The Accreditation Cohort Calls provide a unique and collaborative experience designed to support CACs through the accreditation process. Whether you're pursuing accreditation for the first time or working toward reaccreditation, this cohort offers:

• Understand the National Standards of Accreditation for Children's Advocacy Centers – Gain an understanding of the accreditation standards, their requirements, and how to implement them effectively within your CAC.
• Peer Support – Connect with a network of peers to share experiences, solutions, and encouragement.
• Resources – Access tools, templates, and support to streamline the accreditation process.

This cohort is open to CAC leaders, staff, and MDT partners in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: Virtual

Length of Program: Meetings will be held monthly on the last Monday of each month from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET. 

Registration Process: Click here to register now.

Board development assists governing boards in understanding their role more effectively to create a healthy and sustainable organization. The training covers the following key areas:

• Roles and responsibilities of board members
• Context and structure of nonprofit organizations
• Core components that contribute to organizational health

This training is open to Chapter and CAC board members and executive directors in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-person preferred; however, virtual training can be provided if necessary.

Length of Program: 3 hours

The orientation and support of a new executive director to their role is important to their success and retention as a leader. NRCAC can support State Chapter staff with training and tools to help new CAC leaders thrive. This includes opportunities for learning and networking with other new executive directors, fostering a supportive environment for growth and collaboration.

This program is open to State Chapter staff in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: Virtual

Length of Program: 4-6 months

CAC professionals are regularly exposed to child trauma as part of their work, and this exposure can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS). If left unaddressed, STS can have negative impacts on both CAC professionals and their organizations. To support these professionals, NRCAC provides STS training for child abuse professionals and their organizations. The training covers the following key areas:

• Defining STS
• Assessing the impact of the work on individuals
• Exploring strategies to reduce the impact of STS
• Reviewing organizational strategies for a trauma-exposed workplace

This training is open to CACs, MDT partners, and CAC board members in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-person preferred; however, virtual training can be provided if necessary.

Length of Program: 3-4 hours

NRCAC is available to facilitate a strategic planning process in collaboration with your board of directors or governing structures. The process helps to clarify the organization’s vision, mission, purpose, and its future direction. The first planning session is preferred in-person with follow up virtual consultation calls. 

This program is open to State Chapter and CAC board members/governance structures/advisory boards

Format: In-Person and Virtual

Length of Program: 4-6 months

The MDT Coaching Program focuses on addressing common challenges such as communication breakdowns, role clarity, and managing conflicting priorities. Through targeted coaching sessions, teams will work to improve collaboration, resolve conflicts, and build trust, ensuring a more cohesive and effective response to child abuse cases. 

This program is open to MDTs in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-Person or Virtual

Length of Program: Single day or ongoing based on the team’s needs and progress

The Leadership Team Development Program is designed for leadership teams in the Northeast Region. This comprehensive training focuses on the leadership team’s role in team development and skill enhancement. Key areas of focus include group agreements, roles and responsibilities, conflict resolution, and team-building activities. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of each discipline's contributions, acquire tools for effective coordination, and learn strategies to balance agency and team commitments, ultimately enhancing their investigative processes and collaboration for improved outcomes for children.

This program is open to MDTs in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-Person

Length of Program: One or two day sessions

Team Retreats are designed to strengthen connections and collaboration among MDT partners. Participants will engage in strategic discussions, share best practices, and develop actionable skills to enhance team dynamics, ultimately improving outcomes for children and families.

This program is open to MDTs in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-Person

Length of Program: One or two day session

The Forensic Interviewers Mentoring and Skill Development Program, in collaboration with Zero Abuse Project, provides new forensic interviewers additional support and a framework for overall skill development. The program provides measurable outcomes in skill development and focuses on individual goals set forth by the interviewer to allow for growth and success in their role. 

This program is open to new forensic interviewers in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

As a result of this program, participants will:

• Achieve measurable outcomes in skill development by working on individual goals set forth by the interviewer to allow better success with growth in their role.  

Format: Virtual

Length of Program: 6 months

Application Process: Click here to apply by end of day, April 3, 2025. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by Friday, April 11, 2025.

Professionals helping child abuse victims are often 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 goes a long way in helping children and families process and heal from the trauma they have experienced. Difficult Conversations is an interactive training that will teach participants how to build trust and form relationships with multidisciplinary team partners and the families they serve. 

This training is open to CACs and MDTs in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: Virtual

When: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT

Registration Process: Click here to apply by end of day, Thursday, May 15, 2025.

The MDT Facilitator Learning Lab is a 6-month training and learning opportunity hosted by the Northeast Regional CAC and the Western Regional CAC. It is designed to empower MDT facilitators with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in their role by building authentic relationships, navigating team dynamics and conflict, and fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration.

The program takes a practical, hands-on approach to equip participants with the tools and confidence to lead their team effectively. Participants will develop key skills to lead in collaborative environments and coordinate their MDT’s response to child abuse in their community.

This program is open to team facilitators in the Northeast Region and Western Region.

As a result of this program, participants will: 

• Enhance skills as facilitators to build authentic relationships and create a culture of engagement and collaboration.
• Enhance communication skills that will result in collaborative team communications.
• Gain insight into and strategies for identifying system issues that 
impact cases and team dynamics.
• Promote collaborative decision-making and healthy, productive methods of addressing conflict.

Program Schedule*: Please see the schedule below. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in full and complete all pre-work and between session assignments.

Virtual Orientation: April 10, 2025
In-Person Sessions: April 29 – May 1, 2025
Virtual Sessions: September 17-18, 2025
Monthly cohort calls (virtual) from May through August
Opportunity to engage in one-on-one coaching calls

*Program schedule and location are pending DOJ approval.

Application Process: Applications closed. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application starting Friday, March 14, 2025.

CAC professionals are regularly exposed to child trauma as part of their work, and this exposure can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS). If left unaddressed, STS can have negative impacts on both CAC professionals and their organizations. To support these professionals, NRCAC provides STS training for child abuse professionals and their organizations. The training covers the following key areas:

• Defining STS
• Assessing the impact of the work on individuals
• Exploring strategies to reduce the impact of STS
• Reviewing organizational strategies for a trauma-exposed workplace

This training is open to CAC staff, MDT partners, and board members in the Northeast Region - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Format: In-person preferred; however, virtual training can be provided if necessary.

Length of Program: 3-4 hours

Leadership, Exchange, and Coaching (LEC) builds the capacity of leaders in the CAC movement to provide dynamic, purposeful leadership to their organizations. Through organization development tools and coaching, leaders can strengthen their resilience, adopt a compassionate, strengths-based perspective, and build and nurture strong peer networks. The program’s goal is to create strong, healthy, effective organizations and partnerships.

This program is open nationally to CAC directors and associate directors who have been in their positions for one to two years.

As a result of this program, participants will: 

• Increase their capacity for effective leadership, as demonstrated by an understanding of how to analyze systems with a greater perspective
• Effectively identify and manage conflict within team and staff
• Improve their ability to build partnerships
• Recognize strengths in themselves and others, leading from a strengths-based perspective
• Enhance their capacity to support CAC staff and MDT in developing and achieving a clear vision with realistic goals
• Increase their ability to navigate the organization through times of challenge and difficulty
• Increase their ability to ask for help, delegate, and find the most effective sources of support
• Greater participation in problem solving for MDTs and CACs

Format: In-Person and Virtual

Length of Program: One year

Application Process: Please check back for updates.