Organizational History
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) has played a crucial role in addressing child maltreatment and promoting best practices in child welfare in the U.S. APSAC was founded in 1986 as a nonprofit, national organization focused on meeting the needs of professionals engaged in all aspects of services for maltreated children and their families. It aims to advance the field of child protection through research, education, and advocacy through expert training and educational activities, policy leadership and collaboration, and consultation that emphasize theoretically sound, evidence-based principles.
The New York Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (NYPSAC) was formed in late 1994 as a chapter of APSAC. This organization was constituted from over 100 APSAC members within New York State with the goals of “(1) forming statewide networks for within discipline and cross-discipline referrals and consultations in child abuse cases, (2) sharing of information and education about local and statewide developments in the field, and (3) developing a forum from which professional training and information needs could be articulated and implemented”.
New York’s APSAC members shared this commitment and held an organizational meeting at Bellevue Hospital on May 25, 1994 to form a state chapter. Representatives from multidisciplinary fields including medicine, psychology, jurisprudence, social work, child life and the child protective services participated in this meeting. Board committees were formed, including program, nominations, and recruitment committees, and planning meetings were held in August and October, 1994. The first Annual Meeting occurred in New York City on April 7, 1995 with an educational program entitled “Child Maltreatment-Contextual Variations,” with keynote speaker, James Garbarino, Ph.D, speaking about “Child Maltreatment-The Primal Wound”. An interim Board of Directors was chosen, consisting of Jeanne Bell, Jocelyn Brown, Leah Harrison, Cathy Moraitis, Margaret McHugh, April Kuchuk, Sy Kolitch, Tom Hess, Eilleen Treacy, Rebecca Nathanson, Fran Levitt, Virginia Strand, Anne Meltzer, Helene Jackson, Gloria Mattera, Luz Towns-Miranda, Ann Marie Tucker, Chris Turner, Harry Wildfever and Vince Palusci. Dr. Margaret McHugh of NYU/Bellevue Medical Center was elected as the president of the board.
The group applied to become the APSAC chapter in New York and was recognized by APSAC on June 15, 1994. By-laws were written and minutes from the board meeting on January 29, 1996 note that the organization had applied for NY type B incorporation. A copy of the certificate of NY incorporation lists the date of January 23, 1996. Elections were held for the first full board to serve starting in January 1996 and the group filed papers with New York State as a 501c3 non-profit. The first full board had Margaret McHugh as president, Ann Botash as president elect, Chris Turner as secretary and Eileen Treacy as treasurer, with regional vice presidents Anne Meltzer, Virginia Strand, and Julia Burns.
After 2000, APSAC had significant financial difficulties and NYPSAC floundered. Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld maintained the organizational status but there was little activity. In 2008, there was renewed interest, and in March 2009, several members of NYPSAC began planning reactivation of NYPSAC. Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld remained in possession of financial records, and conference calls and web-based meetings were held open to all APSAC members in NY. A planning webinar on May 27, 2009 detailed the steps needed for reorganization and affiliation with APSAC. An email survey was sent to all APSAC members in NYS and 32 responses were obtained. The majority of responses expressed interest in re-forming the chapter.
A series of planning meetings resulted in a planning board consisting of 15 APSAC members. In 2010, monthly planning board conference calls began with the expressed goal of restarting NYPSAC and holding an Annual Meeting. Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld, Mel Schneider and Vince Palusci contacted APSAC members in New York to gauge their interest. A meeting was held October 28, 2009 and a Planning Board met on November 4, 2009. Additional meetings were held through the year and a conference was held “Best Practices and New Directions in the Treatment and Prevention of Child Maltreatment in New York State” on September 24, 2010. A planning board was elected, with Arthur Becker-Weidmann, Larry Braunstein, Linda Cahill (treasurer), Jack Coyne, Christine Duncan, Penny Grant, Tom Hess (VP3), April Kuchuk, Lori Legano, Ann Lenane (VP4), Margaret McHugh, Mary Pulido (Pres Elect), Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld, Mel Schneiderman (co-president), Daniel Summer (VP1), Vince Palusci (co-president), Eileen Treacy and Ingrid Walker-Descaertes (VP2). By-Laws were written and submitted for APSAC-NY. Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP agreed pro bono to help the group apply for non-profit status in New York and with the Internal Revenue Service.
A NYPSAC annual meeting was attended by 10 of the 69 APSAC members in NY present for discussion of business and election of the 2011 Board of Directors. Planning board meetings continued monthly through the end of 2010 and the new Board of Directors with Dr. Mel Schneiderman as president was constituted on January 10, 2011. In 2011, APSAC-NY was formally incorporated. In 2013, the chapter received it 501 (c) (3) status. The previous chapter of NYPSAC was dissolved in 2013. We received our NYS Sales Tax Exemption Certificate and NYS Charities Bureau Registration in 2014. Dr. Mary Pulido was the second president in 2014, and Dr. Vince Palusci became the third in 2018.
Past Board Presidents
NYPSAC
- 1994-1996 Margaret McHugh
- 1997-1999 Ann Botash
- 2000-2001 Lyn Slater
- 2001-2009 Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld
APSAC-NY
- 2010-2011 Vince Palusci & Mel Schneiderman
- 2011-2014 Mel Schneiderman
- 2014-2018 Mary Pulido
- 2018-2020 Vince Palusci
- 2020-2024 Mary Pulido
- 2024- Leslie Brand
Chapter Accomplishments
The New York chapter of APSAC has focused on enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals, including social workers, law enforcement, medical practitioners, and legal experts. Over the years, it has organized numerous training sessions, conferences, and workshops to provide practitioners with the latest research, techniques, and policies regarding child abuse and neglect. The chapter also emphasizes public awareness and policy advocacy, working to influence legislation and improve the systems that support vulnerable children and families. Through these efforts, the New York Chapter has contributed significantly to the understanding and prevention of child abuse in the state.
NYPSAC sponsored its second symposium on May 17, 1996 in NYC entitled “Beyond the Basics: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Child Abuse in New York State”. NYPSAC because “an independent affiliate of APSAC” on November 20, 1996. A newsletter called “NYPSAC NEWS” dated Summer 1997 records greetings from Ann Botash as President, 9 board members, and a call for nominations for the 1998 board. The 1998 Annual Meeting was held at the Northeast Regional Child Maltreatment Conference in Providence, RI on November 14, 1998. Additional records from meetings and minutes are lost, but the last formal action of the Board of Directors appears to be the election of Jamie Hoffman-Rosenfeld as President.
The reinvigorated APSAC-NY has successfully worked toward protecting the children of NY state for the past 14 years. An Annual Meeting and Educational Conference were held September 24, 2010 in NYC entitled “Best Practices and New Directions in the Treatment and Prevention of Child Maltreatment in NYS”. This conference was attended by 72 members and non-members, with plenary sessions and workshops co-sponsored by the NY Foundling’s Vincent Fontana Center. On December 16, 2016, APSAC-NY sponsored “Protecting Our Children: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Child Sexual Abuse Investigation” at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, with sessions on the medical evaluation, forensic interviewing, mental health and legal issues.
The organization continues its non-profit activities with goals of forming statewide networks for referrals and consultations in child abuse cases, sharing of information about local and statewide developments in the field, and developing a forum for professional training. Our committees have been active and, as a result, the APSAC-NY chapter has been strong in its productivity. Some of our efforts include:
- Webinars focused on the needs of the medical, mental health, and legal professionals,
- Trainings and multi-disciplinary conferences in NYC and upstate NY,
- Workshops and speaking engagements
- Legislative efforts, and policy initiatives.
Through APSAC-NY’s affiliation with the NY Foundling’s Vincent Fontana Center, CEU’s and CE’s have been available across disciplines for the professionals who attend our Webinars, conferences, and trainings. APSAC-NY’s CHAMP webinars initiated our ability to produce such training materials and the NY Foundling’s Vincent Fontana Center Webinars added to APSAC-NY training and outreach capabilities. CHAMP provided 6-webinars for child abuse medical professionals per year, and the NY Foundlings’ Vincent Fontana Center plans on publishing 4 webinars in 2022.
Our Board members have collaborated with other local, national, and international organizations, such as the Committee of Child Welfare Clinicians, the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Head Abusive Injury Conference, and the Helfer Society. The APSAC Advisor has published the work of the APSAC-NY Board members such as “Resource Guide for Evidence Based Mental Health Assessments Survey of NYS Child Advocacy Centers”. Another Board member has compiled “Best Practice Guidelines for Medical Evaluations in Cases of Suspected Child Abuse”.
APSAC-NY’s Public Policy Committee successful lobbied for the passage of Erin’s Law, (which mandated that NYS school implement and educate students about child sexual abuse), the Child Victim Act, and mandatory fingerprinting and background checks for employees of non-public schools in NYS. This committee is actively involved in efforts to eliminate the Statute of Limitations in child sexual abuse cases. APSAC-NY is very focused on APSAC’s National Initiative to End Corporal Punishment. Two webinars have been provided with an emphasis on pediatrician’s abilities to effectively communicate with parents about corporal punishment. No-Hit Zone efforts resulted in over 100 organizations signing on as supporters of No-Hit Zones. The Program Committee is planning a conference about the Initiative to End Corporal Punishment in the upstate Albany, NY area.
[Contributed by Eileen Treacy and Vince Palusci]