Viola's Visit To Australia 2026
On August 25, 2026, Dr. Vaughan-Eden co-presented alongside colleagues Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc, JD, MEd, of The UP Institute and Tulane University, and Ernestine Briggs-King, PhD, of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University, incorporating the research of Darcy Merritt, PhD, MSW, of the University of Chicago.
Whose Norms, Whose Safety: Culture, Power, and Child Protection
This international symposium examined how culture, structural inequities, and child protection practices intersect. The session highlighted No Hit Zones (NHZs) as an evidence-informed, culturally adaptable approach to preventing violence against children while promoting positive caregiving, trauma-informed practice, mental health equity, and family well-being. Research on No Hit Zones demonstrates reductions in adults' endorsement of hitting children and increased awareness and use of nonviolent caregiving practices following training and exposure. Presenters emphasized moving child welfare systems toward prevention-focused, culturally responsive approaches that strengthen families, reduce unnecessary system involvement, and make violence against children socially unacceptable.
Are We Truly Meeting Non-Offending Caregivers Where They Are? Reframing Engagement to Strengthen Support for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse
This poster emphasized that caregivers may experience shock, disbelief, anger, confusion, grief, or trauma following a child's disclosure and that these initial reactions should not automatically be interpreted as a lack of support. Drawing on research and practice guidance, they introduced a trauma-informed engagement framework that encourages professionals to connect, validate, orient, understand, mobilize, and collaborate with caregivers. The approach emphasizes cultural responsiveness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical resources to strengthen caregiver capacity -ultimately supporting more effective investigations, family safety, and the recovery of children who have experienced sexual abuse.