Conversations Live: Confronting Child Abuse

Originally aired Thursday, September 26, 2013

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. But many more cases go unreported. On this edition of Conversations LIVE experts answer viewer questions and discuss how we can work to recognize child sexual abuse, protect children and talk about what we can do to help victims.

Jennie G. Noll, Ph.D.

Penn State’s Network on Child Protection and Well-Being
Professor, Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State

Dr. Jennie Noll has recently joined the Penn State faculty as a professor of Human Development and Family Studies and is leading Penn State’s Network on Child Protection and Well-Being. She is an internationally recognized researcher from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital whose work has examined the long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse. In looking at sexual development, teen pregnancy, high-risk behaviors, substance use, and identity formation, she has studied the impacts on long-term physical health problems such as obesity, cognitive deficits, endocrine disruption, and the onset of cancers experienced by victims.

Lucy Johnston-Walsh

Clinical Professor
Director, Children’s Advocacy Clinic

Professor Lucy Johnston-Walsh holds a juris doctor degree and a master’s degree in social work, is the clinic-supervising attorney for the Children’s Advocacy Clinic, part Penn State Law. A former state and federal lobbyist for a child advocacy organization and past chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Children’s Rights Committee, Johnston-Walsh directs the clinic’s operations and supports its mission to serve children and advocate for legislative issues related to children in the welfare system.

Mark Zimmer

Chairman, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Mark Zimmer is a private practice attorney and chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. As an influential voice in child abuse lawmaking and training, he has served on multiple committees surrounding these topics, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee and the Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Services to Children and Youth.