The 2023 North Star Fall Child Crimes Conference was held at the Parkersburg Art Center. This year’s conference will be Tuesday and Wednesday at the same location. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — On Tuesday and Wednesday, 90 people from around the state of West Virginia will once again converge in Parkersburg for the North Star Fall Child Crimes Conference.

The training conference will once again be held at the Parkersburg Art Center.

The attendees will include child advocacy centers, law enforcement, Child Protective Service investigators, prosecutors, advocates, therapists and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

“The goal of this conference each and every year is to bring in great speakers and subject matter experts to make all of these people better as they fight for abused children,” said Greg Collins, executive director of North Star Child Advocacy Center (NSCAC).

Collins said Celanese provided sponsorship of the conference to provide the ability to pay for quality instructors.

“Celanese has been a great partner and friend to us for several years now. This sponsorship ensures a quality conference that participants will talk about when they go home, also providing them with new tools in their investigative arsenal going forward,” he said.

The topic titles at this years conference are: Corroborating Evidence in the Digital Age, Social Media and Victims, There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Evidence, The Power of Showing Up, Medical Findings in Child Sexual Abuse, and Growing up in a Porn Culture.

“One of the speakers is a local sexual abuse survivor that is sure to resonate with the attendees. I’ve heard her speak and it will make any investigator look at what they are doing in these cases. It’s a great accountability presentation,” said Collins.

Collins said the conference is also a great opportunity to showcase Parkersburg and the surrounding area.

“We have had great response and support from community leaders for this conference. They realize the impact that this conference can have on businesses in the area and are quick to help roll out the red carpet,” he said.

In addition to Celanese, The Original Pizza Place in the Grand Central Mall has come onboard with a cash and in-kind sponsorship. Rachell’s Wild Oats in Vienna is providing breakfast food and First Chapter Bookstore in Parkersburg is providing coffee both days.

In helping North Star with a serious problem for the conference, the City of Parkersburg and the Parkersburg Police Department have, for the second year in a row, provided the attendees with free parking passes at metered parking spots.

“Parking was at one time a major detractor for the conference and the issue has been resolved with this accommodation. We are truly grateful for this assistance,” he said.

To further highlight the Mid Ohio Valley, attendees will be treated to two events after the first day of the conference. A riverboat cruise aboard the Valley Gem will once again be offered with Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority again providing two buses to transport attendees from the conference’s hotel, TownPlace Suites by Marriott in downtown Parkersburg, to the Williamstown Boat Ramp to board the boat and return them back to the hotel.

A first-time second option is the Haunted Parkersburg ghost tour. The two-mile, two-hour tour will show attendees the major hot spots of hauntings around the City of Parkersburg as well as filling them in on some of Parkersburg’s spookiest and most unique history.

“The attendees are nearly split down the middle on RSVPs for these events. I think this is an important piece in making for a quality conference experience and inticing attendees to return to the area,” he said.

“The work that the Parkersburg Art Center does to help us make this a quality event is so appreciated. This venue is always stated by the attendees as a highlight of the conference and a welcome change from the usual training conference scene,” said Collins, adding that Downtown PKB and Greater Parkersburg CVB will be providing information packets to all attendees at the conference as well. “With this information, our attendees will be able to thoroughly learn about what Parkersburg and the surrounding area has to offer. Many of our former attendees have planned a trip back to the area with their families and friends, and that is a big part of what the conference was designed to do at the onset,” he said.

Contact North Star at 304-917-4437 or via email nscac@northstarcac.org to learn more about how to help or to request a tour of the facility. Those interested may also contact the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation to leave an endowment or a legacy gift to North Star. More information can be found at northstarcac.org.