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  • Contains 3 Component(s) Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 01/09/2025 at 2:00 PM (EST)

    Join NCA for quarterly discussion calls to exchange ideas with other CACs working with military partners. Join us to share about your collaboration with military partners and learn what other CACs are doing to strengthen services for military families. Each call will include opportunity for highlighting successful practices, discussing challenges, and sharing ideas for improving CAC-military service coordination. Calls will take place the second Thursday of January, April, July, and October 2-3pm ET. All CACs are welcome to join calls when they can (attendance at all calls is not required). Please note that calls are live events and will not be recorded.

    Join NCA for quarterly discussion calls to exchange ideas with other CACs working with military partners. Join us to share about your collaboration with military partners and learn what other CACs are doing to strengthen services for military families. Each call will include opportunity for highlighting successful practices, discussing challenges, and sharing ideas for improving CAC-military service coordination.  

    Calls will take place the second Thursday of January, April, July, and October 2-3pm ET. All CACs are welcome to join calls when they can (attendance at all calls is not required). Please note that calls are live events and will not be recorded. 

  • Contains 6 Component(s) Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 12/05/2024 at 11:00 AM (EST)

    The Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Basic training is appropriate for Master’s level therapists and above or those who are working on a Master’s degree and providing mental health services under the supervision of a licensed professional. TF-CBT has more data (25 + randomized trials and a number of quasi-experimental studies) to support the model’s effectiveness in helping children and families overcome the impact of child abuse and trauma than any other therapy model available. TF-CBT has been recognized by the federal government as a model program and is included on numerous websites for evidence-based practices.


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    This live training with Ashley Fiore, LCSW, includes two required learning sessions; Learning Session 1 is December 5, 6, and 10  from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EST; Learning Session 2 is one day and will be held Feb 6, 2025, from 11:00am - 5:00pm EST. This will be an interactive and participatory virtual training experience with pre-work and action period assignments that build participants’ skills at implementing TF-CBT with children and families with fidelity and clinical competence. Clinicians will receive a training packet which will be mailed to them, private online access to over 800 downloadable clinical resources for TF-CBT, access to a private TF-CBT Clinical Discussion Forum with other participants and includes 12 group consultation calls 

    Attendees should have an active caseload appropriate for TF-CBT and be ready to apply the model. Supervisors are welcome to attend training; however, if they are not carrying their own active TF-CBT cases, they will not meet criteria to seek national certification.

    There is a cap of 50 attendees for this training. You must be paid in full to count toward the participation cap. It is strongly recommended you pay with credit card to ensure your spot is secure. If you plan to pay by check, you must email Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org, to let us know you are sending a check. The check must be received by Friday November 22, 2024.

    If registration is full, this means that our capacity has been met. Please email jbolton@nca-online.org, and we will add you to the waiting list. 

    The cost for the training is $450 and includes 12 consultation calls. You may use NCA grant funds for this training. Your spot will not be reserved until payment is received. If you are paying by check, please mail ASAP to ensure your spot. 

    To pay by check, select "check" under payment method during check out. After checking out, please save your invoice or email confirmation. 

    Mail your check and invoice, payable to National Children's Alliance, to:

    National Children's Alliance P.O. Box 71477 Washington, DC 20024 

    Your name and TF-CBT Intro must be on the check memo or on a note with your check, otherwise it will not be approved. Do not mail checks to the former NCA office address, please use the PO Box listed above.

    The Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) training is appropriate for Master’s level therapists and above or those who are working on a Master’s degree and providing mental health services under the supervision of a licensed professional. TF-CBT has more data (25 + randomized trials and a number of quasi-experimental studies) to support the model’s effectiveness in helping children and families overcome the impact of child abuse and trauma than any other therapy model available. TF-CBT has been recognized by the federal government as a model program and is included on numerous websites for evidence-based practices. 

    At the conclusion of this TF-CBT training, participants will be able to: 

    •  Evaluate which cases would benefit from TF-CBT and successfully engage families in treatment
    •  Create session agendas and structure TF-CBT sessions to meet fidelity standards
    •  Explain how to integrate gradual exposure into every TF-CBT session
    • Support children and teens in developing skills that enhance coping and symptom reduction in the aftermath of trauma 
    • Support caregivers in developing coping skills and parenting strategies for responding to children’s therapeutic needs in the aftermath of trauma 
    • Apply and implement the PRACTICE components of TF-CBT with families impacted by trauma 

    Upon completion of the virtual training, participants will have most of the requirements for formal certification in TF-CBT (obtained through the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy National Therapist Certification Program). The Virtual Training and group calls count toward the requirements for national certification in TF-CBT. However, a few additional guidelines for national certification must be met as established by the developers. (For more information, please see www.tfcbt.org)Training participants are required to have a web camera (i.e., on a laptop computer or cell phone) in order to participate in the TF-CBT 4-day training via web-platform. 

    The training will be offered over 4 days including:

    3-day Learning Session 1: 

    Thursday December 5, 2024: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT  

    Friday December 6, 2024: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT  

    Tuesday December 10, 2024: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT 

    1-day Learning Session 2:

    Thursday February 6, 2025; 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT

    Pre-Requisite: TF-CBTWeb *please note that there is a $35 fee that is NOT covered as part of your registration and which is paid to the Medical University of South Carolina through TF-CBTWeb.

    Completion of TF-CBT Web2.0 is required as a prerequisite to the virtual TF-CBT training and proof of completion should be submitted to Jami Bolton at NCA 3 days prior to Day 1 of the virtual training.  Email your certificate of completion to jbolton@nca-online.org 

    Registration:

    To register for this training, you will need an NCA Engage account. If you do not have one, visit NCA Engage Getting Started page for step-by-step instructions to request an NCA Engage account. The account request form will include a field that asks for an Organizational ID number. The Organizational ID number will inform us that the person signing into NCA Engage is employed at or partnered with a member organization. Please email membership@nca-online.org if you need your Organizational ID. If you are not employed at or partnered with a member organization, please enter MH24 as your Organizational ID for non-member access to NCA Engage. Non-member access will provide access to the training. 

     ** As a reminder, if you are paying by check, your training registration is incomplete, and your spot will not be reserved, until your check is received and is manually approved by our staff. Your name and TF-CBT Intro must be on the check memo or on a note with your check, otherwise it will not be approved. Do not mail checks to the former NCA office address, please use the PO Box listed above. 

    If you need any disability accommodations for this training, please reach out to Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org

    By registering for this training, I agree to the following:

    -I will complete all Pre-training assignments and email proof of my certificate of completion for TF-CBT Web 2.0 to Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org

    -I will provide brief monthly data regarding my caseload to meet funder requirements; this enables NCA to offer training at a reduced rate for trainees

    -Successful completion of TF-CBT Training includes: participating in all training activities, including didactic portion and interactive breakout activities and discussions; having my camera on during training and consultation calls; remaining in a stationary, private space during training and consultation; attending and participating in at least 75% of all scheduled group consultation calls (9 of 12), presenting my own TF-CBT treatment case during group consultation twice. 

     For any questions or concerns related to this training, or your participation, please contact Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org

    Ashley Fiore, MSW, LCSW

    National Trainer

    National Children's Alliance Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes

    Ashley Fiore has worked with CACs throughout her professional career as a clinician, clinical director, program manager, trainer, and consultant. She has assessed and treated over 2,000 children and families using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT). Prior to joining NCA, Ashley served as clinical faculty for the North Carolina Child Treatment Program, where she trained TF-CBT and provided individual and group consultation to clinicians using a learning collaborative model. She has expertise in the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based, trauma focused, child/family interventions. Ashley is a certified trainer in TF-CBT and AF-CBT and has provided training/consultation on trauma-informed comprehensive clinical assessments, trauma-related problematic sexual behaviors in children, and implementation support of evidence-based treatment models. She received her MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill, and enjoys gardening, making pottery, and hiking in her free time. 

  • Contains 1 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 11/13/2024 at 2:00 PM (EST)

    This is a good webinar for CAC and Chapter staff who are new to OMS, or who have not used OMS in awhile.

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    This introductory webinar covers the basics of implementing the Outcome Measurement System (OMS). Participants will learn about the components of OMS, how to collect feedback surveys from caregivers, youth, and MDT partners, and how to view their survey results in their OMS results dashboard. This is a good webinar for CAC and Chapter staff who are new to OMS, or who have not used OMS in awhile.

    Erin Casey

    Program Evaluation Manager

    National Childrens Alliance

    Erin Casey is the NCA Program Evaluation Manager and coordinates data and evaluation projects such as NCA's Outcome Measurement System (OMS), CAC and Chapter Census surveys, and data collection for some of the Institute's initiatives. Prior to joining NCA, Erin was a Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington, Tacoma, where she was involved in research and program evaluation projects related to interpersonal violence and violence prevention.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 11/06/2024 at 1:30 PM (EST)

    This roundtable, comprised of CAC staff who have supported the implementation of PSB programs across the country, will address common questions and concerns related to developing safety policies that support all children who are served at CACs.

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    This webinar will take place on November 6th from 1:30-3:30pm EST

    Many Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country have implemented programs to serve youth with problem sexual behaviors with great success. For CACs that are interested in developing on-site services for this population, questions often arise around concerns related to safety issues that would need to be addressed at the center. This roundtable, comprised of CAC staff who have supported the implementation of PSB programs across the country, will address common questions and concerns related to developing safety policies that support all children who are served at CACs. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask their own questions for the panel to discuss.

    Issues that will be discussed include:

    • What are important things to consider when defining best practice for developing safety policies to serve children with PSB at CAC?
    • What has been the experience with having safety issues with children with PSB?
    • What are the behaviors we are concerned about and what have been the experiences of the panelists with those behaviors?
    • What have been barriers to setting up programs and ways that they were addressed?

    Panel Facilitator: Amelia Siders, Ph.D. Western Regional CAC

    Amelia Siders

    Licensed Clinical Psychologist

    Amelia Siders, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked to support children’s advocacy centers for over 12 years. She gained experience providing direct service as well as being a clinical supervisor and program director at a children’s advocacy center in Traverse City, Michigan. Following her time at the CAC, she had the opportunity to serve as the clinical director at the state chapter level for Children’s Advocacy Centers of Michigan. Her role at the chapter included providing resources, training, and supports for clinicians and advocates who served CACs throughout the state. She has been trained in several evidenced-based trauma informed treatment practices including Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. She has provided consultation in the areas of trauma-informed assessment and substance use treatment as well as served as an expert witness related to trauma and sexual abuse. 

  • Contains 1 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 10/30/2024 at 3:00 PM (EDT)

    Learn more about CFTSI!

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    Interested in adding Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) to your CAC’s menu of mental health services?  

    NCA is offering FIVE CFTSI virtual training opportunities in 2025!

    Senior CAC leaders and clinicians are encouraged to attend this call to learn about CFTSI, how it is delivered and the evidence-base that has shown that 73% of children are less likely to meet partial or full criteria for PTSD after CFTSI.  CFTSI is delivered in 5-8 sessions soon after the forensic interview and has been shown to help CACs shorten client length of stay, reduce waiting lists, and allow CACs to serve more children.

    CFTSI Informational Call: October 30, 2024, 3:00pm-4:30pm Eastern

    Who: Senior Leaders and Clinicians

    Cost: Free


    Michelle Miller, Ph.D.

    Project Coordinator, Mental Health Initiatives

    National Children's Alliance

    Michelle Miller, PhD, LCSW, LCPC, is the Director of NCA’s Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes.  In addition to her 8 years at NCA, she nearly 3 decades of experience working in the child welfare field and over 20 years’ experience as a mental health provider. Dr. Miller spent 15 years as the founding director of NCA’s first accredited CAC in Montana and was the founding board chair for the Montana State Chapter of NCA. Michelle has over 20 years’ experience providing training and supervision to mental health practitioners. Since joining the NCA team in 2016, Michelle has worked with the Yale Child Study Center on the implementation of Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention in CACs. Michelle also works with Baylor University on training clinicians in evidenced-based assessment.  Michelle worked with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as a co-developer of a curriculum for victim advocates on engaging families in mental health care and provides national trainings on the topic. Michelle is the co-developer of a training curriculum for CAC executive directors on mental health. Michelle is the co-author of a chapter on Evidence-Based Mental Health Services for Child Victims of Maltreatment in the book Child Sexual Abuse: Practical Approaches to Prevention and Intervention that will be published by the Child Welfare League of America in April 2023. 

    Carrie Epstein, LCSW-R

    Co-Director and Assistant Professor

    Yale

    Carrie Epstein, LCSW-R is Co-Director of the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery and Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center at the Yale University School of Medicine. For over 30 years, Ms. Epstein has been providing treatment, supervision, and consultation on providing mental health treatment and on developing new programs for children and families impacted by trauma and traumatic grief. She is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in the field of child trauma, child traumatic grief and disaster response. Ms. Epstein is co-developer of the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), which is currently the only evidence-based early, brief trauma-focused intervention for children and families that is designed specifically to be implemented in the acute phase of trauma response that reduces and interrupts the development of PTSD and related disorders. She has responded to multiple school shootings and other mass casualty disasters across the country. She served as a key coordinator of New York City’s mental health response to the attacks on 9/11 and was a principal investigator of a collaborative, multi-site study that was the largest youth trauma project associated with the September 11th terrorist attack in New York City which was established to deliver evidence-based trauma treatments for impacted children and adolescents. Ms. Epstein played a lead role in coordinating Yale’s response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, providing ongoing training and consultation to mental health professionals in the greater Newtown area. In addition, Ms. Epstein provided training and ongoing consultation to mental health providers after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Ms. Epstein and her colleagues also developed nationally disseminated materials that aimed to increase public awareness about both the behavioral health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as ways of coping with the pandemic. Ms. Epstein is also a National Trainer of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

    Ms. Epstein has been instrumental in developing and overseeing national training initiatives and national learning collaboratives focused on the dissemination of child trauma-focused evidence-based treatment models, and provides training and clinical supervision, locally, nationally, and internationally on child trauma-focused evidence-based practices. She has co-authored numerous publications in support of her trauma-focused activities. Ms. Epstein was the one of the original and organizing Principal Investigators of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and has continued to Co-Chair the NCTSN’s Child Traumatic Grief-Traumatic Separation Committee since its inception in 2001. She has served on the Steering Committee of the NCTSN, as well as act as a regular contributor to the NCTSN’s Terrorism and Disaster Response Committee.

    Prior to her position at the Yale Child Study Center, Ms. Epstein was Senior Director of Child Trauma Programs at Safe Horizon in New York City, the largest victim assistance, victim advocacy organization in the country, where she oversaw clinical services for children and families impacted by trauma in the organization’s outpatient programs, domestic violence shelters, and Child Advocacy Centers. During her tenure at Safe Horizon, Ms. Epstein has served on the Scientific Advisory Board to the Evidence-based Treatment Dissemination Center of the New York State Office of Mental Health, as well as the HHS Region II Strategy Group on Mental Health and Trauma.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 10/23/2024 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

    Join us for a webinar featuring a key partner in NCA's national military memorandums of understanding. In this webinar, participants will learn about Department of Defense (DOD) Military Community Advocacy (MCA) programs and policies, including the Family Advocacy Program. Topics to be covered will include an overview of the teams that make up MCA, an introduction to the role of the Family Advocacy Program, policy priorities, and more. During the live event, participants will have the opportunity for Q&A and discussion with MCA Director, Lolita Allen. The webinar will be recorded and available for viewing on NCA Engage after the live event.

    Join us for a webinar featuring a key partner in NCA's national military memorandums of understanding. In this webinar, participants will learn about Department of Defense (DOD) Military Community Advocacy (MCA) programs and policies, including the Family Advocacy Program. Topics to be covered will include an overview of the teams that make up MCA, an introduction to the role of the Family Advocacy Program, policy priorities, and more. During the live event, participants will have the opportunity for Q&A and discussion with MCA Director, Lolita Allen. The webinar will be recorded and available for viewing on NCA Engage after the live event.

    Lolita Allen, LCSW

    Director, Military Community Advocacy

    Department of Defense Military Community Advocacy

    Lolita Allen is the Director, Military Community Advocacy (MCA) programs for the Office of Force Resiliency. As Director, she is responsible for the leadership, management and oversight of congressionally mandated programs and policies focused on preventing, intervening and responding to domestic abuse, child abuse and neglect, as well as problematic and harmful behaviors in military children and youth.


    Career:

     Prior to joining MCA, she served as the Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention Program Manager (CAP) for Headquarters Navy, Commander Navy Installation Command (CNIC). In that position she served as the technical expert and principal advisor to CNIC and was directly responsible for the execution of policy for CAP programs across 81 Navy installations. Within this program’s portfolio was the Family Advocacy Program, Deployed Resiliency Counselors, Sailor Assistance Intercept for Life, New Parent Support Program and the Non-medical Clinical Counseling program.

     

    Ms. Allen’s career encompasses more than 27 years of supporting military families. She started her career as an Intern at the then, Navy Base Anacostia while in graduate school in 1996. Her work experience in direct services with the Family Advocacy Program have been fulfilled with the Army, Navy and Air Force. Lolita is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Virginia and Georgia.

     

    Education:

    Ms. Allen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University, her Master of Social Work degree from the Howard University School of Social Work, and her Doctor in Social Work from University of Southern California.


  • Contains 1 Component(s)

    This webinar will provide CACs and Chapter staff with an overview of the updates to OMS that will launch in late October. We will introduce the new, optional OMS Mental Health Services Survey, review updates to the Initial and Follow-up Caregiver Surveys, and review strategies for electronic data collection. Please join us and bring your questions!

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    This webinar will provide CACs and Chapter staff with an overview of the updates to OMS that will launch in late October.  We will introduce the new, optional OMS Mental Health Services Survey, review updates to the Initial and Follow-up Caregiver Surveys, and review strategies for electronic data collection. Please join us and bring your questions!

    Erin Casey

    Program Evaluation Manager

    National Childrens Alliance

    Erin Casey is the NCA Program Evaluation Manager and coordinates data and evaluation projects such as NCA's Outcome Measurement System (OMS), CAC and Chapter Census surveys, and data collection for some of the Institute's initiatives. Prior to joining NCA, Erin was a Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington, Tacoma, where she was involved in research and program evaluation projects related to interpersonal violence and violence prevention.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Please join us for an introduction to the Medical and Mental Health Disparities project!

    Please join us for an introduction to the Medical and Mental Health Disparities project!  This webinar will provide an overview of ways to define and assess services disparities in the Child Advocacy Center Field.  Participants will be introduced to a new tool for evaluating disparities and provided with a demonstration of how the tool can be used to assess for referral and services disparities.

    Erin Casey

    Program Evaluation Manager

    National Childrens Alliance

    Erin Casey is the NCA Program Evaluation Manager and coordinates data and evaluation projects such as NCA's Outcome Measurement System (OMS), CAC and Chapter Census surveys, and data collection for some of the Institute's initiatives. Prior to joining NCA, Erin was a Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington, Tacoma, where she was involved in research and program evaluation projects related to interpersonal violence and violence prevention.

    Rhonda Wurgler

    NCAtrak Application Specialist

    National Children's Alliance

    Rhonda Wurgler is the NCAtrak Specialist for National Children’s Alliance (NCA). Prior to joining NCA Rhonda was an Executive Director of a Child Advocacy Center and a Deputy Sheriff in Medina County, Ohio. In addition to her twenty plus years of serving her community in those capacities she has also served on many task forces, councils, not-for-profit boards and is currently a member of her local school board. Her experience and knowledge of CACs, Multidisciplinary Teams, and of the technology needed to assist them daily in their work provides CACs across the country valuable technical assistance. In addition to providing technical assistance with NCAtrak Rhonda also develops and delivers NCAtrak training programs to assist CACs with their important work of helping children.

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 09/24/2024

    Mass violence incidents are increasing across the United States and appropriate investigative responses are critically important. In this webinar, FBI Child Adolescent Forensic Interviewers will discuss reasons for conducting forensic interviews of victims and witnesses in mass violence investigations, logistical considerations, and suggested techniques when responding to these events. Participants will learn about the importance of conducting forensic interviews for investigative and intelligence-gathering purposes and how presenting various types of evidence in the forensic interview can assist in mass casualty investigations. Opportunity for questions and discussion will follow the presentation.

    Mass violence incidents are increasing across the United States and appropriate investigative responses are critically important. In this webinar, FBI Child Adolescent Forensic Interviewers will discuss reasons for conducting forensic interviews of victims and witnesses in mass violence investigations, logistical considerations, and suggested techniques when responding to these events. Participants will learn about the importance of conducting forensic interviews for investigative and intelligence-gathering purposes and how presenting various types of evidence in the forensic interview can assist in mass casualty investigations. Opportunity for questions and discussion will follow the presentation.

    Maggie Sweeney

    Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer

    Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Maggie Sweeney is a Child/Adolescent Forensic Interview Specialist for the FBI.  She joined the Bureau in 2020.  In her role as a Forensic Interviewer, she serves as a subject matter expert in forensic interviewing and child abuse for the Bureau.  She conducts forensic interviews following the FBI’s protocol for presenting evidence on cases involving juvenile and sometimes adult victims of CSEC and trafficking cases.  She assists agents in preparing for interviews to make them as successful as possible, ensuring a victim-centered approach.  Sweeney has received extensive training in child abuse, interviewing techniques, facilitation training and utilizing a trauma-informed approach over the past 13 years of her career in forensic interviewing and has conducted nearly 2,500 forensic interviews.

     

    Maggie has conducted numerous trainings locally and nationally throughout her career.

     

    Prior to working at the Child Advocacy Center, she worked in the child welfare field, at the Department of Human Services in Philadelphia and the Office of Children and Youth in Montgomery County.  In this role, Maggie investigated allegations of child abuse and neglect as a Caseworker and Supervisor of an investigative unit.

     

    Maggie received her Undergraduate Degree in Social Work from West Chester University and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Widener University and is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Pennsylvania.

    Ashleigh Shea, LMSW

    Child/Adoleschent Forensic Inteiview (CAFI) Specialist

    Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Ashleigh Shea is a Child/Adolescent Forensic Interview (CAFI) Specialist with the FBI. In her role as a Forensic Interviewer, Ashleigh serves as a subject matter expert in forensic interviewing, trauma, and child abuse for the Bureau. In addition to conducting forensic interviews, Ashleigh provides expert testimony, case assistance, and training to FBI personnel, United States Attorneys, and other federal, state, and local agencies.

     

    Ashleigh is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Michigan, where she provided trauma-focused clinical work, primarily with children and adolescents. She has worked within the Children’s Advocacy Center systems since 2015 and has conducted over 2000 forensic interviews. In addition to her forensic interviewing experience, she has provided individual and group therapy to survivors of child sexual abuse and their non-offending caregivers, coordinated and facilitated multidisciplinary meetings, and provided clinical supervision to undergraduate social work students and Children’s Advocacy Center staff.

     

    Ashleigh has received extensive training in child abuse, trauma, interviewing techniques, and child development. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Health Studies from Michigan State University, and her Master of Social Work degree from Grand Valley State University.

  • Contains 1 Component(s)

    Join NCA's Government Affairs for the latest on VOCA, including updated cosponsor tallies for the House and Senate CVF Stabilization Act bills, as well as a discussion of our next steps as we work to get these bills across the finish line. This webinar will be recorded for those who are unable to attend live.

    Join NCA's Government Affairs for the latest on VOCA, including updated cosponsor tallies for the House and Senate CVF Stabilization Act bills, as well as a discussion of our next steps as we work to get these bills across the finish line. 

    This webinar will be recorded for those who are unable to attend live.

    Teresa Huizar

    Executive Director

    National Children's Alliance

    Teresa Huizar was appointed the Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance, February 26th, 2008.  National Children’s Alliance, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the national association and accrediting body for nearly 900 Children’s Advocacy Centers in the US.  These centers provide comprehensive services to child victims of abuse including:  forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical evaluations, and mental health treatment. Children’s Advocacy Centers coordinate the multidisciplinary team as it carries out its investigative, prosecutorial, and treatment functions.  In 2018, Children’s Advocacy Centers served over 367,000 child victims of abuse, and provided child abuse prevention education to more than 2 million individuals.

    Prior to her tenure with NCA, Ms. Huizar served as the Executive Director of the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, a technical assistance and training center for­­­ two hundred Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams in twelve Western states.  And, has served as the Executive Director of two local Children’s Advocacy Centers.

    Ms. Huizar has a special interest in public policy in the child welfare arena, especially, in reducing child abuse fatalities and in the provision of trauma-focused, evidence-supported mental health treatment to child victims of abuse.  She has testified before Congress on child abuse issues.  And, she has conducted and participated in numerous child abuse-related Congressional briefings.  Ms. Huizar has been interviewed by CNN, WSJ, USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, NPR, and numerous other media outlets, on child welfare policy matters.

    Ms. Huizar has served on numerous related Boards and Committees over the years.  She is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the Steering Committee of the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths.

    Denise Edwards

    Senior Director of Government Affairs

    National Children's Alliance

    Denise Edwards is director of government affairs for National Children’s Alliance (NCA), the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC). As director of government affairs, Denise develops, coordinates and leads all federal  and national legislative and public policy strategies for NCA and its members, including strategies to expand the use and awareness of CACs in the public policy arena.  Prior to her tenure with NCA, Denise served as manager of government affairs for Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., representing the company and its more than 16,000 small business franchises before Congress and State/Local governments.

    Denise began her Washington career working in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving, among others, as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Bud Cramer; and on the legislative staff of Rep. Chet Edwards.  Denise is a graduate of Baylor University, with a master’s in Public Policy Administration and a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on financial planning.

    dedwards@nca-online.org

    Christian Morgan

    Managing Principal

    Husch Blackwell Strategies

    Known for his strategic vision, aggressive tactics, and political hustle, Christian Morgan brings fifteen years of politics and public policy experience to Husch Blackwell Strategies as Principal.

    After guiding the Kansas Republican Party as Executive Director from 2007-2008, Christian joined Axiom Strategies, the largest Republican political consulting firm in the United States. As Vice President of Axiom Strategies, Christian developed a winning focus, guiding his over fifty Congressional campaigns to major victories from Arizona to North Carolina and in between.

    In 2013, Christian became Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner’s first Chief of Staff and was quickly identified by National Journal as one of five House freshman staffers to watch. For five years Christian directed Congresswoman Wagner’s staff in Washington, DC and in St. Louis, MO with a legislative portfolio focused on the Financial Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, fighting the regulatory burdens of an ever-increasing federal government, and helping Congresswoman Wagner become the voice in Congress fighting the online sex trafficking industry.

    In a four-year span, Christian helped Congresswoman Wagner pass a total of ten pieces of legislation through the United States House of Representatives with five bills becoming law. Christian effectively formed and managed a coalition of groups across the political and regulatory spectrum in Missouri and Washington, D.C. to pass the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act in 2015 – the first major piece of anti-sex trafficking legislation in thirteen years.

    Christian joined Husch Blackwell Strategies in January 2018 and represents a broad range of HBS clients in broadband, higher education, energy, crime victims and child services, appropriations, water infrastructure and transportation.

    Christian has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and second B.A. in Sociology from the University of Kansas and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2004.

    Christian and his wife, Catherine, live in the St. Louis area and try to keep up with their six children – Madison, Lauren, Christian, Regan, Jack and Schaefer.