NASHVILLE, Tenn. —  For a fourth year, Middle Tennessee State University’s Human Development and Family Science program is organizing a Family Violence Professional Panel Series to help educate and keep the community informed about preventing and intervening in cases of abuse.

Ahead of the three-part series, assistant professor Rebecca Oldham, who organized the event, appeared on the “MTSU on 2” segment from the studios of WKRN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Nashville, to talk about what attendees can expect to learn during the panels.

Watch the full segment below.

Oldham said professionals and experts are among the speakers and will discuss their experiences with both victims and perpetrators in the three separate panels scheduled for Thursday, March 26; Thursday, April 9 and Thursday, April 16.

“It is a privilege to highlight the incredible professionals who make our communities safer and support survivors of abuse. Panelists come from diverse backgrounds — medicine, mental health, law, nonprofits, government agencies, education, and more — so the public can learn what happens after abuse is reported and what resources are available to victims and their families,” Oldham said.

She said attendees will also learn some common misconceptions people have about family violence, what can be done to prevent it and ways to support survivors best. They’ll also learn about different resources available in the local community.

“It’s unfortunate how common abuse is. Everyone should be prepared to prevent, identify, and respond to it. For example, many people don’t realize that it’s often those whom we trust — not strangers — who are most likely to abuse. Correcting misconceptions like this can make us more effective in preventing abuse in the first place, identifying it when it does occur, and intervening appropriately. Better-informed communities are safer communities,” Oldham said.

Child abuse will be the focus of the first panel discussion on March 26. Child abuse and neglect impact at least 1 in 7 children, though the numbers are likely underestimated, as many cases go unreported.

Intimate partner violence is the topic of the second panel discussion set for April 9.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 41% of women and 26% of men experience intimate partner violence, including sexual violence, physical violence or stalking at least once during their lifetime.

The final discussion on April 16 will focus on elder abuse, which Oldham refers to as the “silent epidemic,” and affects around 1 out of 10 people in the United States age 60 and older who live at home.

All sessions begin at 1:15 p.m. in Academic Classroom Building 102, located at 1751 MTSU Blvd. A networking reception and refreshments will immediately follow. Click here for a campus map.

Attendees can also attend virtually. Visit mtsu.edu/hdfs for more information. Registration is encouraged but not required. An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided and is offered by MTSU’s College of Behavioral and Health Sciences in appreciation of the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology program.

Virtual attendees will be able to ask questions and participate in the discussion. To attend virtually, visit https://bit.ly/4l3iAFK.

Email Rebecca.Oldham@mtsu.edu for questions or concerns.

The 2026 Family Violence Professional Panel Series is sponsored by Tennessee Success and Innovation Funding, Engage, MTSU’s Department of Human Sciences, MTSU’s Honors College, MTSU’s College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts, CLA Interdisciplinary Studies and Initiatives, MTSU’s Department of Elementary and Special Education, MTSU Physician Assistant Studies, MTSU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology,  MTSU’s Student Government Association and the Campus Nonviolence Committee (Tina Stewart Grant) and MTSU’s Department of Political and Global Affairs.

— DeAnn Hays (deann.hays@mtsu.edu)