"It's a sad fact that a growing number of Kentucky's children come before the courts," said attorney Michael Losavio, manager of the Education Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in Frankfort. "Whether the children are victims of abuse or neglect, or in the role of witness, the court system must treat them with special care to minimize the trauma of the legal process. Child protection is a timely and important topic for the state's judges to tackle as part of their continuing legal education program."

Conducting the conference were Kentucky judges and other experts on  children's issues.

Presenters included Dr. Hans Otto Kaak, a physician with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine; James Clark, Ph.D., who is with the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and the College of Medicine; and Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr., a physician who serves as secretary of the Cabinet for Health & Family Services.

The conference concentrated on psychological issues in child treatment, managing cases that terminate parental rights, the impact of domestic violence on the psychological development of children, handling child witnesses and the use of technology in child protection cases.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is the administrative arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice and supports the activities of 3,300 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.