Partnership Connections

  Join us as we chat with Pathway to Resilience co-founders Melissa Santoro and Linzi Rae Matta to discuss the concept of post-traumatic growth. Together they explore how individuals can move beyond surviving trauma to discovering strength, resilience, joy, meaningful relationships, and personal growth. The conversation examines the difference between post-traumatic growth and toxic positivity, th...

Join us as we chat with Dr. Christina Tortolani, psychologist, educator, and co-author of Disobey: Finding Freedom from Your Eating Disorder . We explore common misconceptions about eating disorders, the complex factors that contribute to their development, and the role that families, caregivers, and helping professionals play in supporting recovery. Through a discussion of evidence-based treatmen...

Join us as we chat with Lisa Guillette, Executive Director of Foster Forward.  From family finding and mentoring to housing and workforce development, this conversation explores how child welfare professionals can help build strong relationships with foster youth and learn more from an agency continuously striving to create pathways to permanency, belonging, and sustainable futures!  

In this episode, we sit down with Rhode Island DCYF Director Ashley Deckert, who shares her journey into child welfare leadership and her deep commitment to family preservation and prevention. The conversation explores Rhode Island’s Children’s Behavioral Health Consent Decree , the state’s plans to transform behavioral health services through initiatives like a single point of access and enhanced...

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked topic of pet loss and grief through a child welfare lens. Joined by Dr. Michelle Crossley, Associate Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Rhode Island College and Vice President of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement , the discussion examines why the loss of a companion animal can be as emotionally significant as th...

Join us as we chat with Dr. Kalina Brabeck, professor and co-chair of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Rhode Island College and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Clinical Program Manager, and Adjunct Professor at RIC, Elise Jarvis. Throughout the episode, we explore how trauma impacts children and adults, highlighting key differences in development, behavior, and mental health outc...

In this episode of the Partnership Connections Podcast, we chat with Dr. Gabriela Torres , professor of anthropology at Rhode Island College, to explore the experiences of the Guatemalan immigrant communiric parricty in Rhode Island. Drawing on both her personal journey as a Guatemalan and her extensive experience as a professional, Dr. Torres offers powerful insights into the cultural values, fam...

In this episode of Partnership Connections, art therapist Emily Natale of Create Art & Wellness explores how art therapy supports children, teens, and adults—especially those impacted by trauma—by offering a safe, creative path to self-understanding and healing. Emily busts common myths about art therapy, explains what sessions really look like, and shares powerful stories of how creative expr...

Join us as we welcome back Dr. Frederic Reamer, Professor Emeritus at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work. Throughout the conversation we focus on effective altruism and how it breaks down how evidence, ethics, and impact analysis to help practitioners, agencies, and policymakers move beyond good intentions to doing the most good for children and families. Listeners are invited to refle...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Jessica Pryce , Research Faculty member at Florida State University College of Social Work, a former Child Protective Services investigator in Florida, and author of Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services—Notes of a Former Caseworker .   Throughout the conversation, we cover her experiences of challenges in child protective services—including worker burnou...

In this episode, we sit down with renowned child advocate Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute Brown University School of Public Health and former longtime Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count. With more than 30 years of experience shaping equitable policies for children and families, Elizabe...

Join us as we chat with Dr. Kristin Scaplen and Dr. Victoria Heimer-McGinn as they help us explore how chronic stress affects the brain. They focus on key regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, and what that means for child welfare professionals working in high‑pressure environments. They also break down the science behind stress, memory, addiction, and neuroplasticity in a...

In this episode, we sit down with Brandi Didino of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Margo Katz of the Rhode Island Department of Health to unpack the evolving guidance around infant safe sleep. We explore the emotional, cultural, and practical challenges families face, how professionals can meet parents with empathy, and what evidence‑based support really loo...

Join us as we chat with Dr. Kristen Slack, Senior Scientist at Research Triangle Institute and a leading expert on poverty and child welfare; to explore the complex relationship between socioeconomic factors and child maltreatment. We discuss how economic hardship influences family involvement with child welfare systems, the role of safety nets, and what can be done to better support families befo...

This episode dives into the complexities of adoption, exploring open adoption, birth family involvement, and the lifelong impact on adoptees and parents. Guest Deborah Siegel shares her personal and professional journey, insights from decades of research, and practical advice for child welfare professionals on supporting families with empathy and transparency  

In this episode of the Partnership Connections Podcast, hosts Stan Brajer and Holly Pacheco explore the concept of ambiguous loss with guest Kate Tetuan Parent, Associate Director at Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnership Program. Together, they discuss the two types of ambiguous loss, its impact on youth and families, and practical strategies for supporting those navigating grief and...

Join us as we chat with Rhode Island Training School Executive Director Larome Myrick and Senior Community Development Specialist John Scott. They share powerful personal stories, challenge misconceptions, and highlight innovative community partnerships that support youth rehabilitation at the Rhode Island Training School. From urban gardens to historical cemetery projects, this conversation sheds...

Join us as we sit down with Melissa Aguiar-Rivard, Chief of Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), to unpack the agency’s five-year strategic plan. Melissa shares insights from DCYF's Listening & Learning Tour, revealing how staff, families, partners, and youth shaped the plan’s core pillars: Prevention, Accountabi...

Join us as we welcome back Ocean State Recovery Executive Director Chris Dorval and MADD Rhode Island Program Director Jennifer O’Neil to explore the evolving landscape of substance use and impaired driving in Rhode Island. The conversation covers rising trends in alcohol and cannabis use, the impact of fentanyl and xylazine, and the challenges of prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. With a...

Join us as we chat with Desiree Soto, Program Director for Rhode Island Lottery's Problem Gambling Services Program. We explore intersections between gambling disorder and child welfare, from defining gambling addiction to discussing its neurological and emotional impacts. Learn about some of the latest trends in online betting, the role of mental health, and how child welfare professionals can be...

The following is a meditation provided by Dr. Mimi Mumm, Professor at the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College. Dr. Mumm is also a certified Yoga Instructor. She has been gracious enough to record several sessions, so please visit our show page for more episodes! Alternate Nostril Breathing/Nadi Shodhana. (5 minutes). This breathing technique involves breathing through one nostril at a ti...

We welcome back Jennifer Gaviria, RIC SSW Adjunct Faculty, School Social Worker and Co-Founder of the Latino Mental Health Network to discuss the importance of integrating one's cultural identity into the workplace. Listen as we explore how cultural values influence professional behavior, the challenges of navigating workplace norms, and the impact of imposter syndrome—especially for individuals f...

The following is a meditation provided by Dr. Mimi Mumm, Professor at the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College. Dr. Mumm is also a certified Yoga Instructor. She has been gracious enough to record several sessions, so please visit our show page for more episodes! This gratitude meditation is a mindfulness practice that focuses on recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of your l...

Yoga Nidra/Yogic Sleep. Yoga Nidra is a guided relaxation practice that has been shown to help promote restful sleep. You can use this audio recording at bedtime to support falling asleep, or during the day to experience a sense of restoration and deep relaxation. If you choose to use it mid-day, I recommend setting a timer or alarm, just in case you drift off to sleep. Please practice in a safe s...

Loving Kindness Meditation: Loving-kindness meditation is used to cultivate  empathy, compassion, and understanding—toward oneself and others. It can increase a sense of connection to others and emotional well-being. Please practice in a safe space and never while operating a vehicle or other machinery!  Thank you to Dr. Mumm for providing these for our podcast!