Spotlight of the Week: Pamela J. Miller – A Trailblazer in Child Protection and Advocacy
For over two decades, Pamela J. Miller, JD, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW has dedicated her life to protecting children from abuse, advocating for their rights, and pioneering groundbreaking work in child maltreatment policy. As both a forensic and clinical social worker and an attorney, Miller has been at the forefront of child protection, mental health, and legal advocacy for the most vulnerable.
Her expertise spans child maltreatment, child mental health, foster care, sexual abuse, psychological trauma, and mandated reporting. She has played a key role in shaping policies, training professionals, and providing expert legal and social work consultations in child welfare cases.
A Global Impact on Child Protection
Since joining the APSAC Center for Child Policy (now the Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center) in 2019, Miller has led a groundbreaking initiative on Intrafamilial Child Torture (ICT)—a deeply underrecognized yet devastating form of child abuse. Her research, white papers, and case studies have influenced legal proceedings, policy recommendations, and training programs worldwide. Professionals from over 83 countries have benefited from her expertise, and her work has been featured in People Magazine, Fox News, and the UK’s Daily Mail.
Beyond ICT, Miller has contributed significantly to legal advocacy for abused children, serving as counsel for the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) in state supreme court cases. She also provides training and legal insights on child protective services litigation, child custody, and social work ethics.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Recognition
Miller’s commitment has not gone unnoticed. On March 31, 2023, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati School of Social Work for her exceptional contributions to child protection policy. Her advocacy has influenced child welfare laws, trauma-informed practices, and the legal framework surrounding child abuse cases.
With degrees from the University of Cincinnati (JD, MSW) and Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, she has trained with leading trauma experts like Bruce Perry, Bessel van der Kolk, and Judith Cohen, further solidifying her status as a highly specialized trauma practitioner.
A Lifelong Commitment to Protecting Children
Miller’s passion for safeguarding children is evident in every aspect of her career. From conducting psychosocial assessments for child sexual abuse cases to advocating for severely abused children’s rights under the Adoption and Safe Families Act, she continues to fight for justice, healing, and policy change.
As a member of esteemed organizations like the American Psychological Association, APSAC, and NASW, Miller’s influence reaches legal, clinical, and policy-driven aspects of child welfare. Her unwavering dedication serves as an inspiration to child protection professionals worldwide. Through her work, she is not only changing laws and policies, she is changing lives.
