The Unforgettables’ 2nd Annual “Children and Families in Crisis” Conference

By Lydia Kremer

The Unforgettables Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to providing low-income families assistance with a dignified burial for their children, has announced that the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center will join in presenting The Unforgettables’ 2nd Annual “CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS CONFERENCE.

This educational summit will be held on Friday, April 10 in the Indian Wells Theater at California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus located at 37500 Cook Street.  The conference aims to educate parents, caregivers, and communities at large about the crisis of child abuse and trafficking.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center to this important conference. Their participation adds an exceedingly knowledgeable voice to this conference and will provide an immeasurable level of experience in this important dialogue,” said Chaplain Tim Evans, founder of The Unforgettables.

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Following the inaugural Children and Families Conference last year, conference organizers are focusing on how children are often put at risk in what we believe are safe environments such as schools, churches, and communities. The day-long conference entitled “When Havens Become Horror Stories” will examine the issues of child abuse and will offer perspectives and solutions from a list of respected professionals who work in the fields of ensuring and protecting the well-being of children.

The Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children will present a panel discussion on the process of the multi-disciplinary team that deals with suspected child abuse, including its state-of-the art therapy programs. . The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center was founded in 1986 by Frank and Barbara Sinatra and is dedicated to ensuring every child’s right to a normal, healthy and secure childhood. The Children’s Center provides individual, group and family therapy along with special programs that address issues associated with children suffering the effects of child abuse and neglect, and who are at risk to be abused. “The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center is the ideal strategic partner in such a conference,” added Chaplain Evans.

This full-day program beginning with registration at 8 AM  is open to professionals, students and the general public.  Register online at www.unforgettables.org or by phone 909-335-1655.  The fee of $99 per person includes lunch.  Full scholarships are available by calling 909-855-3130.

The opening keynote address will be given by Dr. Clare Sheridan-Matney, an internationally respected forensic specialist on pediatrics and child abuse at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Director of the San Bernardino County Children’s Assessment Center.

Dr. Ken Druck, a renowned author and presenter on the topic of child resilience and founder of the Jenna Druck Foundation in San Diego, is the featured afternoon keynote speaker.

The event will conclude with “Lights for Little Lives,” a touching dove release and candle lighting ceremony on the University Mall Lawn which will have a display of memorial flags placed in honor of the 117 children from across Riverside County who have died during the past year.

The Palm Desert-based Auen Foundation has generously provided scholarship funding for 100 students from College of the Desert, University of California Riverside, Cal State San Bernardino and other area colleges.

This second annual Conference on “Children and Families in Crisis” is a partnership between The Unforgettables Foundation, Title Sponsor The Auen Foundation, California State University San Bernardino, The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Riverside County Medical Association and San Bernardino County Medical Society, along with other nonprofit organizations and businesses that seek to prevent harm to our children and to provide loving care to grieving families confronting child abuse, tragic accidents, terminal illness, suicide or the murder of their child.

Additional partners and sponsors of the 2015 Conference include Operation Safehouse, Children’s Network, Olive Crest Foundation, OneLegacy, Life Stream, Forest Lawn Mortuary, Wiefel’s Mortuary, Eisenhower Medical Center, The Community Foundation, Molina Healthcare and IEHP.

The Unforgettables Foundation, recently named the Community-based Provider of the Year by the San Bernardino County Children’s Network for 2015, has continued its steady resolve to serve the Riverside County families in need when a child has died.  Founded in 2000 by Chaplain Timothy Evans, the mostly all-volunteer Foundation has assisted more than 4,000 low-income families throughout Southern California by providing counseling and the necessary resources for a dignified, appropriate burial for their children.

For more information, contact Tim Evans at The Unforgettables Foundation, 345 W. Pearl Ave., #230, Redlands CA 92374.  Visit www.unforgettables.org or email tevans@theunforgettables.com.  Call 909.855.3130 (cell) or 909.335.1655 (office).