The sixth annual "Circle of Hope," which is free and open to the public, will take place from noon to 3 p.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Parking is free and available in Lot G4 off Zelzah Street.

"A circle of hope represents many things: unity, partnership, belonging, strength and the courage to work together to protect children," said Kathleen Van Antwerp, a CSUN lecturer and coordinator of the event who is the day's keynote speaker.

"The primary goal of this day is to reach out to students, families, community members and professionals in the child and family services field," she said. "We want to educate them on how to recognize and report child abuse, in addition to raising awareness and motivating people to get involved in eradicating this epidemic."

The seminar will include presentations on defining child abuse and how to identify it, how to make a child abuse report, what happens when a report is made and how to deal with the emotional challenge of reporting child abuse.

Actor Richard Brooks, who played assistant district attorney Paul Robinette on the NBC television series Law and Order, will give selected readings from Van Antwerp's book I Can't Come To School Today: My Mom's In Prison and I Don't Have A Ride.

For more information about the seminar, call (818) 262-9388.