Hero’s Haven Child Advocacy Center held its annual crime-scene training for police departments and prosecutors across the state to improve skills in investigating child deaths and abuse cases. The session focused on practical techniques and collaboration among law enforcement and legal professionals to better protect children.

A local child abuse survivor is scheduled to speak publicly about her personal experiences and the role a child advocacy center played in her healing, aiming to raise awareness and insight into recovery from abuse.

Law enforcement officers and prosecutors from several West Virginia counties are taking part in a three-day training on investigating child abuse cases hosted by the Hero’s Haven Child Advocacy Center to improve their skills and coordination in handling these sensitive investigations.

A Chicago Archdiocese investigation into child sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Daniel McCarthy was flawed, with McCarthy claiming he wasn’t directly questioned about specifics and that the Archdiocese knew of an earlier allegation for about a year before acting — raising concerns about transparency and adherence to its own child-safety policies. It highlights criticism from abuse-survivor advocates and notes broader questions about how the Archdiocese handles such investigations.

Law-enforcement officers and prosecutors gathered at Tygart Lake State Park for a two-day training session focused on improving investigation techniques in child-abuse cases, including forensic interviews, evidence preservation, interrogations, and warrant-procedures.

Wynona’s House is launching a new community-based prevention program — prompted by a presentation from child-abuse expert Michael Johnson — that encourages culturally appropriate conversations between parents and children, improves education, and aims to reduce risks of abuse and neglect for families in Essex County.

West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice held a training event in Martinsburg focused on improving how professionals recognize, respond to, and handle child abuse cases, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to strengthen investigation skills and support for child victims.

West Virginia Child Advocacy Network staff and adult survivors of child sexual abuse launched the West Virginia SHINE campaign on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

A Fairmont jury convicted a 72-year-old man on all 24 felony sex-crime charges involving an eight-year-old child after a four-day trial featuring multiple expert witnesses and testimony from both the victim and the defendant. Prosecutors emphasized the victim’s courage and the coordinated work of investigators, advocates, and the trial team in securing the verdict.