 and people form the voluntary sector.
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
Janna Atkins - West Central Texas Council of Governments - TCOLE Provider
John Graham - Taylor County Sheriff’s Office - TV Media
Kim Copeland - 2Ingage - Exhibitor and Sponsorship Chair
Will Meiron - 2Ingage - Exhibitor and Sponsorship
Dr. Lauren Cantrell - Hardin-Simmons University - CEU Provider
Beth Ferguson - Hardin-Simmons University - CEUs
Lee Ann Millender - CASA
Angela Derrick - TX Department of Family and Protective Services - Social
Allison Wesson - New Horizons - Exhibitors and Sponsors
Colleen Rud - Regional Victim Crisis Center - CEUs
Cindy Fraizer - Abilene Recovery Council - Registration and Merchandise Chair
Noreen White - Betty Hardwick ECI - Exhibitors and Sponsors
Dean Pye - Betty Hardwick Child and Adolescent Program - Registration and Merchandise
Shanna Shaeffer - TX Dept. of Family and Protective Services - Awards Chair
Brianna Vine - MCH - Awards