NCCAN 16 Plenary Closing Luncheon

This resource provides a transcript of the closing luncheon at the 16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Dr. Hilary N. Weaver, a Lakota social worker and President of the American Indian Alaska Native Social Work Educators' Association, has built a career of examining the role of cultural issues in the helping process. Identifying the cultural diversity of clients to be a potential strength and asset, she addresses ways to draw on cultural strengths as a means to move toward a more child and family friendly society and thus proactively prevent child maltreatment. Dr. Weaver presents culturally-based examples of valuing children and families together with strategies for developing collaborative relationships and community partnerships aimed at both preventing and treating child abuse and neglect.