Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 11 – Mobile CACs: Part 2


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 County, NY.

For more information on Delaware County’s mobile CAC, contact Stacy directly at (866) 457-7233.

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

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.

Check out this episode!

Episode 10 – Mobile CACs: Part 1


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 Slenka from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services joins us to discuss the development and implementation process of these new additions.

Melaney Scklenka supervises the Children and Family Safety Unit of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

For more information on the mobile CAC program, contact Melaney directly at melaney.scklenka@ocfs.ny.gov or (518) 486-7674.

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

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.

Check out this episode!

Episode 9 – School Engagement and the H.E.A.R.T. Program

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 schools to support victims with their Helping Ensure Appropriate Response to Trauma (H.E.A.R.T.) Program.

Nicole Ledoux is the Victim Services Quality Assurance Director of the Granite State Children’s Alliance. Meghan Noyes is the Director of Program Services of the Granite State Children’s Alliance.

Mentioned in this episode:

Granite State Children’s AllianceFacebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube

For more information on the H.E.A.R.T. Program, contact Nicole at nledoux@cac-nh.org or Meghan at mnoyes@cac-nh.org

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

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.

Check out this episode!

Episode 8 – Peer Review for Forensic Interviewers


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 structured Peer Review on the local and statewide levels.

Bethany Cottrell is the Human Services Director for Merrimack County, NH. She was previously the Executive Director of the Merrimack County Advocacy Center.

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice.

Check out this episode!

Episode 7 – Cultural Competency and Implicit Bias


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 talk about their work in establishing a committed, focused, and ongoing conversation about culture and bias in their CAC.

Rashida Cartwright-Thigpen is an Assistant County Attorney in Westchester County, NY, and has been a practicing attorney for over 18 years. Beth Reiman, PhD, LCSW-R, is the Coordinator of Forensic and Clinical Services at the Children’s Advocacy Center at Westchester Institute for Human Development, as well as an Assistant Professor at New York Medical College and an Adjunct Professor at City University of New York.

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice.

Check out this episode!

Episode 6 – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion


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 us to discuss what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean in the context of CACs and their crucial role in seeing children, families, CAC staff, and communities thrive.

Corey Brodsky, MA, is the Program Manager for Chapter Development & Partnerships at the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. 

Leigha Shoup, MS, is the former Director of the Child Advocacy Center of West Central Ohio.

Mentioned in this episode:

Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center – Website, Facebook, Ideas for Reducing Disparities in Care one-pager

Child Advocacy Center of West Central Ohio – Website

Intercultural Development Inventory

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice.

 

Check out this episode!

Episode 5 – Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors


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 her work in developing YPSB programs.

Leslie Slingsby, LSW is the Executive Director of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center in Montgomery County, PA. She was also the founding director of the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center. lslingsby@missionkidscac.org

Mentioned in this episode:

NRCAC’s Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors Conference

National Children’s Alliance resources on YPSB

National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth

University of Oklahoma’s Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

Mission KidsFacebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice.

Check out this episode!

Episode 4 – The Coaching Mindset


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 powerful questions.

Kori Stephens, MPH is the Project Director for the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, and is currently in the process of becoming an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

FranklinCovey – Stephen Covey’s Listening Continuum from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Michael Bungay Stanier – The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

Greg McKeown – Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Karen Kimsey-House, Henry Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandhal, Laura Whitworth – Coactive Coaching: The Proven Framework for Transformative Conversations at Work and in Life

Mike Robbins – Bring Your Whole Self to Work: How Vulnerability Unlocks Creativity, Connection, and Performance (Book and TED Talk)

MRCAC – EduNet Webinars, Leading Engaged Teams project

 

Additional suggested resources:

Brené Brown – Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging; Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.; Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Marilee Adams & Marshall Goldsmith – Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 12 Powerful Tools for Leadership, Coaching, and Life

Todd Kashdan & Robert Biswas-Diener – The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self – Not Just Your “Good” Self – Drives Success and Fulfillment

Learning Journeys – Website

Coaches Training Institute – Website

Box of Crayons Consulting – Website

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Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2016-CI-FX-K003 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice.

Check out this episode!

Episode 3 – Tele-Mental Health


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 between this crucial mental health care and those who need it.

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

Mentioned in this episode:

Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center – Five-Part Webinar Series on Tele-Mental Health 

Jennifer Rolls Reutz, MPH is the Co-Director of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare at the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, and the Rural Mental Health Initiative project manager at the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

 

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Episode 1 – Child Abuse Prevention Month


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 Alliance, Arianna Weatherley of Day One in Rhode Island, Madeline Bacon of Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, and Linda Cleary of the New York State Children’s Alliance for joining us!

 

Visit the NRCAC Website for resources, training opportunities, and more!

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

New Jersey Children’s Alliance

National Children’s Alliance‘s SHINE Campaign – Facebook, Instagram, Chapter Toolkit, CAC Toolkit or contact Blake Warenik at bwarenik@nca-online.org

Day One Sexual Assault Resource Center and Children’s Advocacy CenterFacebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Massachusetts Children’s AllianceFacebook

New York State Children’s Alliance – One Too Many Campaign

Check out this episode!