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EPISODE SUMMARY: Transitions are such an important part of life, and one of the most challenging transitions is going from peer to supervisor. In this episode, Cara Vock, Program Manager and Chapter Development at Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, and Christina Rouse, Program Manager for CAC Development at Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, explore the complexities of this shift, sharing practical strategies and personal experiences to help you navigate this career shift. From redefining relationships to establishing boundaries and building leadership skills, they offer valuable insights for anyone stepping into a supervisory role. Tune in for tips on leading effectively while maintaining trust and respect with your team. Topics in this episode: Importance of Transitions (3:17) Skill Building as a New Supervisor (8:15) Competence Confidence Impact Emotional Impact (18:50) Maintaining Relationships (28:35) Soft Skills for New Leaders (39:30) Support and Mentorship (49:50) Resources (1:00:03) GUESTS: Christina Rouse is the Program Manager for CAC Development at Southern Regional CAC. Christina is an experienced forensic interviewer, program developer, and leader. Driven by service to others and eagerness to raise the bar, she takes pride in troubleshooting solutions that elevate people and programs. During her time as a forensic interviewer, she interviewed over 2,500 children, helped coordinate and facilitate 11 MDT jurisdictions, and oversaw the daily operations of the three CAC office locations in the program. Christina's passion for collaboration and cognitive flexibility enables her to be the ultimate team player by elevating people and programs beyond their current operative levels. Outside of the CAC movement, she is the ultimate board game player, whether at a convention, on her podcast, or at home with her husband and daughter. Cara Vock is the Program Manager for Chapter Development at Southern Regional CAC. Cara is an experienced leader, advocate, and facilitator. Driven by a love for connection and innovation, Cara helps to grow, strengthen, and enhance Chapter programs across the South. During her time at CACs of Illinois, Cara implemented numerous state-wide systems to improve services to its members and their clients through data collection and analysis. She shifted efforts across the state to focus on various topics in a collaborative and cohort-style, continuous professional development framework. In July of 2023, Cara expanded her work from supporting one State Chapter to supporting 16, bringing a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our SRCAC team. With a deep commitment to making a difference and building connections, Cara provides crucial support to programs across the Region. When Cara is not being caught reading and referencing "Upstream" by Dan Heath, she can be caught kayaking downstream across Illinois. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell: https://a.co/d/7pqZPAG  Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes by William Bridges and Susan Bridges: https://a.co/d/ge0TF3N  Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brene Brown: https://a.co/d/c9r2S3c  Radical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com  Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com  Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.srcac.org  Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org  Regional Children's Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org  Looking for training and technical assistance for your Chapter, Children's Advocacy Center, or multidisciplinary team? Northeast Regional CAC provides training and assistance services to help you implement an effective, sustainable, collaborative response to child abuse. Visit NRCAC.org/request to learn more and request assistance today! 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: In this episode of NRCAC Team Talk, we spotlight the New Jersey Children's Alliance's groundbreaking, statewide approach to addressing problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in youth. Join guests Nydia Monagas, Maria Isabel Poontoriero (MIP), and Valeria Vila from NJCA as they discuss the development of this innovative program, its foundational framework, and key insights from its first year of implementation. Whether you're a child advocacy professional, part of a multidisciplinary team, or a Chapter leader seeking to strengthen your community's response to PSB, this episode offers valuable takeaways and inspiration. Tune in now and discover how your community can take steps toward a more coordinated and effective PSB response. Topics in this episode: What prompted the creation of a statewide PSB response (4:24) Formation of the workgroup (9:47) Program framework (12:22) Referrals Training Funding Quality assurance and data collection Challenges (19:31) How a case flows through the program (26:53) Feedback (30:58) What's next (36:13) Advice for other states (40:06) GUESTS: Nydia Y. Monagas, Psy.D., is the Director of Training and Statewide Initiatives with the New Jersey Children's Alliance (NJCA), a statewide non-profit whose mission is to promote and support communities in providing a coordinated investigation and comprehensive response to victims of child abuse, neglect and family violence. Dr. Monagas serves as co-chair of the Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) Statewide Response Workgroup, which established a statewide strategy to respond to cases involving PSB. Dr. Monagas is also an Associate Teaching Professor in the McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University, where she supervises the practicum experience for undergraduate Child Advocacy and Policy majors and teaches courses on child abuse and neglect, child advocacy, and other related topics. She is also the Director the Family Impact Seminars in New Jersey which provides state policymakers with nonpartisan, solution-oriented research on family issues. Dr. Monagas serves on several statewide Boards, including the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect and the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board. Dr. Monagas previously conducted psychological evaluations and treatment for children and families involved with Child Protective Services. She completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology.  She also has a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology and a Post-Bachelor's Certificate in Child Advocacy from Montclair State University. Maria Isabella Pontoriero ("MIP"), LMSW, MPH, is a licensed social worker and forensic interviewer. MIP is Program Manager at the New Jersey Children's Alliance, managing New Jersey's statewide coordinated response to youth who are impacted by and/or initiate problematic sexual behaviors. MIP is also Founder and Consultant for Enhanced Choice Training & Consulting LLC, which provides specialized training, program development, and case consultation services to individuals and agencies who serve victims of crime and exploitation. In addition, MIP provides training and peer review feedback as a consultant on an as-needed basis for Modell Consulting Group and RADAR Child Forensic Interview Models. She previously served as Lead Social Worker for the New Orleans Children's Advocacy Center & Audrey Hepburn CARE Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans. There, she supervised the full-time and contract forensic interviewing staff and coordinated a child trafficking survivor services team called BRAVE (Building Resilience for All Victims of Exploitation). In partnership with the New Orleans Police Department, MIP developed Louisiana's first proactive recovery planning team that provided rapid recovery and advocacy response to missing and exploited youth who have left home. MIP develops and delivers in-service and New Recruits child abuse curricula for the New Orleans Police Department Training Academy. In her spare time, MIP loves to bake, read, and celebrate Mardi Gras! Valeria Vila, Ph.D., is passionate about leveraging data to inform evidence-based practices that promote community safety, reduce harm, and expand access to critical services for vulnerable populations. At the New Jersey Children's Alliance, she leads data efforts for the Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) Program, analyzing trends and shaping policy recommendations to strengthen services and support healing. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: New Jersey Children's Alliance: https://njcainc.org Social Media Platforms Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/njcainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/njcainc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-jersey-childrens-alliance/ Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children's Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org Looking for training and technical assistance for your Chapter, Children's Advocacy Center, or multidisciplinary team? Northeast Regional CAC provides training and assistance services to help you implement an effective, sustainable, collaborative response to child abuse. Visit NRCAC.org/request to learn more and request assistance today! 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: Understanding the history and challenges faced by Tribal Nations is essential for building trust and fostering meaningful partnerships within the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) movement. In this episode, Deanna Chancellor shares insights from her experience, discussing the historical trauma Indigenous communities have faced, how it impacts engagement with service providers, and key considerations for CACs and multidisciplinary teams seeking to build trust and meaningful partnerships. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives and actionable steps for strengthening relationships with Tribal Nations. GUEST: Deanna Chancellor is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and serves as the Project Director for the Native Child Advocacy Resource Center. Prior to this she served as a Children's Advocacy Center Director for eighteen years in rural Southeastern Oklahoma. Deanna has extensive experience in the establishment and management of CAC and the coordination of the MDT. She provides training and technical assistance to Native Nations and Non-Tribal partners on issues related to the field of child maltreatment. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Connect with Deanna Chancellor, [email protected] Native Child Advocacy Resource Center: https://www.nativecac.org National Native Children's Trauma Center: https://www.facebook.com/NNCTC Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children's Advocacy Centers: https://www.regionalcacs.org Looking for training and technical assistance for your Chapter, Children's Advocacy Center, or multidisciplinary team? Northeast Regional CAC provides training and assistance services to help you implement an effective, sustainable, collaborative response to child abuse. Visit NRCAC.org/request to learn more and request assistance today! 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: School Resource Officers (SROs) play a vital role in Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). In this episode, we explore the importance of collaboration between SROs and CACs in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse cases, along with strategies for overcoming common challenges. Whether you're looking to strengthen an existing partnership or establish a new one, tune in for valuable insights and practical advice. Topics in this episode: Understanding the roles (4:13) Overlapping of roles (7:55) Building and maintaining the CAC and SRO partnership (11:41) Role of the school district Barriers and challenges Shared understanding Value of SROs as MDT partners (24:11) SRO training (28:03) Advice for CAC/MDT interested in forming a relationship with SROs (32:53) GUESTS: Amy- Lynn Sullivan, Program Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer at Child Advocacy Center of Hillsborough County-North Detective Kyler Stevenson, Manchester New Hampshire Police Department Jennifer Shumway, CSEC Coordinator at Cumberland County Children's Advocacy Center  Officer Timothy Dalton, Scarborough Police Department Lauren Dembski-Martin, Social Services Manager at Scarborough Police Department RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Cumberland County Children's Advocacy Center: https://cumberlandcountycac.org KNOW & TELL: https://knowandtell.org Child Abuse: The KNOW & Tell Program (NCJTC): https://ncjtc.fvtc.edu/trainings/TR00008379/TRI2406800/child-abuse-the-know-tell-program 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: Effective communication and building trust are essential skills for child abuse professionals working towards a shared mission to protect children and support families. In this episode, Ken Homer discusses the concept of Collaborative Conversations, a four-step model designed to enhance communication, build trust, and foster meaningful teamwork. Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) staff and multidisciplinary team (MDT) partners can apply this practical approach to collaborate more effectively. Tune in for helpful tips to strengthen teamwork and achieve better outcomes for children and families. Topics in this episode: Collective Intelligence (4:26) Collaborative Conversations Wheel (7:25) Shared Meaning (9:00) Exploring Possibilities (19:38) Coordinating Actions (26:08) Learning and Reflecting (36:47) Communication Tips (44:02) Navigating Conflict (46:18) GUEST: Ken Homer, PCC Trained as an Integral Coach with a background that includes a decade on the core team that developed the World Café dialogue process, Ken works at the intersection of individual, team, and organizational learning to open up new vistas of thinking while finding practical steps for effective action. Grounded, insightful, practical, and comprehensive, are a few of the adjectives that Ken's clients have used to describe him. He listens deeply to gain an understanding and checks to see if he is making accurate assessments before attempting to provide any guidance. Ken looks for simple modest steps that can be sustained over time to provide optimal returns. Ken believes that collaboration is an art form based on learnable skills. "How can we be smarter together and work in ways where we are all enriched or even ennobled by our efforts?" is the question at the heart of Ken's work. He works with both individuals and teams to identify where they are not getting the results they desire and then helps them to develop the competencies required to achieve their aims. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change by David L. Cooperride. And Diana Whitney, 2005: https://a.co/d/38PzqTi Collaborative Conversations: https://www.kenhomer.net 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: 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/ 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: 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: "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: 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 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 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: Project FORECAST: https://projectforecast.org/  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: https://www.nctsn.org/ Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center: https://www.nrcac.org Regional Children's Advocacy Center: 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 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/  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 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 (CALiO™). 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.