“The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it. Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.” – Bill Gates

When you hear the words ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ what comes to mind? Fascinating? Scary? Necessary? Or maybe a mix of all three? In this episode, Abbie Newman and Leslie Slingsby from Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center discuss how CACs can use AI like ChatGPT to enhance their operations. Whether you are an active user or just looking to get started, join us as we explore the benefits, cautions, and practical tips for using AI at your CAC.

Topics in this episode:

• Importance of AI (6:02)
• What is Artificial Intelligence? (8:02)
• Value and usage of AI at CACs (10:30)
• Prompt Engineering (17:01)
• Cautions (20:55)
• Good and evil uses of AI (30:52)
• Where are we going (32:52)
• Scenario of using AI (34:40)
• AI Policy (36:40)
• Final thoughts (40:03)

GUESTS

Abbie R. Newman, R.N., J.D., is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of External and Global Affairs at Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center. Abbie began her professional career as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics before returning to law school and obtaining her degree from Fordham University School of Law. She practiced law in Philadelphia and became a shareholder at Post & Schell, P.C., specializing in medical malpractice defense of medical professionals for almost 20 years.

Abbie began her work with Mission Kids as the founding Executive Director in 2008. As Executive Director, she built the collaborative Multidisciplinary Team into a nationally Accredited CAC which has served nearly 7,000 abused children and their families. As CEO of External and Global Affairs, she brings the leadership of Mission Kids statewide, nationally, and internationally to help victims of child abuse. Some of her work includes spearheading original research projects to inform best practices, and developing collaborative response policies to victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Abbie is the past-President of PennCAC (the Pennsylvania Chapter of CACs), and the current and founding Chair of the External Affairs Committee of PennCAC. Abbie has received bi-partisan gubernatorial appointments to several statewide committees, including the CAC Advisory Committee, charged with establishing and sustaining CACs across Pennsylvania. Ms. Newman works with state and national legislators to strengthen child protection laws, increase funding to agencies serving victims of child abuse and neglect, and to develop and sustain child advocacy centers as a model for child abuse investigation and prevention. She has been elected to the Distinguished Advisory Committee of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, where she works on developing collaborative responses to global issues of child abuse.

Leslie Slingsby, MSW, LSW is the Chief Executive Officer of Services and Operations at Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center.  Leslie has a Masters of Social Work with a concentration in non-profit management and social policy from the University of Michigan. Previously, she was the first Continuous Quality Improvement Manager for Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency. Prior to her experience in public child welfare, she was the founding Director of the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center. In addition, Leslie has over a decade of experience in victim services overseeing mental health services, legal and medical advocacy, hotline and cyber services. She has been responsible for implementing and monitoring several state and federal grant projects and assisted with the coordination of several local program initiatives involving partnership including Child Death Review Team, Sexual Assault Response Team, the Crimes against Older Adults Task Force and the Domestic Abuse Fatality Review Team.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children: https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/reports/policy-guidance-ai-children#:~:text=The%20policy%20guidance%20explores%20AI,inclusion%20of%20and%20for%20children
• What is Prompt Engineering?: https://www.datacamp.com/blog/what-is-prompt-engineering-the-future-of-ai-communication
• ChatGPT Replicates Gender Bias in Recommendation Letters: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chatgpt-replicates-gender-bias-in-recommendation-letters/
• Looka – free logo maker: https://looka.com/onboarding?company_name=Mission%20Kids
• Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center: https://missionkidscac.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! 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 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 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. 

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 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 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 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.

“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 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.

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)

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.

• 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 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.