This session follows survivor Melanie’s journey through the CAC and court process, showing how forensic interviewing and MDT support helped her find her voice and begin healing. Drawing on two decades of recovery and advocacy, she offers a firsthand perspective on the lasting impact of coordinated, survivor-centered practice.

In this session, survivor and advocate Melanie Barton shares the small moments that had outsized impact on her healing from sexual abuse. Drawing on lived experience and professional training, she equips professionals to better support children, teens, caregivers, and families from a survivor-centered perspective.

This session examines how legal, medical, psychological, and survivor-centered perspectives intersect in child abuse cases and how effective MDT collaboration drives successful outcomes. Through cross-disciplinary discussion and case examples, participants learn to use medical evidence, expert testimony, and coordinated communication to support survivors and strengthen prosecution.

This workshop explores how sexual trauma can impact the body long after abuse, often beyond conscious awareness. Through Melanie’s story and Dr. Saar’s clinical insight, participants examine the mind–body connection, non-linear healing, and the vital role of trauma-informed medical care in survivor recovery.

This workshop uses survivor-advocate Melanie’s story to show how sexual trauma can manifest physically years later, including pelvic pain and dysfunction. Participants explore the non-linear nature of healing and the critical role of trauma-informed medical care in a survivor’s path to recovery.

This session follows survivor Melanie Barton’s case from disclosure through trial and long-term impact, presented in conversation with forensic psychologist Dr. Timothy Saar. Together, they examine prosecution missteps, the effects of trial on victims, effective testimony preparation, and post-trial support.