Network of Emerging eXpertise in child proTection
A supportive, global network of emerging child protection professionals.
Equipping the next generation of global leaders in child protection with knowledge, connections, and tools to create a safer and more supportive world for children, now and in the future.
Bring your ideas and collaborate with us to plan engaging social networking and professional development events. Together, we'll create opportunities to enhance your skills, expand your knowledge, and build meaningful connections.
Network with early-career professionals, experts, and mentors worldwide.
Access free and discounted webinars, training, and peer support.
Get leads on job and funding opportunities and opportunities to present your work at the congress and virtually.
Stay updated on the latest studies and best practices.
Learn from others and work on global projects, research, and advocacy initiatives.
Join a movement shaping the future of child protection.
Hear from ISPCAN Convenors Dr. Liz Perry & Dr. Christina Thurston on “Why Join ISPCAN Next?”
Sign up for an ISPCAN Student Membership
Connect with the ISPCAN NEXT group on the member portal
Subscribe to the ISPCAN Newsletter and discussions in the member portal
Join the discussion, start connecting & grow your career!
If you're an early-career researcher, practitioner, or advocate in child protection, this network is for you! The NEXT group is open to active ISPCAN members only.
Connect with global experts in child protection to seek advice, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities in the field.
Join our virtual co-working groups to make progress on independent writing projects. Meeting time: Every other Monday at 11:00am EDT. Click on the link below to join! Email Liz at eperry12@gsu.edu to learn more.
Half-day pre-congress working group will offer a half-day workshop tailored to early career professionals. Option to attend additional networking and social events.
ISPCAN NEXT (Network for Emerging eXpertise in child proTection) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, member-driven community of early career professionals working to prevent child abuse and neglect globally. The goal of ISPCAN NEXT is to empower the next generation of leaders in child protection to create a safer and more supportive world for children, now and in the future.
We will offer a variety of activities and events throughout the year for early-career ISPCAN members, both online and during the annual congress. These activities will aim to help members grow professionally, connect with others around the world, build lasting friendships, and support their personal health and well-being. We are committed to equity, making sure all members can participate in this group regardless of their location, income, ability, or professional role. By embracing inclusivity, we strengthen our collaboration and enable everyone to contribute meaningfully to protecting children worldwide.
Liz Perry is a Behavioral Scientist, ISPCAN NEXT Convener, and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. She is passionate about enhancing child well-being globally by examining how positive and adverse childhood experiences shape health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This understanding guides her work as she adapts and evaluates evidence-based parenting programs that empower families and support caregivers in creating more nurturing environments for children.
Beyond research, Liz works alongside NGOs, building capacity and supporting their program evaluation and research initiatives. She has collaborated with organizations like ChildFund International, the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, ThriveSS Inc., and the Starr Institute to develop evaluation plans for individual programs and organizations, enhance the visibility of programs through the dissemination of findings, and strengthen efforts to improve outcomes for children, families, and people living with HIV.
As an ISPCAN NEXT Convener, Liz is committed to fostering a supportive, collaborative network for early-career professionals in the field of child protection. She hopes to create a space where young professionals can connect, collaborate, learn from one another, and grow into the next generation of leaders dedicated to preventing child maltreatment and promoting child well-being globally.
She currently lives in Colorado Springs, where she enjoys hiking, birding, and spending time in nature—often with her partner and horse, Banana, by her side.
Lindsey Palmer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work. Her research examines the nature, extent, and impact of Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement on the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and adolescents. She is especially interested in how families come to the attention of CPS, including the context behind neglect allegations and the mental health and behavioral crises that bring adolescents into the system. A central aim of her work is to identify when voluntary, community-based services can meet families’ needs earlier and more effectively, reducing child welfare system contact. Using administrative data linkage and population-based approaches, she also studies the strengths and limitations of administrative data in capturing the experiences and outcomes of children impacted by CPS. Her work is supported by a CDC K01 award, and she received the 2024 Article of the Year Award from Child Maltreatment.
Lindsey began her career as a clinical social worker in Los Angeles, providing mental health services to adolescents impacted by the child protection and juvenile justice systems. She earned her MSW and PhD in Social Work from the University of Southern California and completed an NICHD-funded postdoctoral fellowship with Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. She collaborates regularly with child welfare agencies to strengthen community-based supports for families.
As an ISPCAN Next convener, Lindsey is committed to helping early-career professionals network in meaningful ways, exchange ideas, and learn from the work others are doing. She values connecting partners across countries so that ideas can be shared, adapted, and tested in new contexts, and she wants Next to be a safe space for candid conversation about the future of child welfare.
Outside of work, Lindsey enjoys movies, musicals, and dinners with friends. She loves spending time with her partner and two small children, and can most often be found cheering the kids on at their baseball and soccer games.
Christina Thurston is a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, working on the ERC-funded INTERRUPT_VIOLENCE project, a three-generational longitudinal study in South Africa. Her research focuses on applying quantitative methods to analyse large, longitudinal datasets, exploring causal risk and protective pathways from contextually sensitive adverse childhood experiences to later-life psychopathology.
Before transitioning into academia, Christina worked for a national children’s charity, case managing and supporting children and families who experienced adversity and trauma, as well as children with complex developmental needs. She has also worked with adults with complex trauma in community settings and secure residential settings. Christina recently submitted her PhD in Social Work at the University of Edinburgh. She holds an MSc in the Psychology of Childhood Adversity (Queen’s University, Belfast) and an MA (Hons) in Psychology (University of Dundee).
As an ISPCAN NEXT convenor, Christina is deeply committed to encouraging an inclusive and collaborative space where early-career researchers and professionals can connect, grow, and contribute to the global movement to protect children. She is particularly passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion, advocating for safe and supportive spaces where everybody feels valued and empowered to contribute.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys living on the Scottish coast, where she takes grounding coastal walks and spends time with her partner, family, and dog.
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