Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Resources

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement

National Children’s Alliance (NCA) is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our staff, board, and Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) movement. A diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement is critical not only to achieve a just and welcoming work environment for our workforce and partners but also because it is impossible to effectively serve children and families across this country without a movement of agencies and professionals that reflect them and understand their needs.

NCA has collected these resources, created by ourselves and our many partners, to help CACs build on their DEI efforts at their center and with their multidisciplinary teamWe seek to offer information on underrepresented and marginalized groups as it relates to the work we do to serve children and families in the field, as well as  provide resources and tools that can help you create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace at your CAC. See how NCA is embedding a culture of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion here.

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NCA projects that center Equity

NCA is launching a new project aimed at improving our understanding of access and equity in the CAC field.  Learn more about the NCA Health Access Data Project, and the opportunity to be a pilot site for this project on the Health Access Data Project Page.  Contact Program Evaluation Manager, Erin Casey, ecasey@nca-online.org to join the Pilot.

NCA resources

NCA is uniquely positioned to ensure CACs have the resources they need to truly serve America’s diverse population and also that their accreditation with us requires that they do so equitably and inclusively.  

Explore our DEI-related resources, here: 

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DEI webinars

Please view the below DEI webinars to learn what our partners in the field are working on to help raise awareness of key issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These videos can be used to assist in meeting  NCA Standards as it relates to Diversity, Equity and Access. Users must be logged in to access trainings.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) are important topics in the CAC field. Join us to learn the relevant terminology, topics, and concepts as well as how DEIA impacts outcomes for all members of our community.

    Inclusive environments matter—to both your staff and to your clients. And the drive to make CAC services accessible to all children who need them is one of the foundations of our field. It’s so important that the 2023 edition of the National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers requires CAC staff to participate in a minimum of eight hours of training in these topics every two years. But what does this all mean?

    Join us online on September 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT, for Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access with Dr. Sonja N. Robinson. We’ll discuss the relevant terminology, topics, and concepts in the DEIA space, and you’ll learn how DEIA impacts outcomes for all members of a living, learning, and working community.

    This 60-minute webinar can be applied to the Diversity, Equity, and Access Standard training requirements. Register now!

    Inclusive environments matter—to both your staff and to your clients. And the drive to make CAC services accessible to all children who need them is one of the foundations of our field. It’s so important that the 2023 edition of the National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers requires CAC staff to participate in a minimum of eight hours of training in these topics every two years. But what does this all mean?

    Join us online on September 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT, for Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access with Dr. Sonja N. Robinson. We’ll discuss the relevant terminology, topics, and concepts in the DEIA space, and you’ll learn how DEIA impacts outcomes for all members of a living, learning, and working community.

    This 60-minute webinar can be applied to the Diversity, Equity, and Access Standard training requirements. Register now!

    Sonja N. Robinson, Ph.D.

    Founder and CEO

    Thrive Mind Solutions

    Sonja N. Robinson, Ph.D., is the founder, CEO, and lead consultant of Thrive Mind Solutions. Dr. Robinson has over 10 years of experience creating and supporting the development and implementation of innovative inclusive excellence strategies for complex organizations and institutions of higher education. Her focus areas are diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, executive coaching, organizational culture analysis and development, data analytics, employee engagement, change management, and organizational dynamics.

    While serving as the director of inclusion at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Dr. Robinson served as the primary liaison to over 1,100 college and university athletic programs for issues related to race, ethnicity, and disability, and led program development and facilitation for national conferences, workshops, presentations and engagements. She also served as the primary liaison and staff support to a national committee charged with providing review of and recommendations about programs, policies, and practices impacting minority administrators, coaches, and student-athletes across the United States.

    While working for a large Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) in the Office for Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Robinson played a key role in the creation and execution of campus-wide orientations, training, programs, and presentations on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She led a campus climate assessment and the development of the subsequent diversity action plan. She has extensive experience working with groups to drive innovation and efficiency, to define values and design culture, and to move beyond a surface-level understanding of diversity and inclusion to action-oriented and industry-specific application of the concepts.

    A former Division I student-athlete and coach, Dr. Robinson holds a doctorate in Sports Administration, with a minor in Research Methodology, and an M.B.A. with focus areas of Organizational Behavior and Entrepreneurship. Her research agenda and professional work has centered on leadership development, equity, access and inclusion, corporate social responsibility, and athlete welfare. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in sport leadership, ethics, psychology, diversity, sociology, legal aspects, and marketing, and authored an unpublished guide on implementing DEI principles in hiring practices. She has been a member of numerous boards and national organizations, including a leadership role with the Diversity in Sports Consortium, a group of diversity professionals from amateur, Olympic, and professional leagues across the United States.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn how to effectively engage the underserved population of LGBTQIA+ youth through conscious use of language, self-reflection, and inclusive organizational policies.

    Join NCA to learn about Creating Welcoming Environments for LGBTQIA+ Youth on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. This one-hour webinar, the second in our new series on diversity, equity, and inclusion, will be presented by Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW.

    Issues around sexual orientation and/or gender identity are often left unexplored in our child-serving organizations and agencies. Research shows us, however, that LGBTQIA+ youth often face increased levels of risk of harm by others and to themselves. Learn how to effectively engage this underserved population through conscious use of language, self-reflection, and inclusive organizational policies. The discussion will include an overview and identification of the physical and emotional stressors experienced by this population. There will also be an exploration of the cultural and institutional dynamics that reinforce this abuse. A strength-based approach will be emphasized throughout the discussion within an environment that will support individuals to explore their own thoughts, beliefs, and values as it relates to this population.

    This video can be used to assist in meeting NCA Standards as it relates to Diversity, Equity and Access.  Users must be logged in to access training.

    Join NCA to learn about Creating Welcoming Environments for LGBTQIA+ Youth on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. This one-hour webinar, the second in our new series on diversity, equity, and inclusion, will be presented by Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW.

    Issues around sexual orientation and/or gender identity are often left unexplored in our child-serving organizations and agencies. Research shows us, however, that LGBTQIA+ youth often face increased levels of risk of harm by others and to themselves. Learn how to effectively engage this underserved population through conscious use of language, self-reflection, and inclusive organizational policies. The discussion will include an overview and identification of the physical and emotional stressors experienced by this population. There will also be an exploration of the cultural and institutional dynamics that reinforce this abuse. A strength-based approach will be emphasized throughout the discussion within an environment that will support individuals to explore their own thoughts, beliefs, and values as it relates to this population.

    This video can be used to assist in meeting NCA Standards as it relates to Diversity, Equity and Access.  Users must be logged in to access training.

    Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW

    Co-Founder

    The Harvey Institute, Inc.

    AlKillen-Harvey has worked at the Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital forover 28 years as a practicing trauma treatment therapist, clinical improvement coordinator,reflective supervisor, and trainer. A licensed clinical social worker, heis also the co-founder of The Harvey Institute, a training and consultationcompany whose mission is improving health care outcomes through the integrationof sexual health. Their work received the 2022 “William Friedrich LecturesSeries” Award given by the Mayo Clinic for its’ innovative work in bridging thegap between sexual trauma and sexual health.

    Hecurrently serves on the advisory boardsof the Children’s Advocacy Centers of California and is theco-chairperson of the Sexual Health subcommittee for the National ChildTraumatic Stress Network (and previously served as co-chairperson of its’Cultural Consortium). He has served as an expert witness for the United StatesArmy and the San Diego District Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of sexualabuse cases. He is also a recipient of the Community Collaborators Award givenby the San Diego LGBT Center.


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Tell us: How is DEI playing a role in your organization's child abuse response to children and families?

The time is now to help organizations succeed in their efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion through the exchange of information. We believe that an organization that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion creates an environment that respects and values differences. Let's foster cultures that minimize bias and celebrates various perspectives.  

Please share your DEI resources and tools that are being successfully used in your organizational missions, visions, and values and cascaded throughout your organizational policies and procedures. 

Use the Open Forum community as a gathering place, where you can join us in sharing with the field the DEI tools being used at your CAC - share and ask questions!

Below are some DEI resources that members of the field have already started sharing through the Open Forum!

Leading Diversity at Work- a podcast series through Wharton School of Business.

Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network - Provides a series of free trainings on cultural adaptations for clinicians related to Hispanic/Latinx families and much more.

Shared Equity Leadership Publication - Learn how inclusive and collaborative approaches to leadership are necessary to achieve equitable outcomes.

 



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