Category Archives: about

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Our Team

Benita Williams Headshot

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 Headshot

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 Headshot

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 US. 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.

 

Headshot of Sue Ascione, MS.

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 headshot

Tony DeVincenzo
Training Specialist
tony@nrcac.org

Tony DeVincenzo is a 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 US. 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 Headshot

Ilana Lezama-Beausejour
Project Initiatives Specialist
ilana@nrcac.org

Ilana Lezama-Beausejour is the Project Initiatives Specialist at Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC). In this position, Ilana will be working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and annual data needs assessment projects. 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 and diversity. 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 Headshot

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 Headshot

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.

 

Headshot of Myia Hill.

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).

Our Partners

NRCAC is one of four regional centers that provides training and technical assistance resources for communities to develop multidisciplinary teams, Children’s Advocacy Centers, and State Chapter organizations of Children's Advocacy Centers.

Regional Children's Advocacy Centers (RCACs)
https://www.regionalcacs.org/
The four Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers (RCACs) were established in the Victims of Child Abuse Act legislation in 1992 to provide training and technical assistance to child abuse professionals located within each U.S. Census region. Funding for the RCACs is managed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a component of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. Each RCAC provides trainings, technical assistance, and information services for developing and established multidisciplinary teams, local Children’s Advocacy Centers, and State Chapter organizations of Children’s Advocacy Centers within their region.

"If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much."

- Marian Wright Edelman

Regional Partners

Midwest Regional Children's Advocacy Center (MRCAC)
www.mrcac.org
MRCAC is located at Children’s Minnesota in St. Paul, MN and provides support to the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.


 

Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center (SRCAC)
www.srcac.org
SRCAC is located at the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, AL and provides support to the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.


 

Western Regional Children's Advocacy Center (WRCAC)
www.westernregionalcac.org
WRCAC is located at the Chadwick Center for Children and Families in San Diego, CA and provides support to the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

National Partners

National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC)
nationalcac.org
The NCAC, located in Huntsville, Alabama, revolutionized the United States’ response to child sexual abuse. Since its creation in 1985, the NCAC has served as a model for the 1000+ Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) now operating in the United States and in more than 27 countries throughout the world.


 

National Children’s Alliance (NCA)
www.nationalchildrensalliance.org
NCA is the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and provides support, advocacy, quality assurance, and national leadership for CACs.


 

National Native Children's Trauma Center Logo

National Native Children's Trauma Center (NNCTC)
https://www.nnctc.org/
As a Category II Treatment and Service Adaptation Center within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, NNCTC is focused on increasing service providers' ability to respond to the trauma-related needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and youth in culturally appropriate ways.


 

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
www.ojjdp.gov
OJJDP TTA360 Requests
OJJDP provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to youth delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families.


 

Zero Abuse Project (ZAP)
https://www.zeroabuseproject.org/
ZAP is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to transforming institutions in order to effectively prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse.

Team Talk Podcast

Every day, professionals from Children's Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams do incredible work to help children and families heal from the trauma of child abuse. NRCAC's Team Talk podcast highlights the efforts of these heroes throughout the Northeast Region and across the United States.

EPISODES

MEET OUR CO-HOSTS

Tony DeVincenzo headshotTony DeVincenzo is a Training Specialist with NRCAC. 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 a 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.



Ilana Lezama-Beausejour HeadshotIlana Lezama-Beausejour
is the Project Initiatives Specialist at NRCAC. In this position, Ilana will be working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and annual data needs assessment projects. 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 and diversity. 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.

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About

The Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC) enhances the important work of State Chapters, CACs, and MDTs. We provide boots-on-the-ground support and stay attuned to the needs of each of the 9 states in our region.  

Every State Chapter, CAC, and MDT in the Northeast Region is unique. Whether you are part of a fully staffed Chapter, or a brand new CAC, NRCAC meets you where you are and equips you with the training and technical assistance you need. We also facilitate connection and collaboration with our region and beyond.  

Training image

The four Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers (RCACs) were established in the Victims of Child Abuse Act legislation in 1992 to provide training and technical assistance to child abuse professionals located within each U.S. Census region. Funding for the RCACs is managed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a component of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice.

Since our inception, the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance has served as our operators and grantee. As our regions grow, we are growing along with them to adapt and meet the needs of professionals helping children heal. By working together and providing you with the support you need, we can help end the cycle of abuse. 

 

 

 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.