Episodios

  • Episode 44 - Self Care Psychology

    Episode 44 - Self Care Psychology

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Sass Boucher and Kate Collier, co-founders of SelfCare Psychology Ltd, bring psychology, awareness, resources, and expertise to frontline workers in supportive roles. In this episode, they discuss the concept of Professional Trauma and Fatigue and how CAC staff and MDT partners can use the Five Pillars of Protection to mitigate the effects of working in the child advocacy field. Join us as we explore these important topics, offering insights and practical advice to help you navigate stress and protect your mental health.

    Topics in this episode:

    SelfCare Psychology (3:17) Professional Trauma and Fatigue (5:01) Stress Compassion Fatigue Burnout Vicarious Trauma Everyday Stress (12:04) Resilience (17:50) Five Pillars of Protection (23:07) Awareness Supervision Peer Support Trauma Informed Self Care

    GUESTS:

    Sass Boucher MSc MBACP, counsellor psychotherapist, lecturer and co-founder of SelfCare Psychology, SelfCare Psychology

    Sass is a practicing Counsellor and Psychotherapist, working with a wide range of private clients and referrals from health, social care and education settings.

    Her MSc research ‘Looking Through a Lens of Terribleness’ explored and aimed to understand professionals’ needs when working with, and listening to, those affected by trauma, this work led to the formation of SelfCare PsycholoWe’ll gy Ltd.

    Sass is also a lecturer and practice tutor on the MSc Counselling Psychotherapy course at Keele University. She previously trained as a social work practice educator and worked in specialist domestic abuse services in a variety of roles, frontline support and service management and as a local authority domestic abuse partnership co-ordinator.


    Kate Collier, head of learning and development, Black Country Women’s Aid and co-founder of SelfCare Psychology

    Kate Collier is practice and development director and co-founder of SelfCare Psychology.

    She develops new training and tools and has taken SelfCare Psychology’s training online with the development of interactive live workshops and e-learning.

    She has a special interest in early intervention in wellbeing through education for social care and health professionals born out of her personal struggle with professional trauma and fatigue.

    Her experience spans training as a social worker and independent domestic violence adviser and designing, delivering and managing services for women facing multiple disadvantages.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Professional Quality of Life (proQOL): https://proqol.org SelfCare Psychology Ltd: https://www.selfcarepsychology.com Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Click here to share your suggestions.

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 43 - Intergenerational Trauma

    Episode 43 - Intergenerational Trauma

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Research consistently supports the value of taking a trauma-informed approach to reduce re-traumatization, improve outcomes, and foster trust and collaboration between professionals, children, and families. In this episode, Kristina Coleman, LMSW, MPA, joins co-hosts Tony DeVincenzo and Ilana Lezama-Beausejour to discuss the intergenerational trauma approach and working with families of color. Throughout their conversation, Kristina shares insights into some of the life experiences of past generations and their impact on the present day. The discussion explores ways professionals can shift their mindset and practices to better serve and support families of color.

    Topics in this episode:

    Definitions (4:04) Intergenerational trauma approach (9:02) Working with families of color (11:33) Life experiences and Intergenerational Trauma (17:00) Understanding history (20:30) Enhance professional skills (28:37) Recommendations (37:48) Organization support for workers of color (39:35)

    GUEST:

    Kristina Coleman LMSW, MPA, is the Vice President of Child Advocacy and Mental Health Programs at Safe Horizon the nation’s largest victim service agency, and the Founder/CEO of youRmore counseling & services. She has served in the social services for over 14 years specializing in child welfare, family reunification, trauma treatment, mental health, program implementation, development, and non-profit leadership. Kristina holds a master’s degree in social work leadership from Hunter College and a Master of Public Administration from Mercy University. She has held multiple roles at both the direct service and leadership level. Kristina provides training and consulting around engagement and mental health practices for families of color and the impact intergenerational trauma. Through her teachings she aims to reform systems and create true diversity, equity, and inclusion. She believes if people want to see real change, they must first understand history. Kristina serves as a board member for the National Association of Social Workers NYC Chapter, The New York State Children Alliances, Center for Safety and Change, and the YMCA OF Rockland.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America by Stacey Patton: https://a.co/d/ajfCyNa Black Families in Therapy: Understanding the African American Experience by Nancy Boyd-Franklin: https://a.co/d/6oDQVZD My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem: https://a.co/d/aoKr01r Virtues and Values: The African and African American Experience by Peter J. Paris: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0800636619?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_JMZG1C5GGNV3M6Y1Y4G9 Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting by Terrie M. Williams: https://a.co/d/21aQAaj Connect with Kristina Coleman at [email protected] Safe Horizon: https://www.safehorizon.org Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

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  • Episode 42 – The MDT Response to Human Trafficking and CSEC

    Episode 42 – The MDT Response to Human Trafficking and CSEC

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    With the increasing awareness and understanding of the complex problem of human trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), CACs and MDT partners have expanded their capacity to the needs of sexually exploited children and youth, including those at risk for exploitation.

    In this episode, Melissa Kaiser, a licensed social worker specializing in anti-human trafficking work, joins host Tony DeVincenzo to discuss the MDT response to human trafficking cases. Throughout their conversation, Melissa discusses the value of the CAC model and MDT response, the importance of having a trauma-informed mindset, explores ways CACs and teams can enhance their response, and provides insights for building resiliency.

    Topics in this episode:

    Human trafficking (3:35) CSEC (8:09) CAC/MDT response (9:57) The impact of the work (26:20) Advice and tips to enhance response (35:25) Building resiliency (38:32) Moral injury, moral distress, moral suffering (44:30) For more information (49:10)


    GUEST:

    Melissa Kaiser, LBSW is a licensed social worker specializing in anti-human trafficking work, secondary trauma, working with victims of trauma, and developing/maintaining multi-disciplinary teams. Melissa is a certified trainer in Green Dot, Compassion Fatigue, GEMS, Stand to Protect, My Life My Choice, and SHARP, and has additional training in Child Welfare and PRIDE/Safe Zone. She has seven years of experience providing national/international training and technical assistance, and case management to victims of human trafficking. Melissa has trained over 11,000 students and professionals, and currently sits on the Badges of Unity Board for Fargo PD. Melissa's past experience includes treatment foster care, prevention education, and psychiatric and addictions. She was the first Human Trafficking Navigator and Victim-Witness Specialist in ND, with seven years of program development. Melissa was a member of the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force, vice-chair of labor trafficking subcommittee, for six years. She developed a human trafficking program, toolkit, and protocol response for ND, per grant deliverables. Melissa also assisted in the development of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Victim/Witness Program.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Building Resiliency Together: https://buildingresiliency.org Building Resiliency Together | Strategies for Resiliency: https://buildingresiliency.org/strategies-for-resiliency/ Melissa Kaiser, LBSW | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaisermel/ MelKai Consulting, LLC: https://melkai-consulting-llc.business.site Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 41 - Preparing for the Unexpected: The Importance of Succession Planning

    Episode 41 - Preparing for the Unexpected: The Importance of Succession Planning

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    “Better to be ready than get ready.”

    We delve deeper into the important topic of succession planning. In this episode, Tony speaks with Christopher St. Cyr who serves as the Executive Director at the Caledonia Children’s Advocacy Center. Chris discusses the importance of being intentional when it comes to succession planning. He guides us through a real-life experience of preparing for change and transition, including an unexpected twist the CAC faced along the way, and the value of being flexible.

    GUEST:

    Christopher St. Cyr is the Executive Director with the Caledonia Children’s Advocacy Center located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Chris is a retired police officer and worked in Whitefield and Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Essex County, Vermont. He recently retired as a Command Sergeant Major in the New Hampshire National Guard with over 40 years of service. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration and completed Executive Development Course at Justice System Training and Research Institute at RWU.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Learn more about the Caledonia Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.caledoniasiu-cac.com NRCAC Team Talk Episode #40 – Succession Planning with Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Director Emily Chittenden-Laird: https://nrcac.libsyn.com/episode-40-succession-planning Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide for CACs: Planning for the Unexpected: https://www.srcac.org/resources/ Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org


    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 40 - Succession Planning

    Episode 40 - Succession Planning

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    When you hear succession planning, what comes to mind? Many people will think of a written document that outlines procedures for when there is a transition in leadership.

    Having a plan for change and transition is critical to the CAC’s stability and continuity of services for children and families. In this episode, Tony speaks with Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Director Emily Chittenden-Laird who has a broader perspective on succession planning. She shares with us the importance of organizational planning and real-life experiences.

    GUEST:

    Emily Chittenden-Laird is the Director of Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (SRCAC). Emily is an experienced strategist and leader. Driven by a deep belief in the people and mission of the CAC movement, she takes pride in establishing vision and programming that ensures the success of Chapters and CACs. After more than a decade of service at the CAC and State Chapter level, followed by a few years as a consultant and Chief Operating Officer at 84 Agency, she returned to the CAC field as the Chapter Specialist at SRCAC, then became Director in 2022. Fueled by a desire to develop leaders and cast an inspiring vision for growth, Emily leads the SRCAC team by providing oversight and direction to ensure transformational change within the CAC movement. Emily’s leadership extends to her own community where she can be found singing in the choir, attending community meetings, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two sons.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.srcac.org SRCAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernRegionalChildrensAdvocacyCenter/ SRCAC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-regional-children-s-advocacy-center/ Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 39 - The Global Issue of Child Abuse and its Impact on the Work of CACs

    Episode 39 - The Global Issue of Child Abuse and its Impact on the Work of CACs

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    As professionals in the child abuse field, we all know that child sexual abuse has no boundaries. In the United States, CACs and MDTs are doing amazing and innovative work to provide a collaborative response to promote healing for children and families.

    But have you ever thought about the issue of child sexual abuse globally and how it affects middle and low-income countries? In this episode, Abbie Newman, RN, JD with Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center joins Tony to talk about the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN). She shares a project that ISPCAN is leading to develop a trauma-informed collaborative response to child abuse and how this work has influenced Mission Kids and the children and families they serve.

    Topics in this episode

    International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) (3:52) Global Issue of Child Abuse (5:15) Overview of Collaborative Response Project led by ISPCAN (9:04) Challenges Developing a Response in Middle to Low-Income Countries (12:10) Project Goals (16:11) Objectives (18:05) Implementation (25:17) Timeline (26:47) ISPCAN Influence and Impact on Mission Kids (27:30) Get Involved (28:41)

    GUEST

    Abbie Newman, RN, JD, the CEO of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center (MKCAC), began her career as a registered pediatric nurse before practicing law for 19 years. She became the founding executive director of MKCAC in 2008 and built the collaborative multidisciplinary team into a nationally accredited CAC. Since then, MKCAC has provided over 6,000 forensic interviews, and made over 1000 mental and 1000 medical referrals. Further, MKCAC has provided targeted prevention education to more than 47,000 children, adolescents, teachers, and multidisciplinary partners and become a leader in developing responses to CSEC and working with stakeholders statewide in the best interests of these victims.

    In 2018, Abbie became CEO of MKCAC, driving innovative thought leadership statewide, nationally, and internationally to help victims of child abuse, including victims of commercial sexual exploitation. She is past-President and a current member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of CACs’ Board of Directors. Initially appointed by Governor Corbett in 2014 to Pennsylvania’s Victim Services Advisory Committee, charged with awarding state funds to established and developing CACs, Abbie was reappointed by Governor Wolf in 2018. She became an elected member of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN)’s Distinguished Advisory Committee in 2021 and, in this capacity, is leading a project to develop an international framework for collaborative responses to child sexual abuse (CSA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to be adaptable to other forms of child abuse and neglect. Abbie has also spearheaded research in partnership with global experts in the field of child abuse, drawing from the work of Mission Kids’ multidisciplinary team. Results of these projects have been published as peer-reviewed articles in Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, reaching thousands of professionals around the globe.

    Abbie remains passionate about working with state and national level legislators to strengthen child protection laws, increase funding to agencies serving victims of child abuse and neglect, and develop and sustain CACs as a model for child abuse investigation and prevention. She presents nationally and internationally on CSA and collaborative responses to child maltreatment and has forged international partnerships to respond to child abuse, globally. Abbie’s signature tagline, for years, has been English philosopher Edmund Burke’s, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.” Her ultimate vision is to see collaborative efforts help all children triumph over trauma, regardless of locale or circumstance, so they can live up to their full potential.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect: https://www.ispcan.org ISPCAN Case Statement and Collaborative Framework Project Concept Note: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/ISPCAN-Collaborative-Framework-Project-Concept-Note.pdf Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center: https://missionkidscac.org Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/vacs/index.html Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 38 - Affiliate Response to Stress and Burnout

    Episode 38 - Affiliate Response to Stress and Burnout

    · NRCAC Team Talk
    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    “The ultimate solution to burnout is not self-care. It’s caring for others and others caring for you.”

    There’s no denying that self-care is important. Eating healthy, exercising, and taking vacation days can reduce stress on the body. But it’s human connection and the relationships you have with others that make the difference.

    In this month’s episode, Tony speaks with Dr. Heather Forkey and Dr. Jessica Griffin with UMass Chan Medical School about a different approach to address secondary traumatic stress and burnout. During their conversation, they share with us the affiliate response. They discuss the evolutionary foundation and strategies for organizations and individuals to reduce secondary traumatic stress and burnout.

    Topics in this episode

    Burnout and secondary traumatic stress definitions (4:03) Secondary traumatic stress symptoms (11:30) Evolutionary response to stress (12:51) Impact of culture and society (19:14) Strategies to reduce stress and burnout (27:22) Recommendations for organizations and teams to recognize and take action (30:52) Technology (36:00) Caring for others, others caring for you (39:12) Resources (42:50)

    GUESTS:

    Heather C. Forkey, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics and at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Director of the Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES) of the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center. She also serves as the Medical Director of Lifeline4Kids at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

    In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Forkey has been the recipient of local and federal grants to address issues of children in foster care and to translate promising practices to address physical and mental health needs of children who have been traumatized. She has published and presents nationally and internationally on the topics, and serves in leadership roles for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the American Academy of Pediatrics on issues related to foster care, mental health and child trauma. She recently coauthored the book Childhood Trauma and Resilience: A Practical Guide, available from AAP Press.

    Jessica Griffin, PsyD

    Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics; Executive Director, Lifeline For Kids; Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics; Executive Director, Lifeline For Kids; Executive Director, Resilience Through Relationships Center; Executive Director, Child Trauma Training Center

    Dr. Griffin is a clinical and forensic psychologist with specialties in childhood trauma, resilience, and relationships. Dr. Griffin is a nationally recognized expert in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), trauma, resilience, and relationships. She developed the UMass Child Trauma Training Center (now known as Lifeline For Kids) which has trained over 100,000 professionals in trauma, trauma-informed care, and trauma sensitive practices. She is a highly sought-after public speaker and go-to expert for national media and is a regular contributor on news outlets. She is a co-author of a book by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Childhood Trauma and Resilience, A Practical Guide, a go-to resource on childhood trauma for pediatrics. Recently, Dr. Griffin also authored a book for couples, Relationship Rx: Prescriptions for Lasting Love and Deeper Connection.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Childhood Trauma and Resilience: A Practical Guide by Heather C. Forkey MD FAAP, Jessica L. Griffin PsyD and Moira Szilagyi MD PhD FAAP: https://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Trauma-Resilience-Practical-Guide/dp/1610025067 Relationship Rx: Prescriptions for Lasting Love and Deeper Connection by Jessica Griffin and Pepper Schwartz: https://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Rx-Prescriptions-Lasting-Connection/dp/1538165732 Lifeline for Kids: https://www.umassmed.edu/cttc/ Caring for Caregivers Experiencing Secondary Trauma: A Call to Action: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/STS_Clinical_Peds_2022.pdf Oxytocin has ‘tend-and-defend’ functionality in group conflict across social vertebrates: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/tend_and_defend.pdf Physician Distress and Burnout: The Neurobiological Perspective: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/neurobiol_burnout_shanafelt.pdf Physician Well-being 2.0: Where Are WE and Where Are We Going?: https://assets.libsyn.com/show/159677/wellbeing_2.0_shanafelt.pdf Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 37 - Racial Healing Response Team

    Episode 37 - Racial Healing Response Team

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Child Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary teams are not immune from the race, power, and privilege that shapes the way we each experience the world. At Safe Horizon, the organization that operates the five CACs throughout New York City, the Racial Healing Response Team (RHRT) program has been implemented to address the racial harm that staff members may experience in the workplace. With the goal of offering staff support and healing, the RHRT responds in a variety of ways that center on respect, relationships, and community care.

    In this episode, Tony speaks with Dr. Lisa O’Connor and Dorcas Miller with Safe Horizon. They walk us through the planning and implementation of its Racial Healing Response Team – an intentional response to situations between staff that have caused racial harm and the facilitation of healing.

    GUESTS:

    Dr. Lisa A. O’Connor was promoted to the roles of Deputy CEO and Chief Program Officer as of March 2021. Lisa joined Safe Horizon in 2013 as the Deputy Chief Program Officer and was later promoted to Chief Program Officer. She is a psychologist by training and has spent most of her career in service to children and families impacted by violence. During her time at Safe Horizon, Lisa has led efforts to address the needs of young men of color who have been harmed by violence; implemented client-centered, trauma-informed practices that recognize the impact of racism in the lives of survivors; and led the successful fulfillment of a five-year strategic plan. Lisa is also the Co-Chair of the Racial Healing Response Team and a member of the Anti-Racism Steering Committee at Safe Horizon.

    Prior to Safe Horizon, Lisa spent almost a decade in child welfare developing and implementing new program models and policies, first as an Assistant Commission at the Administration for Children’s Services and later as Vice President for Children and Family Services at the New York Foundling. In these roles, she designed innovative programs that brought evidence-based models to preventive services and for children in foster care and residential placement. She also developed policy and specialized foster care programming to help reduce child welfare’s use of residential placements for young people approaching adulthood.

    Lisa has devoted most of her career to working on behalf of vulnerable populations. She has provided direct service to families in crisis: those experiencing family violence, impacted by poverty, and involved in systems. She received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University and a BA in Psychology from Smith College.

    Dorcas Miller is the Senior Learning Specialist with Safe Horizon who develops and implements training to individual contributors and supervisory staff at Safe Horizon. Dorcas is also the Co-Chair of the Racial Healing Response Team and a member of the Anti-Racism Steering Committee at Safe Horizon.

    Dorcas’ education includes a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York, Clinical Pastor Education at Cornell Medical Center, and a BA in Business Administration from Pace University.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Safe Horizon: https://www.safehorizon.org Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 36 - Organizational Culture

    Episode 36 - Organizational Culture

    · NRCAC Team Talk
    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    What is organizational culture? Why should you focus on organizational culture? What is the value of investing in organizational culture? How does it relate to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)? In this episode, Tony speaks with Gene Klein, LCSW and Caren Dean with Project Harmony. During their conversation, they share how they navigated through periods of growth and change at Project Harmony. As a result, this led the CAC to focus on creating a positive organizational culture.

    Topics in this episode

    Project Harmony (3:29) Culture (5:08) Intentional Focus on Culture (7:28) Building Organizational Culture (9:14) Organizational Change Management (17:15) 5 Pillars (21:52) Value of Blocking Time for Organizational Culture (30:59) Reinforcement of Organizational Culture (33:00) Results of Focusing on Organizational Culture (36:43) Recommendations (39:18) GUESTS:

    Gene Klein, LCSW, is the Executive Director of Project Harmony, a non-profit Child Advocacy Center in Omaha, Nebraska providing services to enhance the quality of child abuse investigations. Under his leadership, Project Harmony has become one of the largest CACs in the nation- serving more than 8,000 children and families with more than 375 co-located partners in a shared facility/campus-all professionals working together to respond to the outcry of child maltreatment and also delivering high quality innovative prevention services.

    Mr. Klein has over 35 years of leadership experience in agencies serving children and families. He has served on the board of directors for the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C., the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board, the Governor’s Commission for the Protection of Children, and the Omaha Archdiocese Review Board for the Protection of Children. Mr. Klein has served as a peer reviewer for the Department of Justice (OJJDP) as well as for the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) for more than 10 years. Mr. Klein holds a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is also a licensed Mental Health Practitioner.

    Caren Dean, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of People and Culture at Project Harmony. Dr. Dean has been working in Organizational Development and Human Resources with a primary focus on creating human capital strategies that build the infrastructures of an organization through inclusive policies and practices, inspiring leadership, and creating trusting and engaging cultures.

    Dr. Dean is inspired to change lives, and to create organizations where people love to come to work. She has a great depth of knowledge in HR from the employee onboarding experience, to their journey off boarding and everything in between. Much of her cultural work and leadership development is focused on utilizing researched material/best practices and making data driven decisions to drive human capital strategies which positively impact the businesses bottom line.

    Dr. Dean is a certified Gallup Strengths coach. She is passionate about inspiring, motivating and making a positive and measurable impact with individuals, teams and organizations she works with. As a collegiate athlete and a study of Behavioral Cognitive Psychology, Clinical Social Work and Human Capital Management, Dr. Dean has always been motivated by figuring out how and why people thrive, and how to help people bring their best self to work and life every day.

    Dr. Dean received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from San Diego State University, and a Doctorate in Human Capital Management from the Business school at Bellevue University in Nebraska. She is a certified ATD Executive Coach, Gallup Clifton Strengths Coach and certified Emergenetics coach.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Find Your Why by Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/ Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO-B): https://www.themyersbriggs.com/en-US/Products-and-Services/FIRO Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Project Harmony: https://projectharmony.com Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 15PJDP-22-GK-03061-JJVO awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 35 - Grooming

    Episode 35 - Grooming

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    1 in 10 people have been victims of sexual assault. Over 80% of these victims know their attacker. In almost 100% of these cases, the attacker uses a method called "grooming".

    In this episode, filmmaker and survivor Gwen van de Pas joins Tony to discuss the documentary film titled Groomed. Gwen takes us through her journey of making the movie, what she discovered about the grooming process, and the impact grooming has on survivors.

    If you haven't already watched the movie Groomed, it can be found on the streaming service discovery+.

    GUEST:

    Gwen van de Pas is a Dutch filmmaker who lived in San Francisco for 12 years. She studied Film in Holland, holds an MBA from Stanford, and worked for Consulting firm Bain & Company for 12 years. Passionate about stories that matter, she's ready to tell the story of "GROOMED".

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Groomed: The Movie: http://groomedthemovie.com Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children's Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 34 - NCA Accreditation Standards Changes

    Episode 34 - NCA Accreditation Standards Changes

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    The National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Standards of Accreditation help ensure that all children across the U.S. served by Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) receive consistent, evidence-based services that help them heal from abuse. The Standards for Accredited Members are reviewed through a process coordinated by the NCA Accreditation Department every five years, consistent with the five-year period after which reaccreditation is required. This is done to ensure the Standards reflect the latest evidence and practice.

    In this episode, Tony speaks with Alyson MacKenzie and Alyssa Todd with the NCA Accreditation Department. During their conversation, they discuss the Standards for Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers - its revision process and the changes that take effect January 1, 2023.

    Importance of the NCA Standards (2:23) Revision process (5:40) Taskforce groups (9:05) Standard changes (12:35) Multidisciplinary Team (13:10) Diversity, Equity, and Access (16:16) Forensic Interview (19:36) Victim Support and Advocacy (20:39) Medical Evaluation (22:37) Mental Health (25:30) Case Review and Coordination (26:56) Case Tracking (28:30) Organizational Capacity (28:50) Child Safety and Protection (32:47) Optional Standards (36:57) Resources (40:36) GUESTS:

    Alyson MacKenzie is the Director of Accreditation with National Children’s Alliance. Alyson has been with NCA for 14 years and focused solely on accreditation the last 7 years.

    Alyssa Todd is the Accreditation Coordinator with National Children’s Alliance. Alyssa has been with NCA for almost three years in the accreditation department. Prior to joining NCA, Alyssa was CAC Director.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Accreditation Bootcamp 2.0: https://learn.nationalchildrensalliance.org/p/AccreditationBootcamp2023 Changes to 2023 Standards: http://www.nrcac.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2023-Standards-Changes.pdf Getting to Know the Standards, 2023 - Webinar Series: https://learn.nationalchildrensalliance.org/products/getting-to-know-the-standards-2023-webinar-series NCA Engage: https://engage.nationalchildrensalliance.org/home NCA’s National Standards of Accreditation: https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/ncas-standards-for-accredited-members/ Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org/resources/nca-accreditation-standards/ Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 33 - CATS Program

    Episode 33 - CATS Program

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    The Baystate Family Advocacy Center has an exciting new program funded from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) - Child Advocacy Training & Support (CATS) Center. The CATS Center establishes a national training center to provide Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) training, education, and technical assistance on trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatment for children and families.

    In this episode, Tony speaks with Kerri Bergendahl, LICSW and Jessica Wozniak, Psy.D. with the Baystate Family Advocacy Center on the training opportunities provided by the CATS Center.

    CATS Center overview (3:20) CATS Center goals (9:00) Trauma-informed practice (11:15) Training logistics and topics (14:45) FORECAST model (19:00) Ad hoc training opportunities (21:36) Benefits of trauma-informed training for MDTs (23:13) For more information (30:17)

    GUESTS:

    Kerri Bergendahl, LICSW is the Behavioral Health Clinician/Project Specialist with the Child Advocacy Training & Support Center at Baystate Family Advocacy Center.

    Jessica Wozniak, Psy.D. is the Principal Investigator & Project Director, TF-CBT National Trainer, Manager of the Clinical Research and Development with Baystate Health Department of Psychiatry.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Baystate Family Advocacy Center: https://www.baystatehealth.org/services/pediatrics/family-support-services/family-advocacy-center Project FORECAST: https://projectforecast.org/ The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: https://www.nctsn.org/

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP, or NRCAC.

  • Episode 32 - Moving Beyond Case Review

    Episode 32 - Moving Beyond Case Review

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    How do you define the role and responsibilities of Team Facilitator at your CAC? In this episode, Tony speaks with Sue, Vicky, and Brittnee on professionalizing the role of the Team Facilitator. They discuss the importance of the role moving beyond case review to having the role be viewed as more of a leadership position within the CAC. Furthermore, they share what was learned from a recent survey done as a collaborative project by the four Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers.

    GUESTS:

    Sue Ascione is a Training Specialist at the Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC). Sue has been with NRCAC for over six years, focusing on team development and the Leadership, Exchange and Coaching (LEC) project. Prior to joining NRCAC, Sue was a CAC Director and Team Facilitator in Lawrence County, PA.

    Vicky Gwiasda is the Program Manager at the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (WRCAC) based out of the Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA. Vicky has been with WRCAC for over five years. WRCAC provides training and technical assistance on team building for CACs. Prior to joining WRCAC, Vicky was a CAC Director at an accredited CAC in Oakland, CA.

    Brittnee Aten-Acheson is the CAC/MDT Coordinator at the Chadwick Center for Children & Families. Brittnee is responsible for program development and evaluation, managing weekly case review, case management and case tracking, website and social media, internal and external administrative and clinical support. Brittnee has 12 years of experience in the field of child abuse and trauma, previously working as a child welfare social worker in adoptions and hospital based CAC in central CA.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.nrcac.org Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.srcac.org Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.mrcac.org Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.westernregionalcac.org Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - https://www.regionalcacs.org Chadwick Center for Children & Families - https://www.chadwickcenter.org Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center EduNet “Moving Beyond Case Review: Role of the MDT Facilitator - https://www.mrcac.org/course/moving-beyond/ NCA 2023 Standards for Accreditation - https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2023-RedBook-v5B-t-Final-Web.pdf

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 31 - Multilevel Shared Leadership Model

    Episode 31 - Multilevel Shared Leadership Model

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    When examining the multidisciplinary team response to child abuse in communities, there are two principles that I believe to must be considered. The first is that MDT’s are sophisticated and complex systems that are tasked with providing a coordinated and comprehensive response to child abuse. The second is that no single discipline on an MDT can adequately meet the needs of a victim of child abuse. One would think that such a system tasked with such an important mandate would have a clear leadership structure to ensure that the best possible services are being provided. However, that is not always the case. In this episode, I speak with Chris Newlin, the Executive Director of the National Children’s Advocacy Center who shares with us a conceptual model of multilevel shared leadership for MDTs that provides a framework and pathway to more robust and sustainable MDT response to child abuse in your community.

    GUEST:

    Chris Newlin, MS LPC, is the Executive Director of the National Children’s Advocacy Center where he is responsible for providing leadership and management of the NCAC and participating in national and international training and leadership activities regarding the protection of children. The NCAC was the first Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in the world and provides child abuse prevention and intervention services in Huntsville/Madison County; and also houses the NCAC Training Center, the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the NCAC Virtual Training Center, and the Child Abuse Library Online (CALiOℱ). The NCAC is a past multi-year winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Workplace Ethics; 2012 Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year; 2016 Federal Bureau of Investigation Director’s Community Leadership Award recipient; (multi-year finalist), winner in 2016 and 2019 of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work; and a Private Sector Member of the Virtual Global Taskforce.

    Chris has more than 22 years of experience working in CACs as a Forensic Interviewer, Victim Advocate, Therapist, Clinical Director, and Executive Director. Chris has provided diverse training related to the Children’s Advocacy Center Model, the multidisciplinary response to child abuse, the international development of Children’s Advocacy Centers, forensic interviewing, best practices in child abuse intervention and response, and additional child maltreatment and exploitation topics in more than 30 countries throughout the world. He has worked in both urban and rural Children’s Advocacy Centers. Chris received his Master’s in School Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and has completed coursework at the Harvard University Business School Executive Education Program.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Chris Newlin, MS LPC full bio National Children’s Advocacy Center Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 30 - Science of Hope

    Episode 30 - Science of Hope

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    We all see the word hope in the vision statements, mission statements, and even within the name of some of our organizations. But what do we mean when we are using this word? My guest for this episode will help put hope in perspective. As a “Hope Scientist,” Dr. Ashley Cross joins the podcast to speak to us about The Science of Hope. As her website states: “Hope is more than a feeling; it is a science and a healing agent. Hope can heal the brain, restore the soul and give life meaning. Since hope a science, this means it can be taught, learned and restored. Hope is the single best predictor of an individual’s ability to thrive and research points to hope as being consistently linked to positive outcomes and well-being. If you are interested in having your organization, team, or life become more hope centered, take the time to listen to our conversation.

    GUEST:

    Dr. Ashley is a leader with a big heart and a lot of passion. She established the first girls’ home in Tulsa, OK and raised awareness in the city about the issues concerning girls in foster care and youth aging out. Through civic engagement, the local church, a dedicated community and a lot of faith and hope, Dr. Ashley raised over 1 million dollars in funds and purchased properties to house girls aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma. Dr. Cross has dedicated her life to working in the community to build and sustain hope in vulnerable children, families, and people passionate about improving their communities and the lives around them. She does this by educating, coaching, and empowering individuals through powerful training, individual and organizational resources and direction that helps people build a culture of hope everywhere that they go.

    She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Hub585, which oversees the Monroe County CarePortal, connecting children in foster care with physical and relational resources. She also sits on the board of Bivona Child Advocacy Center.

    Dr. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in nonprofit management and a doctorate in Educational Leadership, all from Oral Roberts University. Dr. Ashley is also a Full Focus Planner Certified Pro.

    Dr. Ashley also serves as a Pastor, alongside her husband Melvin Cross Jr, at Glory House International. She and Melvin have three amazing daughters: Jordan, Harper and Madison.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Dr. Ashley Cross The Hub585 University of Oklahoma Hope Research Center

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 29 - Board Diversity

    Episode 29 - Board Diversity

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Every Child Advocacy Center wants to create a space that is safe and inclusive for all children and families that walk through the door. At times, the process of creating that space and the conversations that need to be had to ensure such a space can be difficult and uncomfortable. In this episode, I speak with Gale Britton, the Board of Trustees President for Wynona's House, the CAC for Essex County, NJ. We intended to speak specifically about creating diversity within the entire organization. Gale speaks about the importance of clarifying the mission and vision of the organization, understanding the needs of the organization, and understanding the community you are serving. She also speaks about the importance of engaging the right people and what CAC leaders should consider when asking people to join the organization.

    GUEST:

    Gale Britton is the President of the Board of Trustees for Wynona's House, the Child Advocacy Center for Essex County, NJ. She is also the managing partner of a consulting practice where she focuses on Diversity and Inclusion strategy, education, recruitment, and leadership development. Gale has over 30 years of experience in the corporate world, and has been serving on nonprofit boards for over 15 years.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Gale Britton's full bio Wynona's House National Children's Alliance DEI priorities

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 28 - Tele-Medicine Now and Post-Pandemic

    Episode 28 - Tele-Medicine Now and Post-Pandemic

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Access to medical care has been an ongoing challenge for many CACs. Whether it be a shortage of qualified practitioners, funding issues, transportation issues, or something else, many CAC leaders have been trying to answer the question of "how can we provide the children and families we serve with the appropriate medical services that will help them heal from the trauma they have faced?" While tele-medicine has been explored in the past, it has risen to the surface due to the circumstances all CACs were faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In this episode, I speak with Dr. Andrea Asnes and Paula Schaeffer from the South Central Child advocacy Center in New Haven, CT. Challenged by the circumstances of the pandemic to utilize tele-medicine, Dr. Asnes and Paula had an epiphany about the expanded role tele-medicine can play in their medical program during and after the pandemic. During the episode, they share their experiences, how CACs can further explore the benefits of tele-medicine, and how to incorporate it into your medical program.

    GUESTS:

    Dr. Andrea Asnes, MD, MSW is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and board certified child abuse pediatrician who directs the Yale Programs for Safety, Advocacy and Healing. Dr. Asnes also is the Graduate Medical Education Director of Resident and Fellow Wellbeing for Yale-New Haven Hospital. Full bio: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/andrea_asnes/

    Paula Schaeffer, MA is the Program Manager at the Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic located at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Family Advocacy Center. The Clinic provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessments of children who may have been sexually abused.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    South Central Child Advocacy Center Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center National Children's Alliance

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 27 - Child Life Specialists and CACs

    Episode 27 - Child Life Specialists and CACs

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Have you heard about the role of a Child Life Specialist? Many of us are under the misconception that Child Life Specialists only work in hospital settings and are tasked with playing with children as they await a procedure or treatment. Nothing could be further from the truth. In both healthcare and community settings, Certified Child Life Specialists help infants, children, youth and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. They provide evidence-based, developmentally, and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. There are several misconceptions about the Child Life Profession (www.childlife.org). In several CAC’s across the United States, Child Life Specialists are playing an important role in the victim advocacy services provided to children and families.

    In this episode, I had the opportunity to learn about the Child Life profession and how it can be incorporated into the CAC world from Annie Drehkoff of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. Annie has a wealth of experience working with children and families and shows us how adding Child Life Specialists to CAC can have great value to the children and families being served as well as the entire CAC team.

    GUEST:

    Annie Drehkoff, MS, CCLS is the Child Life Manager at Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. She has over 10 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings, which include early childhood education and child life services at pediatric hospitals and outpatient facilities. At Chicago CAC, she oversees the Child Life Department, which promotes effective coping among children and families impacted by sexual abuse through play, preparation, and other support interventions. She received her MS in Child Development, with the Child Life specialization, from Erikson Institute in 2012 and is a Certified Child Life Specialist.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Association of Child Life Professionals “Child Life in Action in a Child Advocacy Center with Annie Drehkoff, MS, CCLS.” Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 26 - Working with Children with Disabilities

    Episode 26 - Working with Children with Disabilities

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Children with disabilities may be at a greater risk for maltreatment than children without disabilities. For many professionals in the child advocacy field, these cases can be difficult because of a lack of understanding, knowledge, and basic skills to effectively work with a child with a disability. In this episode, we start your journey of building basic skills needed to effectively work with the children with disabilities who come through your CAC and with their families.

    My guest is Staci Whitney, the Director of Forensic Interviewing Training for the Modell Consulting Group, LLC. Staci is a forensic interviewer, trainer, and has extensive training and experience interviewing children and individuals with disabilities who are victims of crime. During our conversation, Staci talks about individuals can overcome the challenges they face when working on cases involving individuals with disabilities as well as what CACs and teams can do to improve their response when cases present themselves.

    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Staci Whitney bio: https://www.modellconsultinggroup.com/about-us Modell Consulting Group: https://www.modellconsultinggroup.com/ Northeast Regional CAC: www.nrcac.org

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

  • Episode 25 - Problematic Sexual Behavior: The CAC MDT Response

    Episode 25 - Problematic Sexual Behavior: The CAC MDT Response

    · NRCAC Team Talk

    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    Cases of children ages 12 and younger with problematic sexual behavior (PSB) can present a myriad of challenges for multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). After all, MDTs and CACs were historically designed to address maltreatment of children committed by adults, not by other children. When presented with child-initiated harm cases, child-serving agencies are often inadequately equipped to provide the integrated and comprehensive response that is required in these situations. (Sites, Jerri & Widefield, Jimmy. Children with Problematic Sexual Behavior: Recommendations for the Multidisciplinary Team and Children’s Advocacy Center Response (2020).

    In this episode, I speak with the authors of the above referenced white paper, Jerri Sites and Jimmy Widdifield. Both have extensive experience working with CACs and MDTs and have conducted extensive research on the topic of PSB. During our conversation, Jerri and Jimmy share their insights and experience along with providing valuable tools for teams who are looking to enhance their response to PSB cases in their community.


    RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

    Jerri Sites at Child Protection Concepts is an independent consultant with 28 years of experience working in the field of child abuse investigations within the CAC movement. Jimmy Widdifield is the Freestanding Multidisciplinary Teams (FSMDT) Programs Manager at the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth in Oklahoma City, OK White Paper: https://calio.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Children-with-Problematic-Sexual-Behavior-Recommendations-for-the-Multidisciplinary-Team-and-Childrens-Advocacy-Center-Response.pdf National Children’s Alliance National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth National Children’s Advocacy Center Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

    Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at [email protected].

    Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.

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