FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2021
CONTACT: Zero Abuse Project | [email protected] | 651.714.4673
St. Paul, MN (October 8, 2021) – Zero Abuse Project is excited to announce the appointment of three new members to their Board of Directors: Michael Johnson (Detective Mike), Elizabeth Hobbs, and Michael Galantino. These new directors are dedicated to protecting children from abuse and sexual assault and have been imperative and influential in their support of the cause.
Michael Johnson (Detective Mike) is an internationally recognized expert on all aspects of child abuse and exploitation and specializes in abuse investigation, detection, and prevention efforts for organizations serving youth. An early pioneer and visionary in the field, Johnson was at the forefront of promoting the multidisciplinary team investigative approach and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) movement in the early 1990s. In 2019, the American Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) at the 26th APSAC Colloquium, recognized Detective Michael Johnson as “one of the most influential pioneers in the investigation of suspected child maltreatment.”
Elizabeth Hobbs began her career as a prosecutor primarily handling crimes against children. She ultimately returned to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in a leadership role handling the most serious crimes against children and working closely on the Multidisciplinary Team with law enforcement partners, forensic interviewers, and other child advocacy professionals.
Michael Galantino is currently the Executive Director of the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators, an organization dedicated to providing support to state and local prosecutors throughout the United States through education, networking, and technical support. He has prosecuted thousands of cases in his career, including more than 140 jury trials to verdict. Galantino has taught at the National, State, and local levels on issues including computer-facilitated sexual assault, child abuse and exploitation, ethics, evidence, criminal law, search and seizure and courtroom procedures.
The new board members’ expertise will be a tremendous asset to help further Zero Abuse Projects’ mission of protecting children. The organization is very grateful to begin their work together.
About Zero Abuse Project
Zero Abuse Project is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating a world where every child is free from abuse. They work to protect children from abuse and sexual assault, by engaging people and resources through a trauma-informed approach of education, research, advocacy, and advanced technology. Zero Abuse Project trains approximately 25,000 professionals each year, has implemented undergraduate and graduate child abuse courses in 85 universities, and oversees ChildFirst – a forensic interview training program that is replicated in 21 states and 2 countries. To learn more, visit www.zeroabuseproject.org, like Zero Abuse Project on Facebook www.facebook.com/zeroabuseproj and follow them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/zeroabuseproject.
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