Partners in Protection Conference
Join us in Georgetown, TX April 2nd 2025 for the Partners in Protection Conference.
Conference attendance is focused on professionals currently working in Child Abuse / Domestic Violence Field & Strategic Partners like Law Enforcement, CPS/DFPS, Medical Personnel, Trauma Therapists, Victim Services, Prosecutors, & Child Advocacy Center Staff.
Conference Details
-
April 2nd 2025
-
7:30am to 4pm
-
Georgetown Police DepartmentGeorgetown Police Department
Please Note: Early Bird Registration ($50) begins February 1st and closes February 28th. General Registration ($75) opens March 1st and will close March 27th. Attendees should expect a light breakfast & lunch.
Schedule
Check back here for updates. The calendar is being updated as schedules are confirmed.
| Time | Session Title | Speaker | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7:30 – 8:15am |
Check-In |
|
||
|
8:15 – 8:30am |
Welcome/ Opening Remarks |
TBD |
||
|
8:30 – 10am |
Session 1 |
Brody Burks, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General |
||
|
10 – 10:05am |
Break |
|
||
|
10:05 11:35am |
Session 2 |
Belinda Swan, Partnerships Program Manager, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Texas Regional Office |
||
|
11:35am – 12:20pm |
Lunch |
|
||
|
12:20 – 1:50pm |
Session 3 |
Jennifer Newman, Executive Director, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Texas Regional Office |
||
|
1:50 – 1:55pm |
Break |
|
||
|
1:55 – 3:25pm |
Session 4 |
Karla Solomon, Founding Partner Human Trafficking & Trauma Expert, LifeRAFT INC |
||
|
3:25 – 3:40pm |
Closing Remarks |
TBD |
||
|
4 – 6pm |
Happy Hour / Networking |
|||
Thank You to Our 2024 Lunch Sponsor
2024 Speakers
Check back here for updates. The speaker list is updated as schedules are confirmed.
Jennifer Newman
Jennifer Newman is an Executive Director at NCMEC, overseeing NCMEC’s Austin, Texas branch office and, operationally, focused on international engagement and special projects in the Exploited Children Division (ECD). Newman has spent the past 22 years working cases, helping build programs, and engaging in the issues in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children. For Texas, Ms. Newman directs the administration and management of the office, working closely with NCMEC senior leadership on advancing, growing and raising awareness of local programs and initiatives. For over 20 years, Jennifer has presented at various national, local and international trainings and conferences related to the sexual exploitation of children.
Karla Soloman
Karla Solomon is a Founding Partner at LifeRAFT Inc., a nonprofit supporting survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and sex trafficking who are mothers with CPS cases in Texas. LifeRAFT provides stabilization, legal counsel, housing, and advocacy. Karla also consults for Mercy Gate Ministries, offering residential and courtroom programs for trafficking survivors. Accredited by the State Bar of Texas, Karla is a Subject Matter Expert for the DHS Blue Campaign and Blue Lightning Initiative, presenting nationally and contributing to DHS training. She collaborates with law enforcement, including training DPS Special Agents, and her efforts have led to over 200 arrests and 30 rescues. As a Court-Certified Human Trafficking Expert, her testimony has helped secure over 400 years of sentencing for traffickers. Karla serves on the Texas Governor’s Human Trafficking Survivor Leader Council, the NCMEC board, and has trained thousands since 2018.
Belinda Swan
Belinda serves as Partnerships Program Manager for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children where she manages NCMEC’s programmatic relationships with government and nonprofit organizations across the country. Belinda also implements NCMEC’s Community Education Partner Program and delivers NCMEC’s child safety programming. Belinda is passionate about bringing communities and organizations together to recognize, address, and prevent safety issues affecting children, especially online exploitation. She brings over 20 years of experience to NCMEC, including her work with the Texas Attorney General’s Office Law Enforcement Division and the Council on At-Risk Youth. She received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley. She currently serves as a board member for the Texas Victim Services Association.
Brody Burks
For the last 15 years, Brody has worked in public service for the State of Texas -as an assistant district attorney, criminal justice policy advisor to the governor, Chief of Staff to Commissioner Bobby Janecka at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and now as assistant Attorney General prosecuting human trafficking. He also serves as legislative liaison for the division and point of contact for stakeholder groups. He has also served as the Governor’s appointee to the Interstate Compact on Adult Offender Supervision and has been a trainer and mentor through the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association. He's a graduate of Austin College and The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and lives in Austin with his wife, two children, and a rescue pit bull.