Benita Williams, MSW, LSW
Executive Director
bwilliams@philachildrensalliance.org
Benita Williams, MSW, LSW, is a Pennsylvania licensed social worker who has over 28 years of experience in the field of Child Welfare. Benita earned her Bachelor of Social Work and Masters of Social Work degrees from Temple University. For 20 years Benita worked for the Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) in a variety of positions starting out as a Social Worker and worked her way up to the third highest ranked position at DHS as Operations Director. Most recently she served as the Vice President of CUA and Child Welfare Services for Bethanna, a private Child Welfare agency.
Teresa Smith, LSW, PhD
Project Director
teresa@nrcac.org
Teresa Smith, LSW, PhD, is the Project Director at Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). Teresa joined the NRCAC staff in June 2011 after more than twenty-five years of employment with Pinnacle Health Systems in Harrisburg, PA. Teresa was a co-founder and director of the Children’s Resource Center at Pinnacle Health Systems, an accredited CAC, and has served as President and Executive Board Member of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania, an accredited Chapter of the National Children’s Alliance. Teresa’s Doctoral Dissertation involved research on multidisciplinary child abuse team leaders and case reviews.
Jennifer Aglialoro
Training Specialist
jennifer@nrcac.org
Jennifer Aglialoro is a Training Specialist with Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this role, she provides training and technical assistance to Child Advocacy Centers and child abuse multidisciplinary teams throughout the Northeast Region of the U.S. Jennifer was most recently the Program Director, MDT Facilitator, and Lead Forensic Interviewer at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Scranton, PA). As a Forensic Interviewer with the Center for 14 years Jennifer interviewed over 4000 children who were suspected victims of child abuse and/or neglect. In that role, she worked with professionals from eight counties across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oswego State University and her master’s in counseling from Marywood University. She worked for 18 years in community mental health, focusing mostly on children and families. Jennifer worked as a Trauma Therapist, specializing in child victims of sexual and physical abuse and neglect for ten years. She has extensive training in the TF-CBT model.
Jennifer presented educational programs to school personnel, community groups, other professionals, and members of the multidisciplinary team on topics related to childhood abuse/neglect, trauma, technology safety, secondary traumatic stress, forensic interviewing, and testifying in court. She has also presented on the national level on secondary traumatic stress and organizational responses to trauma for professionals.
Jennifer lives in Taylor, Pennsylvania with her husband Paul, and three children, Conor, Maxwell, and Sophia.
Sue Ascione, MS
Training Specialist
sue@nrcac.org
Sue Ascione, MS, is a Training Specialist with Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC). She has served for over 30 years in the field of family violence as a direct service provider and in leadership positions in child-serving nonprofit organizations in Northwestern, PA. Sue served 16 years as the executive director of the CAC in Lawrence County, PA. Sue has been a mentor, trainer, and consultant to many emerging and developing Child Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams to identify challenges, barriers, and organizational development needs to plan the changes needed for quality improvement for children and families. As an inaugural participant in the Leadership, Exchange, and Coaching (LEC) project, Sue has great interest in supporting CAC executive directors and associate directors by providing management, training, and peer consultation in the LEC project. She also provides training on secondary traumatic stress, victim advocacy, team development, and technical assistance for board development and strategic planning.
Tony DeVincenzo
Senior Training Specialist
tony@nrcac.org
Tony DeVincenzo is a Senior Training Specialist with Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this role, he provides training and technical assistance to Child Advocacy Centers and child abuse multidisciplinary teams throughout the Northeast Region of the U.S. In addition to his work with individual Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams, Tony has presented workshops on a variety of topics related to Child Advocacy at regional and national conferences.
Prior to his current position, Tony served as the Director of Programs and Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator from Deirdre’s House, the Child Advocacy Center for Morris County, New Jersey. In that role, Tony oversaw a variety of programs and services offered at the Advocacy Center and coordinated the multidisciplinary response to child abuse in the community. He also conducted numerous professional trainings and community presentations related to child advocacy.
Before working in the child advocacy field, had a 25-year career in law enforcement in New Jersey. He began his career as a patrol officer with the Roseland Police Department and then served as a Detective with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. As a detective, Tony worked in a variety of units including juvenile/missing persons, and the major crimes unit, but spent a majority of his career investigating crimes against children. During that time, he also served as forensic interviewer and was an active member of the Morris County MDT. Tony retired from law enforcement in 2013 as a Lieutenant supervising the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children, and Megan’s Law Unit.
In addition to his law enforcement career and his roles in Child Advocacy, Tony is an adjunct faculty member at local colleges teaching courses related to Criminal Justice and Child Advocacy.
Ilana Lezama-Beausejour
Training Specialist
ilana@nrcac.org
Ilana Lezama-Beausejour is a Training Specialist with Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this role, she provides training and technical assistance to Child Advocacy Centers and child abuse multidisciplinary teams throughout the Northeast Region of the U.S. Ilana has served in the field of Social Work for several years in different capacities, from working with children within the child welfare system on behavioral therapy modalities to training foster parents on social-emotional skills. She has worked within the Juvenile Justice System and devised a program to serve vulnerable youth. She has a passion for making an impact on individuals and enhancing systems that serve people. Ilana firmly believes her purpose is to make a difference in the lives and organizations that she encounters by extending herself as a beacon of light. Ilana has obtained her Master's degree in Social Work from Fordham University with a dual concentration in Clinical Work and Organizational Leadership.
Katelyn Waltimyer
Project Manager
katelyn@nrcac.org
Katelyn Waltimyer is the Project Manager at Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this position, Katelyn fills a wide range of administrative roles, with a focus on training management, event production, and grant logistics. Prior to joining the NRCAC team in 2018, Katelyn obtained a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a minor in Theatre from Penn State University and served as a daycare and K-5 music teacher.
Amanda Strydio
Administrative Assistant
amanda@nrcac.org
Amanda Strydio is the Administrative Assistant at Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this position, Amanda fills a wide range of administrative roles, with a focus on data reporting, fiscal tracking, and clerical tasks. Prior to joining the NRCAC team in 2024, Amanda obtained a bachelor's degree in Communications and Musical Theater from Saint Joseph's University. In her previous role, she served as an operations and communications manager at a non-profit.
Myia Hill
Communications Manager
myia@nrcac.org
Myia Hill is the Communications Manager at Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this position, Myia is responsible for overseeing NRCAC's branding initiatives, marketing materials, website development, and social media engagement. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over nine years in the primary areas of development, communications, and marketing. Myia holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego).