NRCAC Team Talk

EPISODE SUMMARY: Transitions are such an important part of life, and one of the most challenging transitions is going from peer to supervisor. In this episode, Cara Vock, Program Manager and Chapter Development at Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, and Christina Rouse, Program Manager for CAC Development at Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, explore the complexities of this s...

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of NRCAC Team Talk, we spotlight the New Jersey Children's Alliance's groundbreaking, statewide approach to addressing problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in youth. Join guests Nydia Monagas, Maria Isabel Poontoriero (MIP), and Valeria Vila from NJCA as they discuss the development of this innovative program, its foundational framework, and key insights from its firs...

EPISODE SUMMARY: Understanding the history and challenges faced by Tribal Nations is essential for building trust and fostering meaningful partnerships within the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) movement. In this episode, Deanna Chancellor shares insights from her experience, discussing the historical trauma Indigenous communities have faced, how it impacts engagement with service providers, and...

EPISODE SUMMARY: School Resource Officers (SROs) play a vital role in Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). In this episode, we explore the importance of collaboration between SROs and CACs in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse cases, along with strategies for overcoming common challenges. Whether you're looking to strengthen an existing partnership or e...

EPISODE SUMMARY: Effective communication and building trust are essential skills for child abuse professionals working towards a shared mission to protect children and support families. In this episode, Ken Homer discusses the concept of  Collaborative Conversations , a four-step model designed to enhance communication, build trust, and foster meaningful teamwork. Children's Advocacy Center (CAC)...

EPISODE SUMMARY: Sass Boucher and Kate Collier, co-founders of SelfCare Psychology Ltd, bring psychology, awareness, resources, and expertise to frontline workers in supportive roles. In this episode, they discuss the concept of Professional Trauma and Fatigue and how CAC staff and MDT partners can use the Five Pillars of Protection to mitigate the effects of working in the child advocacy field. J...

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 licensed social worker specializing in anti-human tra...

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 guides us through a real-life experience of preparin...

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 Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center Dire...

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 this month's episode, Tony speaks with Dr. Heather...

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 navigated through periods of growth and change at Pr...

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 making the movie, what she discovered about the groomi...

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, education, and technical assistance on trauma-informed car...

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 CAC. Furthermore, they share what was learned fro...

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 discipline on an MDT can adequately meet the needs of a vic...

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 Hope. As her website states: " Hope is more than a fe...

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 Child Life Specialists help infants, children, you...

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 journey of building basic skills needed to effect...

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 with child-initiated harm cases, child-serving ag...

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.  During the conversation, Kim and Andra share their t...

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 using a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) and a Mul...

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 team members can do to overcome the obstacles that...

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 continually enhance their skills through coaching, men...

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 helping that child and family process and heal fr...

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 children and adolescents for whom regulation of emotiona...