Join us for a discussion on Child Welfare Through a Community-Centered Lens

Webinar event:
Dr. Bruce Perry, co-author with Oprah Winfrey of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, “What Happened to You?”, joins Cormac Russell in conversation with each other and a guest panel.
The session will be moderated by Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America.
Date
Wednesday
14th May
2025
Time
16:00 London/Dublin
17:00 Paris
11:00 New York/Toronto
08:00 Los Angeles
Duration

One hour

Price

Free 

About the Event

In this fireside conversation and panel discussion, Dr. Bruce Perry will explore the profound impact of relationships on healing from trauma, especially in children. In his numerous publications and teachings, he asserts that while therapy and medication can help, true recovery relies on fostering trust, security, and loving connections within a supportive community. The disruption of traditional social structures and the increased focus on competition in modern society undermine these essential relationships. In response to this contemporary challenge, Dr. Perry will advocate for prioritizing relationships in childcare, education, and broader social policies, championing supports that promote empathy, cooperation, a sense of safety, and deeper community connections. Dr. Perry’s groundbreaking, evidence-based research demonstrates that building a healthier, more connected society is crucial for preventing trauma and encouraging healing.
Dr. Bruce Perry
Cormac Russell will advocate for a shift in perspective from viewing children merely as "at risk" to recognizing them as "at-promise." He will emphasize the importance of community-led approaches in nurturing and protecting children. He will encourage rekindling intergenerational connections and empowering young people to engage with their communities, citing examples like Bikers Against Child Abuse as models of citizen-led initiatives. Cormac views neighborhoods as primary units of safety; keeping that in mind, he will promote policies and practices that create environments where children can freely interact with their neighbors and learn citizenship through play and association, illustrating how institutionalization, disconnection, and fear lead to social isolation, ultimately harming child well-being. Overall, he supports a return to the "village" model, where communities actively nurture and uphold their children, recognizing their potential and fostering a sense of belonging. He argues that to support families and communities in this shift, our institutions (for profit, not for profit, and governmental) must undergo dramatic changes in how they operate. 
Cormac Russell
Melissa T. Merrick is our moderator for this conversation. She is a dedicated and influential leader in public health and child welfare. As the CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, she is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect through evidence-based solutions and collaborative efforts. Melissa's work is driven by her belief in the importance of addressing the root causes of child abuse and creating a society where all children can thrive. Melissa's career features a series of impactful and distinguished roles in public health and child welfare. She has worked extensively in research and policy development, focusing on issues such as child maltreatment, injury prevention, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Her expertise has been recognized at national and international levels, and she has contributed to developing policies and programs aimed at protecting children and families in ways that value communities and address root-cause issues, including economic poverty and structural racism.

Melissa is a vocal proponent of the importance of early intervention and family support. She advocates for policies that provide families with the resources and tools they need to create safe and nurturing environments for their children. She believes that investing in prevention is morally imperative and cost-effective in the long run. Through her leadership at Prevent Child Abuse America, Melissa is working tirelessly to build a movement that prioritizes the well-being of children and families.
Melissa T. Merrick

Our Guest Panel

Anthony Morrow
Anthony has been involved in ABCD for over fifteen years, with his main focus in the last decade being in the Social Housing Sector in Scotland. He manages a team of nine practitioners, all taking an ABCD and Trauma-Informed approach to their work. He has led the embedding of a model that integrates an understanding of trauma alongside ABCD for Sanctuary Housing across the UK and firmly believes that the two areas of work offer an opportunity for us to better understand and catalyse personal and social change.
Jenna Murphy
Jenna has been a Community Builder for the past three years, working for Resilience Learning Partnership, a training and education provider specialising in psychological trauma and lived experience and working in partnership with Sanctuary Housing in Scotland. This collaboration brings a trauma-informed lens to ABCD and an opportunity to share learning and practice. For Jenna, the bigger picture of the work is about relationships, compassion, connection, and genuine empowerment.
Nofa Slaeman
Nofa has worked with communities across Saskatchewan for over 15 years, including with children in residential and group homes, older youth, and women and children fleeing violence. She shifted into community development six years ago and has been involved in the ABCD work for two years as part of a provincial wide network in Saskatchewan Canada. Nofa brings both professional and lived experience of community trauma and healing, community centred resilience and centring relationships as a way to build community and mobilize community.
Tracy Knutson
Tracy Knutson was raised in rural Saskatchewan, Canada and has worked for over 30 years in the area of community and social development. She continues to learn from the best teachers – the amazing diversity of people in our communities who share the gifts of experience, wisdom and hope. Her deep appreciation of the power of relationships and the strength of people to create change is central to her work and life. Tracy is passionate about supporting groups and individuals to create paths to community, connection and wellness through capacity building, hosting, strategy development, coaching and healing practice. She is grateful to live in Treaty Four territory near Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan.