For Immediate Release
October 30, 2007

Contact:    Rick Liebel
                Public Relations and Development Director
                814 455-1774 Ext. 234
                814 881-6530 cell

Intimate Partner Violence: A Child's Journey is the Theme
of SafeNet's 11th Annual Medical Conference

On Thursday, November 1st, 2007 from 8:30 - 3:00 pm at the Ambassador Conference Center, SafeNet will host its 11th Annual Medical Conference, which is sponsored by Hamot Medical Center, Mercyhurst College Department of Social Work, Saint Vincent Health Systems and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

According to Cynthia Murphy, Director of Medical Services at SafeNet, "This years goal is to increase the awareness and enhance the skill set of participants when interacting with victims of intimate partner violence." Nurses, social workers, psychologists, teachers and other professionals who encounter and care for victims of intimate partner violence, are encouraged to attend this conference.

Again as in the past several years, the Medical Conference has been sold out. This years objectives to the medical conference is to assist participants to recognize the long term impact of domestic violence on children, identify the physical and psychological symptoms that result from trauma in the family and to define the precursors to effective treatment and healing.

This years schedule and speakers are:
8:30-9:00 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00-9:30 am - Introduction Film: Battered Hearts: A Story of Family Violence
9:30-10:45 am - Trauma Theory: Sandra Bloom MD, President of the Community Works, Inc. and author
10:45-11:00 am - Break
11:00-12:00 pm - "The One Watching" Casey Keene, MSW, Resource Coordinator of the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, Harrisburg, PA
12:00 - 1:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 pm - Creating Sanctuary: Putting Trauma Theory into Action: Sandra Bloom MD
2:30 - 3:00 pm - Questions and Answers

This years speakers are Sandra Bloom MD, a board certified psychiatrist and president of Community Works, Inc., a behavioral consulting firm committed to the development of non-violent environments. She serves as distinguished fellow of the Andrus Children Center in Yonkers, NY and founder of the Sanctuary Leadership Development Institute in Yonkers. And Casey Keene, Resource Coordinator for the National on-line Resource Center on Violence Against Women in Harrisburg.

Every 13 seconds in the United States, a victim is assaulted or beaten. Domestic abuse is a problem that affects thousands of people in our community, but it is often hidden behind closed doors. Your friend, neighbor, coworker or sibling could be suffering in silence, afraid to tell anyone for fear of retaliation from the abuser.

SafeNet is not a homeless shelter, but a safe and confidential place specifically for men, women and children who are victims of domestic violence.  From every city and township in the area, victims come to SafeNet seeking support, safety and shelter from physical abuse and threats of violence occurring at home.  After more than 30 years of providing shelter and many other supportive services, SafeNet knows first-hand that there is hope and there is help.

For interviews with SafeNet's Executive Director or any staff member of SafeNet, contact Rick Liebel, Public Relations and Development Director at 455-1774 extension 234 or email at rliebel@safeneterie.org.