Second International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
The Second International Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Evaluations from the First International Conference showed a continued need for another conference on SBS/AHT. It brought 866 professionals from various disciplines, family members and parents together to gain current information and training on shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma. Participants came from 49 states and six countries. They heard from 124 presenters representing 36 states and Canada who provided training and insight on the most relevant and current issues of SBS.
Leadership Committee
The leadership committee included co-directors Marilyn Sandberg, SSW, Executive Director, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Jacy Showers, EdD, Director, SBS Prevention Plus, and Helen Britton, MD, Primary Children's Medical Center, along with ten impressive national experts who selected speakers and organized the conference.
Prevention Institute
A pre-conference Prevention Institute was introduced during the Second International Conference. It highlighted new and creative prevention ideas on shaken baby syndrome.
Family Reception
The Matthew Eappen Fund of Children's Hospital, Boston sponsored a family reception in which family members were able to gather and meet one another, share photographs and stories of their children and network about coping with the impact of SBS/AHT on their lives.
Keynote speakers, all with notable experience in child abuse and shaken baby syndrome, included:
Shaken Baby Syndrome: Whose Problem is This? Howard Dean, MD, Governor, State of Vermont
Governor Dean has significantly helped the children of Vermont throughout his life in medicine as well as politics. He worked to reduce child physical and sexual abuse by 30 percent and achieve a ranking of fist in the nation in childhood immunizations and second in the number of children with health care coverage. His focus as a one year term as chair of the National Governor's Association was children's issues coordination of health care, education and social services for families.
SBS Families: How the System Affects Us, How We Effect Change Kim Acworth, Troy De La Rosa, Debbie Eappen, Lisa Gaskell, Janet Goree
Family members of shaken baby syndrome victims shared their poignant stories of tragedy and triumph, of how the system both helped some families and hurt others. Some of these family members have decided to effect change in their own states.
Justice and Shaken Baby Syndrome: How Do We Achieve It? Justice Mark Kennedy, Alabama Supreme Court
In 1993, in recognition of his contribution to Child Welfare, Justice Kennedy was designated as the Founding Chairman of the Alabama Children's Trust Fund. The American Academy of Pediatrics awarded Justice Kennedy its National Child Advocate Award in 1994.