#ISLECISLoft: International Taskforce on Child Protection: A decade of strengthening safeguarding practices: 05 June 2024

#ISLECISLoft: The last one for 23-24!

International Taskforce on Child Protection: A decade of strengthening safeguarding practices across the international school community.

Panel: Leila Holmyard, Jane Larsson, Pauline O’Brien, Dr.Christine Brown, Jordan Greenbaum

The session will begin with a history of the taskforce’s work, which began a decade ago following a harrowing abuse case that impacted many international school communities. Panel members will share how the taskforce has worked collaboratively to develop resources and change working practices to make international schools safer places for children. Additionally, the panel will share what they see as the upcoming risks and trends in international school safeguarding and how schools can address them. Attendees will receive resources, checklists and guidance to strengthen safeguarding and child protection practices in their schools.

PANEL

Leila Holmyard has worked as an independent consultant since 2015, supporting international schools and organisations including the Council of International Schools, the United World Colleges and Faria Education Group. She provides international schools with safeguarding training and audits, specialist advice on complex cases, and support in the strategic development of safeguarding. Leila offers online supervision for safeguarding leads, which involves regular meetings for consultancy, emotional support and developing knowledge and skills. Leila is currently pursuing a PhD in Education with the University of Bath focused on safeguarding in international schools.

Jane Larsson has led the Council of International Schools (CIS) as Executive Director since her appointment in 2010. Over the past 25 years, Jane has led the international education community with a focus on the development of collaborative partnerships to enable and support educational exchange and the development of international and intercultural perspective. Jane currently serves as Chair of the International Taskforce on Child Protection and on the Board of Directors of the International Commission Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA).

Pauline O’Brien is Director of Global Recruitment Business Strategy and Development at International School Services. She has 20+ years of experience in professional recruiting, client service, and school board relations in international education. Pauline’s work has also included service on the International Task Force for Child Protection (ITFCP), resulting in the creation and delivery of educational sessions on Effective International Recruitment Practices worldwide.

Dr. Christine Brown was the Regional Education Officer (REO) in the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State covering the Western European Region. Dr Brown also served as the DOS representative to the International Child Protection Task Force and to ECIS. In February 2019, she was awarded the Keith Miller Innovation Award from the Association for the Advancement of International Education for her work in Child Protection around the world.

Jordan Greenbaum is a child abuse physician who received her degree from Yale School of Medicine.  She works with victims of suspected physical/sexual abuse, neglect and sex trafficking at the Stephanie Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  In addition, she is the director of the Global Health and Wellbeing Initiative with the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Jordan provides trainings on all aspects of child maltreatment for medical and nonmedical professionals locally, nationally and internationally.  Her research interests focus on child sex and labor trafficking and child sexual exploitation.