Provost’s Global Forum 2014
March 26 – 28, 2014
Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a serious public health problem locally and globally. In 2012, 11,637 children were substantiated to have been abused and/or neglected in Iowa, 79% of which were neglected, 9% physically abused, 4% sexually abused, and 7% drug endangered. In many countries, such comprehensive data may not be available due to the lack of a structured national CAN surveillance and response system. However, available studies show that all major categories of CAN are highly prevalent, affecting up to 2 to 30% of the child population depending on what country is being studied. The World Health Organization reported that in 2000, 57,000 children under 15 years of age died due to fatal CAN, across the globe. In developing countries, the rate of fatal CAN under 5 years of age is 2.5 times higher than in developed countries.
The 2014 Provost’s Global Forum at the University of Iowa, Child Protection: A Global Responsibility, will address the global and local impact of child abuse and neglect. Two symposia will be held on March 26, 2014, at Hotel Vetro in Iowa City, with additional activities taking place throughout the week in local hospitals and in the communities of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The wrap-up event of the forum is a WorldCanvass discussion on Friday, March 28, featuring an expert panel of international guests working in the area of child protection.
The goals of the forum are to:
- Increase local awareness about the need to explore the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impact on the mental and physical well-being of individuals and society
- Help international visitors and Iowa practitioners discuss the implementation of multidisciplinary team (MDT) response to CAN and learn from one another about the circumstances that affect various modifications of the child protection centers model
This forum is organized by Resmiye Oral, M.D., director of the Child Protection Program at University of Iowa Children's Hospital and a recognized expert in systems building in Turkey, Portugal, Greece, and Pakistan. Dr. Oral has worked extensively in the past decade on training, education, and service in child protection at the UI and around the world.
If you require assistance with travel arrangements, including hotel accommodations and airport transfers to attend this forum, please contact Sarolta Petersen at sarolta-petersen@uiowa.edu.
The Provost’s Global Forum is made possible through the generous support of the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization. Other sponsors include International Programs, the UI Provost's Office, the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, National Children's Alliance, and Carver College of Medicine-Stead Family Department of Pediatrics.