By Sulwa Siraj
Thousands of professionals dedicated to child protection are expected to gather in Downtown Dallas this August for the 37th annual Crimes Against Children conference, hosted by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC).
Held at the Sheraton Hotel, the conference will run from August 3-7, with more than 275 expert-led sessions covering emerging threats to child safety. Since its founding, the conference has trained over 92,000 professionals working in a range of fields such as law enforcement, social work, and medicine. Last year’s conference drew more than 5,300 attendees from across the country and internationally, and organizers anticipate a similar turnout this year, including representatives from 15 countries.
Iris Burch, president and chief executive officer of DCAC, said the heart of the conference is a shared commitment to protecting children and “mobilizing the
field to do better across disciplines and agencies by working together.”
This year’s agenda reflects that commitment, with urgent issues being addressed such as sextortion, child sex trafficking, trauma-informed care, and the ethical complexities posed by new technologies like artificial intelligence. Special sessions will also offer guidance for professionals navigating digital platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta.
“We are in a constant race to ensure that we are aware and responsive to new technologies,” Burch said. “We must continue to learn and adapt so we can best respond to these crimes.”
Every year, the conference equips professionals with critical tools that help prevent further harm to children, often leading to tangible breakthroughs and practical growth.
“We regularly hear how people’s work changes as a result of their learnings—specific cases or tactics (i.e. cold cases, interviewing offenders),” Burch said. “We also see how attendees grow into speakers over time—this is a testament to the power of training and commitment to the field.”
This year also marks the first conference since the passing of Lieutenant Bill Walsh, co-founder of DCAC and a longtime officer with the Dallas Police Department.
Walsh helped establish the conference more than three decades ago, beginning with just two speakers and 40 attendees. Today, his vision lives on in an event that draws thousands of professionals and fosters global collaboration focused on protecting children.
That spirit of connection remains central to the experience, as Burch affirms.
“I hope attendees leave this conference feeling reconnected to their purpose and reminded of their power,” Burch said. “This work can be isolating, heavy, and thankless. My deepest hope is that everyone who attends feels affirmed, encouraged, and reminded that they’re not alone. If they leave here reminded that the work is sacred, and that they are essential to it—then we’ve done our job.”
Outside of the conference, DCAC continues its year-round mission to serve the most severely abused children in Dallas County. The organization coordinates investigations and provides trauma recovery services to more than 12,000 children and family members annually, ensuring that the conference’s impact continues long after it ends.
For more information on the conference, visit cacconference.org. To learn more about DCAC’s work, visit dcac.org.
Sulwa Siraj is an intern working for Texas Metro News through the Scripps Howard Foundation Emerging Journalist Program at the University of North Texas. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and studying psychology.
