PARKERSBURG — The North Star Child Advocacy Center in Parkersburg will hold its second annual statewide training conference on Oct. 17-18.

About 90 staff from child advocacy centers, law enforcement, prosecutors, Child Protective Services, sexual assault medical examiners and therapists from West Virginia will be at the Parkersburg Art Center to learn from speakers in the child investigation arena, Greg Collins, North Star executive director, said. Among the featured presentations will be the investigation team involved in a case involving the death of an 8-year-old Fayette County girl at the hands of abuse, he said.

“The purpose of these conferences has been to make our child crime specialists better at what they do,” Collins said. “We want child investigators to analyze themselves and make sure they have done everything they can for that child and their family. If you have made mistakes or overlooked things you shouldn’t have, hold yourself accountable and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

North Star Child Advocacy Center has been an “incredible member center and partner” in the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network’s mission of working together to support hope, healing and justice for children affected by abuse, Kate Flack, CEO of the network, said.

“Its conference will bring nearly 100 multidisciplinary investigative and treatment professionals from North Star’s five-county service footprint and from across the state for a two-day training on how to better respond when concerns of abuse arise,” she said. “We are honored to sponsor this event and shine a spotlight on North Star’s commitment to the child advocacy center model as well as the beautiful city of Parkersburg.”

Last year’s conference was held at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke.

Collins said he wanted to bring this year’s to Wood County, showing off some of the positive aspects of the area to others.

Collins also cited the financial impact North Star may be able to have on local businesses.

“The Convention and Visitors Bureau appreciates the economic impact that conferences have on our local economy. In addition to the financial benefit that is seen by hotels and the conference venue itself, attendees spend money at local restaurants, shops, and attractions,” Mark Lewis, president and CEO of Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, said.

“That spending adds to the overall economic health of our city and our region.”

An outing on the Valley Gem, Unity Cafe breakfast refreshments, informational packages provided by the visitors bureau and assistance from the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority will make the conference an outstanding two days, Collins said.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing this statewide conference to the MOV again next year,” he said.