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 interg…

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 lic…

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 gu…

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…

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 ho…

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 …

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 ha…

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 na…

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 makin…

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 Accredita…

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, educatio…

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…

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 disciplin…

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 Hop…

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 Bo…

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 t…

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 C…

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 …

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…

EPISODE SUMMARY: In the final episode of the 4-part series on Skill Development for Forensic Interviewers, Tony speaks with Andra Chamberlin and Kim Madden from the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Both Andra and Kim are trainers and forensic interview specialists with a wealth of experience in the child abuse field. Duri…

EPISODE SUMMARY: Still searching for that elusive perfect forensic interview? In this second episode of our two-part conversation with Michele Thames and Christina Rouse, forensic interviewers from Virginia, we discuss the importance of leadership to the success of a forensic interviewing program. When child abuse occurs, cases may be investigated …

EPISODE SUMMARY: Is your team searching for the perfect forensic interview? Although a “perfect” outcome might not be possible, the journey is important. In this episode, I speak with two forensic interviewers from the Commonwealth of Virginia about that journey. We discuss some of the challenges that might get in the way and what interviewers and …

EPISODE SUMMARY: In the last five years, over 1 million children have received forensic interview services at Child Advocacy Centers across the United States. In the first of four episodes dedicated to this topic, Rita Farrell, Director of ChildFirst® for Zero Abuse Project, discusses the value of peer review and how forensic interviewers can conti…

Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of the National Children’s Alliance, explores how the CAC Movement has risen to meet the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and what opportunities have arisen that may prove beneficial in the future. EPISODE SUMMARY: When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Child Advocacy Center’s and Multidisciplinary Teams were …

EPISODE SUMMARY: The professionals responding to child abuse allegations in their communities are routinely placed in situations where they need to have difficult conversations with children, parents, and caregivers. Whether working with a family in crisis or breaking bad news to a family in disbelief, good communication skills can go a long way in…

EPISODE SUMMARY: Are you looking to add another tool to the mental health services you are providing at the CAC? Do you struggle with those kiddos who cannot regulate and are unable to take part in the systems that need to hear from them? Sensory Motor Arousal Treatment (SMART) is an innovative mental health therapy for complexly traumatized childr…

EPISODE SUMMARY: Are you looking to add another tool to the mental health services you are providing at the CAC? Do you struggle with those kiddos who cannot regulate and are unable to take part in the systems that need to hear from them? Sensory Motor Arousal Treatment (SMART) is an innovative mental health therapy for complexly traumatized childr…

EPISODE SUMMARY: Becoming accredited with the National Children's Alliance has a lot of value for CACs, but the process can seem daunting. Darcy Fluharty and Shyra Williams from the Hanenburg CAC in Holland, MI discuss with us the benefits they've experienced in their over 20 years of being an accredited CAC and share some tips on how to best prepa…

EPISODE SUMMARY: MDT facilitation and coordination presents unique challenges on the best of days, let alone during crisis. On this episode, Tony speaks with Greg Flett of the National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) about the role of the team facilitator, what coordinating MDTs looks like, and how to approach this role during COVID-19. GUEST: Gr…

EPISODE SUMMARY: Leading within the CAC model - no matter your role - is complex under normal circumstances. During a crisis, this complexity is heightened, and the decision must be made about what kind of leader you want to be. Martha Lask joins us on this episode to discuss taking a leadership stance in a crisis situation. GUEST: Martha Lask, MSO…

CACs work hard to provide high quality services to children and families, as well as build relationships with other service organizations to create a collaborative network for the community. But how do we make ourselves known, so those who need us know where to go? David Johnston from Deirdre's House joins us to discuss the Game of Life, a unique w…

What does it mean to lead through a crisis? In this episode, Tony has a conversation with Interim Executive Director Paul DiLorenzo about what it looks like to lead a CAC through our current unprecedented times. - Paul DiLorenzo, ACSW, MSLP is the Interim Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Children's Alliance and Northeast Regional Childre…

In the second half of this two-part episode on mobile CACs, Stacy Osborn joins us from one of the new mobile CACs to discuss what it's like to operate one, and the impact it has had on MDT members and the community. - Stacy Osborn is the director of Safe Against Violence, a program of Delaware Opportunities, the community action agency in Delaware …

CACs face a number of issues with service accessibility, especially in rural and remote areas. New York has recently rolled out 7 new mobile CACs to help bridge the accessibility gap. In the first half of this two-part episode, Melaney Szklenka from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services joins us to discuss the development and im…

The majority of children seen at CACs are of school age, so what can we do to engage schools in the healing process while respecting the privacy of victims and their families? Nicole Ledoux and Meghan Noyes from the Granite State Children's Alliance join us this episode to discuss the New Hampshire state chapter's efforts to connect CACs with schoo…

Flashback! This episode, we're releasing the first ever pilot we recorded for this podcast, an interview with Bethany Cottrell, former Executive Director of Merrimack County Advocacy Center in New Hampshire, on Peer Review for Forensic Interviewers. Bethany joins us to discuss the importance of Peer Review, as well as how CACs in New Hampshire have…

Conversations about cultural competency and implicit bias are difficult to have, but are crucial to effectively working on cases and within the MDT. Rashida Cartwright-Thigpen and Dr. Beth Reiman, Co-Chairs of the Cultural Competency Workgroup at the Children's Advocacy Center at Westchester Institute for Human Development, join us this month to ta…

What is the difference between equity and equality? What does it mean to provide true access to services for all children, and how can we get there? The Equity Council, developed by the Midwest Regional Children's Advocacy Center, is committed to fostering a culture of equity in the CAC movement. Councilmembers Corey Brodsky and Leigha Shoup join u…

CACs and MDTs often encounter cases involving a child who acts out against another child. While the CAC model is well-suited to respond to these cases, teams struggle to develop programs to effectively identify and respond to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors. Leslie Slingsby of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center sat down with us to discuss h…

How can we as leaders empower those around us and develop future leaders in the CAC world? In the latest episode of Team Talk, Tony interviews Kori Stephens of the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center about what coaching is versus what it is not, the benefits of the coaching mindset, and how to truly practice deep listening and asking powerf…

Children and families who have experienced the effects of abuse need immediate, high quality, specialized care. However, a number of factors can stand in the way - provider availability, patient schedules, travel requirements, and more. Jennifer Rolls Reutz, MPH joins us on this episode to discuss how Tele-Mental Health can help break down barriers…

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Children's Advocacy Centers across the United States produce events and campaigns to raise awareness for their cause. In this episode, we hear from child abuse professionals throughout the northeast region about their Child Abuse Prevention Month Initiatives. Thanks to Olga Starr of New Jersey Children's A…

Welcome to NRCAC's new podcast, Team Talk! We'll be highlighting the work of child abuse professionals around the northeast region and across the country in 15-20 minute episodes. If you have suggestions for people or programs to spotlight, please email Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org. Stay tuned for future episodes! - Disclaimer: This project wa…