Braintree Joins in 'Responding to School-Based Violence' Conference

The following is from the office of Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey:

Three Braintree Police Officers and two school officials attended the “Responding to School-Based Violence” conference hosted by Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey and Norfolk Advocates for Children last week.

Lisa Fahey, Karen MacAleese and Mary Toomey from the police department and school Health Director Melonie Bennett and Nursing Director Paula Dowd attended the half-day conference.

Sessions addressed complex issues including the developmental impact on children who experience bullying, harassment, dating violence and other trauma, and specific strategies for responding to those events at different age levels. Other presentations detailed the services that the non-profit NAC offers to area communities, including training on Massachusetts laws governing the mandated reporter statute, teen dating violence, bullying, cyber-bullying and other issues that threaten the well-being of children.

“Norfolk Advocates for Children is a public-private partnership of more than 50 agencies – including all 27 Norfolk County police departments, hospitals, state agencies, and private health professionals – with the shared goal of helping children who have been abused and helping prevent future abuse,” District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said. “Today’s seminars were an important part of the work we do, and I am very pleased to see Braintree’s strong participation.”

More than 75 attended the event, which was held March 28 in conference space donated by the Bank of Canton. The project is supported by a federal grant from the US Department of Justice Programs.