California American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Capsac

09/18/2026

TODAY, SEPTEMBER 18th, IS THE DAY!

We look forward to you joining us to celebrate CAPSAC's 40th anniversary at our annual awards ceremony Friday, September 18th, from 12 PM to 1 PM PST.

Over the past four decades, we have been dedicated to our mission and are incredibly grateful for the support, dedication, and partnership of our members and the community.

We will celebrate this milestone at our annual awards ceremony, where we will honor our Paul Crissey Graduate Student Research Award Winners, Laura Fulton and Georgia Lundon, and our Neal Snyder Outstanding Service Award Winner, David Green.

CAPSAC members and non-members are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. Please join with the link below.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84991644201?pwd=W3spbvTzs7NxnVMDrk1bxPga0WOc9m.1__;!!LQC6Cpwp!umK_oBREx_GnjGGf_fJHj71s0V97PcCai0BTHMScFqLHYOJlvs8NaJ3VYCiZPdy6zGPva_HNR1GWol4AIBFncvY7GFofzQ$

09/04/2026

Upcoming ACE’s Health Champions Gatherings!!

The next ACES Health Champions Gathering will be held on Friday, September 26, 2026 from 12- 1 PM PT via zoom.

The topic will be Advocating for mandated reporting and care of abused children in France with Catherine Bonnet, MD.

More information and registration information to follow.

Please save the date for this and other upcoming ACE’s Champions Gatherings.

We look forward to you joining us.

08/25/2026

This year marks 40 years of CAPSAC supporting professionals engaged in all aspects of service to maltreated children and their families.

In recognition of this significant milestone, a generous supporter has pledged to match all donations up to $750, but only until August 30, 2026. Your gift today will go twice as far in supporting CAPSAC’s mission, educational programs, grants for outstanding graduate student research, and recognition of exceptional service to the field.

Double your impact today by donating here:

https://www.capsac.org/donate

You can also celebrate CAPSAC’s 40 years by inviting your colleagues to join APSAC,
which includes CAPSAC membership, and gifting them with this 20% new member
discount code, susan20. Visit apsac.org to join.

08/20/2026

Join CAPSAC on Friday, September 18th, for a special afternoon of celebrating excellence, emerging leadership, and 40 years of impact in the field of child abuse prevention, intervention and advocacy!

CAPSAC is pleased to host our annual Awards Ceremony where we will recognize and celebrate the meaningful contributions being made across our field.

The Paul Crissey Research Award will be awarded to two graduate students whose research projects demonstrate exceptional promise , insight, and commitment to enhancing our understanding and response to child abuse.

The Neal Synder Outstanding Service Award will honor a distinguished colleague whose years of dedication, leadership, and impact have profoundly shaped the field of child abuse and the lives of children and families we serve.

This year ‘s annual award ceremony is especially significant as we wil also celebrate a remarkable milestone: 40 years of CAPSAC! For four decades, CAPSAC has brought professionals together to advance knowledge, strengthen practice, inform policies, legislative advocacy, promote collaboration, and remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting children and families and supporting colleagues serving them.

We hope you will join us for this very special celebration!

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07/19/2026

This is the APSAC award post that we’ve been waiting for! While we applaud all of the individuals that received awards at the 33rd Annual Colloquium, this honoree is extra special to us as she is one of CAPSAC’s crowning jewels!

Please join the CAPSAC in celebrating Dr. Beatrice Yorker on receiving the APSAC William Friedrich Memorial Award—a prestigious national honor recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to the prevention, investigation, and understanding of child maltreatment.

As one of our own from the California chapter of APSAC, Dr. Yorker has inspired countless professionals through her leadership, scholarship, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to protecting children. Her work has transformed the fields of nursing, forensic science, multidisciplinary collaboration, and child advocacy, leaving an enduring impact on children and families across the country.

Congratulations, Dr. Yorker, on this incredibly well-deserved recognition. California is proud to celebrate you, and APSAC could not have chosen a more deserving recipient.

CAPSAC will share additional highlights from the award ceremony! Stay tuned!

Please join APSAC in congratulating Beatrice Yorker, JD, RN, MS, the recipient of the APSAC William Friedrich Memorial Award in recognition of her distinguished career advancing the understanding, investigation, and prevention of child maltreatment. A nationally respected nurse educator, forensic expert, administrator, and advocate, Dr. Yorker has dedicated her professional life to improving outcomes for vulnerable children through interdisciplinary collaboration, education, research, and public service.

Professor Emerita of Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Criminalistics and former Dean at California State University, Los Angeles, Dr. Yorker has been a pioneering voice at the intersection of healthcare, forensic science, and child protection. Throughout her career, she has championed multidisciplinary approaches to child abuse assessment and investigation, helping bridge the fields of nursing, medicine, social services, law enforcement, and the legal system. Her scholarship, teaching, and leadership have influenced generations of professionals committed to protecting children and supporting families.

Beyond academia, Dr. Yorker has been a tireless advocate for children affected by complex forms of maltreatment. As Past President of the Board of the Munchausen Support Foundation, she helped advance awareness, education, and professional understanding of medical child abuse and caregiver-fabricated illness. Through her leadership, mentorship, and service, she has strengthened child protection systems and inspired professionals across disciplines. Her career exemplifies the spirit of the William Friedrich Memorial Award—compassionate service, scientific rigor, and an enduring commitment to improving the lives of children.

Please drop a comment in congratulating Dr. Yorker on this well-deserved honor. 🎉

07/06/2026

Okay California APSAC! Calling all of our four-legged (and feathered, scaled, or otherwise adorable!) family members—it’s time to show them off!

Let’s flood the Pause for a Cause PAWS Pageant with California cuteness. Take those irresistible pet photos, get those entries submitted, and let’s show everyone that California doesn’t just lead in child advocacy… we lead in pet pride too!

Every entry supports a great cause, and together we can have some fun while bringing the win home to California!

Let’s do this, California—let’s bring home the title!

Enter Your Pet Here:
https://givebutter.com/APSAC-Pause-for-a-Cause2026

🐾 Pause for a Cause: Showcase the Pets That Bring You Joy!

APSAC is hosting its first Pause for a Cause Paw Pageant!

Step 1: Enter your favorite pawed* pet! Your pet, your friend's pet, your grandpet, a pet at the zoo, or any pet that you love (and have permission to share)!
Step 2: Entry fee is $20 per pet.
Step 3: Make sure to upload a picture of your pet in your entry!

*APSAC's Pause for a Cause is an inclusive event! 🐶🐱🐹🐰🐴🦜🦎🐍🐢🐟
Enter your favorite paws, fins, claws, wings, hooves, and more!

Look out for the announcement that voting is live on July 15th so you can share the voting campaign with your friends and family! Voting will be open until Giving Tuesday, December 1st. APSAC will announce the pet with the most votes as APSAC's Pet of the Month in August, September, October, and November. And the pet with the most votes as of Giving Tuesday will be APSAC's Pet Mascot for 2027!

Enter Your Pet Here: https://givebutter.com/APSAC-Pause-for-a-Cause2026

Let's make a difference, one PAW🐾 at a time!

06/01/2026

Hello June! Please plan to join the Virtual Gathering on Tuesday, June 9 featuring George A. Terezakis, Esq., who will discuss “Keeping Families Together: The Vital Role of Mental Health Professionals in Immigration Cases.”

See details in the post below!

Join AVA and the ACEs Health Champions Network (AHCN) for the next virtual Gathering on Tuesday, June 9th at 3pm Eastern (12pm Pacific), featuring George A. Terezakis, Esq., who will discuss “Keeping Families Together: The Vital Role of Mental Health Professionals in Immigration Cases.” https://www.avahealth.org/what-we-do/aces-health-champions-network/aces-health-champions-gatherings.html

Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children - APSAC California American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Capsac Zero Abuse Project Esperanza United The New York Foundling California Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics Institute for Human Services Sacred Spaces

04/29/2026

As we close out Child Abuse Prevention Month, please share this link with parents and caregivers for a free, open, respectful conversation about discipline, particularly the often-debated topic of spanking.

Tomorrow’s session will create a safe, judgment-free space to explore
• What we mean by “discipline” vs. punishment
• What research says about the impact of spanking
• Practical, healthy alternatives that support children’s emotional and behavioral development
• How to respond to challenging behavior without shame, fear, or harm

Parenting is complex, and many of us are navigating what we were taught growing up while trying to do what’s best for our children today. This conversation is about learning, reflecting, and supporting one another—not blaming or judging.

Please share the link or join in as we close out the month by investing in safer, stronger families.

Click on the link to register!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/G3JJTz8ZTjahavRXv_sUYg

04/22/2026

Don’t miss the May ACES Health Gathering! Register today!!

Join AVA and the ACEs Health Champions Network (AHCN) for the next virtual Gathering on Wednesday, May 13th at 3pm Eastern (12pm Pacific), featuring Dr. Shira Berkovits, Esq, PhD, the CEO & President of Sacred Spaces, who will discuss "What are the barriers to ethical responses to institutional abuse and how can we overcome them?"

Also, the recordings of past Gatherings, including Dr. David Corwin, MD's presentation "Epstein and the Struggle to Confront Child Sexual Abuse" from last week, are available online!

https://www.avahealth.org/what-we-do/aces-health-champions-network/aces-health-champions-gatherings.html

Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children - APSAC California American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Capsac Zero Abuse Project Esperanza United The New York Foundling California Chapter 1, American Academy of Pediatrics Institute for Human Services