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Forward29th Annual La Crosse Child Maltreatment Conference
This course offers Live (in-person) and Livestream (virtual) attendance options
May 12 - 13, 2026 -Stoney Creek Hotel - Onalaska, Wisconsin
Course Director: Caitlin E. Kolb, R.N.
The 29th Annual Child Maltreatment Conference delivers evidence‑based education on emerging best practices, trends in child abuse and neglect, multidisciplinary collaboration, and strategies that strengthen community and family responses to protect children and support justice for victims.
Course Highlights:
- Victim-centered approaches to child abuse investigations
- Key concepts in custody-related trauma and family impact
- Social media and smartphone influences on child safety and development
- Trauma-focused treatment updates, including somatic and ART therapies
- Child death investigation essentials, with doll reenactment case insights
To see the course fee, please log in or create an account
| Registration Fee(s) | |
|---|---|
| M.D., D.O., Ph.D. | $240 |
| Allied Health, NP, PA, Retirees | $240 |
Target Audience
This conference is designed for frontline and multidisciplinary child protection professionals, including child advocacy center staff, child protection workers, medical and mental health providers, forensic interviewers, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, social workers, school personnel, emergency response personnel, and victim and witness advocates.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Integrate developmentally appropriate, non‑leading questions into child maltreatment investigations
- Apply appropriate techniques and skills in the investigation of child death cases
- Incorporate leading trends in victim‑centered investigations into practice
Attendance at any Mayo Clinic course does not indicate or guarantee competence or proficiency in the skills, knowledge or performance of any care or procedure(s) which may be discussed or taught in this course.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
8:00 a.m. | Welcome Announcements
|
8:15 a.m.
| Victim Centered Investigations - I Carly Bentley – Forensic Interview Specialist, Homeland Security Investigations |
9:45 a.m. | Break
|
10:00 a.m.
| Victim Centered Investigations - II Carly Bentley – Forensic Interview Specialist, Homeland Security Investigations |
11:30 a.m. | 2026 Ken Kolb Award Presentation
|
12:00 p.m. | Lunch on your own
|
1:00 p.m.
| Breakout Sessions (Choose 1)
Topic 1 Prepare and Present Carly Bentley – Forensic Interview Specialist, Homeland Security Investigations
Topic 2 Navigating Custody Related Trauma Brienne Shaker, MSW, LCSW, CFI - Stein Counseling and Consulting Services, Ltd.
Topic 3 “Be Here”: The Role Social Media/Cell Phones have in both Parenting and Child Development Ryan McKelley, Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin La Crosse Tesia Marshik, Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin La Crosse |
2:30 p.m. | Break
|
2:45 p.m.
| Breakout Sessions (Choose 1)
Topic 1 “Be Here”: The Role Social Media/Cell Phones have in both Parenting and Child Development Ryan McKelley, Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin La Crosse Tesia Marshik, Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Topic 2 Somatic Therapy/ART Trauma Therapies Jennifer TeBeest, LPC, DMT – St. Mary’s University of Minnesota Amanda Burrows, LPC – Stein Counseling and Consulting Services, Ltd.
Topic 3 Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Mayo Clinic Speaker TBD |
4:30 p.m. | Adjourn
|
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
8:00 a.m. | Welcome Announcements
|
8:15 a.m.
| Child Death Investigations and Doll Reenactments - I Kenneth Folkers - Special Agent, Wisconsin Department of Justice |
9:45 a.m. | Break
|
10:00 a.m.
| Child Death Investigations and Doll Reenactments - II Kenneth Folkers - Special Agent, Wisconsin Department of Justice |
12:00 p.m. | Lunch on your own
|
1:00 p.m.
| Vernon County Case Study - I Melony Hansen, MA, CSW, SAC – Vernon County Department of Human Services Carolynn Devine, CSW, MHA – Emplify Health Erin Gutowski, DO, MPH, FAAP – Emplify Health Marla Sutton, MS – Vernon County Department of Human Services JoEllen Egge – Detective, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office |
2:30 p.m. | Break
|
2:45 p.m.
| Vernon County Case Study - II Melony Hansen, MA, CSW, SAC – Vernon County Department of Human Services Carolynn Devine, CSW, MHA – Emplify Health Erin Gutowski, DO, MPH, FAAP – Emplify Health Marla Sutton, MS – Vernon County Department of Human Services JoEllen Egge – Detective, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office |
4:30 p.m. | Adjourn
|
Lodging
Overnight lodging can be arranged directly with the hotel. There is no reserved room block associated with this event; availability and rates are subject to change. Early booking is recommended to secure preferred accommodations.
Travel
All travel and lodging expenses are the sole responsibility of the individual registrant. Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development is not responsible for expenses incurred by an individual who is not confirmed and for whom space is not available at the meeting. Costs incurred by the registration such as airline or hotel fees or penalties are the responsibility of the registrant.
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Statement(s):
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this activity for a maximum of 13.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 13.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Other Healthcare Professionals:
A record of attendance will be provided to all registrants for requesting credits in accordance with state nursing boards, specialty societies or other professional associations.
For disclosure information regarding Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development accreditation review committee member(s) and staff, please go here to review disclosures.
Available Credit
- 13.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 13.00 ANCC
- 13.00 Attendance
- 13.00 IPCE
Thank you for your interest in 29th Annual La Crosse Child Maltreatment Conference. This course is currently in the early planning stages. If you’d like to be notified when opportunities become available, please add your name to our Notify Me list. Signing up to be notified will ensure that you receive an email when exhibitor information is available. No additional information is available until then.
To see the course fee, please log in or create an account
| Registration Fee(s) | |
|---|---|
| M.D., D.O., Ph.D. | $240 |
| Allied Health, NP, PA, Retirees | $240 |
Before registering, please update your profile.
To claim credit for livestream participation in this course, learners must view the content during the hours posted for the live activity. This course is not approved for on-demand delivery.
Commitment to Belonging and Inclusion
Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development (MCSCPD) strives to foster a learning environment in which all individuals are valued, allowing all to achieve their fullest potential.
Every effort will be made to accommodate dietary requirements; however, some requests may not be feasible based on venue kitchen capabilities. Attendees will be contacted in advance if a dietary restriction cannot be fulfilled.
The Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development strives for fully accessible learning experiences. If you anticipate any barriers while attending this course, please reach out to the course coordinator who will be in touch with all registrants If you need disability-related accommodations, please contact the Office of Wellness and Academic Support – Disability Access Services at MCCMS.DS@mayo.edu or submit the Accommodation Request form.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
View Cancellation and Refund Policy
All requests must be submitted in writing using the Contact Us Form.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions of Registration.