Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770-423-6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu
Contact/Writer: Jeremy Craig, 770-499-3448 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu
PR firm: Karin Koser, KPK & Co., 404-276-6027
Kennesaw State to host conference on excellence in child advocacy,Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue to address meeting
KENNESAW, Ga. (April 30, 2007) — Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue is scheduled to speak at a conference at Kennesaw State University on May 2 addressing the best practices in investigation, intervention and advocacy for the state’s children.
The conference will also mark the start of a new, statewide partnership to establish a center for excellence in child advocacy at Kennesaw State.
The conference will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2 at the KSU Center, 3333 George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw.
Perdue, who has been an advocate for Georgia’s children through her “Our Children” campaign, will speak to the opening plenary session of the conference, at which officials will share ideas, experiences and best practices in an approach to improve the lives of abused children.
Scheduled as the conference’s keynote speaker is Ted Hall, reporter and anchor for 11 Alive News (WXIA-TV).
Additionally, officials from KSU and its WellStar College of Health and Human Services’ Global Center for Social Change, and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia Inc. will sign a cooperative agreement at the conference, establishing a Children’s Advocacy Center of Excellence at Kennesaw State.
Dr. Lendley C. Black, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Kennesaw State, will sign the agreement on behalf of the university. K.B. Ayer, President of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, is scheduled to sign the agreement on behalf of her organization.
The center will work to improve child advocacy by creating an education program to improve the skills of child advocates; train KSU faculty, students and staff in addition to personnel throughout Georgia; conduct applied research to enhance the understanding of best practices in investigation, intervention and advocacy for children; and promote the use of a multidisciplinary approach to investigation and services, among other goals.
The Wednesday summit also will examine multidisciplinary approaches to combat child abuse and neglect — through awareness, legislation and law enforcement, as well as combating child sexual exploitation.
The conference is sponsored by KSU, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia Inc., the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the National Children’s Alliance and the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia.
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ONLINE PRESS KIT:
An itinerary for the conference is available at www.cacga.org/conference/schedule.php.
For maps and directions to the KSU Center and the Kennesaw State University campus, please visit www.kennesaw.edu/about/maps.shtml.
For a biography of First Lady Mary Perdue and her work in child advocacy and with foster children, please visit www.gov.state.ga.us/about_mary.shtml. For a publication-quality photo of Mrs. Perdue, visit www.gov.state.ga.us/images/fl_gallery/firstlady9_hi.jpg.
For more information about Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia Inc., visit www.cacga.org.
Media coverage is welcome. Please contact University Relations at 770-423-6203 or Jeremy Craig at 770-499-3448 to ensure space.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population approaching 20‚000 from 132 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate in education.
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