The fourth annual Northeast Nebraska Family Violence Summit was held at the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.
The two-day event is designed for human service professionals, advocates, law enforcement, mental health practitioners, students, and community stakeholders who support individuals and families impacted by domestic and family violence.
Hosted by Faith Regional Child Advocacy Center, Bright Horizons, and the Northeast Community College Department of Criminal Justice, as well as Human Services, the Summit provided a rich program of continuing education workshops, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Participants explored the many facets of family violence — including prevention, intervention, trauma-informed care, collaboration across systems, and healing for survivors and communities.
Keynote speakers Justin Boardman and Kristina Korobov gave enlightening and educational presentations on “Active Listening & Becoming Trauma Informed” and “Addressing Recantation in Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Cases,” respectively.
With nearly 200 registered attendees, the summit on Thursday and Friday, October 16–17, provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Northeast Criminal Justice and Human Services students to not only attend the same training as their real-world practitioner counterparts, but also to begin networking with those professionals.
Investigator Brett Struebing of the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office was given the 2025 S.T.A.R.S. Award, recognizing his significant and high-quality work in investigating crimes involving children and family violence.
Primary event organizer, Abbi Shanle stated “This event is the work of multiple organizations recognizing a need for professional development in our geographical area and coming together to make it happen. These partnerships are crucial in enhancing our response to victims of violence and ensuring safer, happier, and healthier communities. Having this opportunity locally reduces costs for attendees, enhances safety for communities, and promotes collaboration across disciplines.”
Colleen Barnes, Criminal Justice & Sociology instructor said, “The Northeast Nebraska Family Violence Summit is a great chance for our Criminal Justice students to learn from experts, explore real-life issues, and be part of important conversations about family violence.”
Next year’s summit will be held October 20-21, 2026, on the Northeast Community College campus.
###
