On October 1st and 2nd, North Star Child Advocacy Center (NSCAC) will hold its Fall Conference for the third consecutive year. The first one was held at Stonewall Resort in 2022. In 2023, Greg Collins, executive director of NSCAC, moved the conference to Parkersburg in an attempt to highlight the Mid-Ohio Valley. “We have a lot to offer in Wood County. Downtown PKB, the Chamber of Commerce of the MOV, the Wood County Development Authority and the Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau have done a great job in marketing and supporting our small businesses and local attractions,” states Collins.
The conference will be held at the Parkersburg Art Center for the second year in a row, and Collins believes that is part of the draw for attendees. “Our venue at the PAC was liked by all of last year’sattendees according to our conference evaluations. This particular audience is used to having classes in conference rooms or hotels. This is a beautiful venue that makes them feel detached, away from the stresses of work,” says Collins.
There are over 90 people registered for the conference at this time. Child advocacy centers, CPS, prosecutors, medical, therapy, teachers, WV Supreme Court, child law services from every corner of the State of West Virginia will be in Parkersburg for the conference. Over 30 of the attendees will be law enforcement officers. They all will get to hear some fantastic presentations by some really good speakers, and that is thanks in part to this year’s conference sponsor Celanese Washington Works. “Celanese has been a great friend to North Star over the past three years. With them sponsoring this conference, we were able to pay for instructors that will come in from out of the area, offering some top-notch training,” states Collins.
Snacks and drinks for the conference are being sponsored by the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network and will be provided by Unity Café. A hospitality bag will be provided to each attendee by the Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting the MOVs attractions and businesses.
On night one of the conference, participants will be treated to a dinner cruise aboard the Valley Gem from 6:30-9:00. The MOVTA will be providing two buses, just as last year, that will pick the attendees up and return them to the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in downtown Parkersburg. The TownePlace Suites is the designated hotel for the conference and was sold out on Monday, September 9th according to Greg Stump, assistant general manager of the hotel.
During last year’s conference in Parkersburg, parking was an issue for many of those commuting. This year, the Parkersburg Police Department and the City of Parkersburg will graciously be supplying parking passes for conference attendees which will eliminate the only real detractor from last year’s event.
The official deadline for registering for the conference is September 20th. “Anyone that is in the field of protecting and providing for children is welcome to attend. Some of the subject matter is hard to hear. Training like this makes us better at protecting and serving our children. I aim to have a West Virginia panel of different disciplines at every conference to discuss a serious child case from their area. What went right and what went wrong. That is how you learn and get better. This year, a panel from Mercer County will discuss the investigation and successful prosecution of a child exploitation case that saw the offender sentenced to 30 years,” states Collins.
Another major case that will be discussed in two parts is the story of 3-year-old Audryna Bartch out of Wisconsin. Investigator Crystal Nordby, who specialized in internet crimes against children, will travel in to talk about the 3-year-old starved, beaten and tortured to death by her father, after he was given shared custody of the child when she was 1 ½ years old. The toddler was found to have 28 bruises on her head, bleeding on her brain and 70 scars on her neck. The 33-year-old father was sentenced to only five (5) years in jail. “It began with a 911 call in the middle of the night of a child having a seizure. That 911 call opened a door into a world of torture and abuse that shocked a local community and drove every professional that worked on the case to fight to get justice for little Audryna,” states Nordby.
Collins says in conclusion, “The support we get locally gives all conference attendees a good impression of our county. It is especially important if it’s a first impression. Some people have extended their stays to experience the MOV. Some of last year’s attendees have come back with their families so they all can experience it together. Events here are an opportunity to market Wood County.”
Anyone wanting to attend can contact Greg Collins at g.collins@northstarcac.org. The registration form will be supplied to you, and when returned, an invoice will be sent for the $200 securepayment. The registration fee includes the dinner cruise aboard the Valley Gem.
Photo of North Star’s 2023 Fall Conference (5)
Photo of Audryna Bartch, courtesy of Daily Mail on Facebook
