The Adverse Childhood Experiences study, or ACEs, helped to build public understanding of the consequences of untreated childhood trauma and offer a causal explanation for the many social and public health problems we now know to be tied to child abuse and other traumatic experiences. Yet nearly 30 years later, our panel asks, does this tool tell the complete story? Advocates, clinicians, and communicators around the child welfare space will be interested to hear about what ACEs can and can't accomplish in terms of influencing public support for policies that benefit kids, how ACEs screenings can be used (and misused) in the CAC setting, and what's next for public health messaging that matters. Join Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King from NCSTN and Dr. Jonathan Purtle from NYU School of Global Public Health for a panel discussion moderated by NCA CEO Teresa Huizar that will also serve as our first live-to-tape episode of the One in Ten podcast.

Virtual Conference Attendees may start to join this livestream session at 9:50 am EDT

Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D, Child and Family Clinical Psychologist, Duke Health

Jonathan Purtle, Associate Professor

Teresa Huizar, Executive Director

Track:  The Business of Child Advocacy 

What does it mean to be a trauma-informed CAC? We will introduce the “Trauma-Informed Guide for Children’s Advocacy Centers,” an adaptation of a guide created by the ACTS Project (Chadwick Center) as a tool of curated resources, and explore the "Trauma-Informed Resource Guide," created by NRCAC and NYSCA to assist with assessment of a CAC.

Michele Mullen, LCSW, Training Specialist

Salli Kerr, Training Specialist

Track: Research and Innovative Practices 

A critical function of NCA is using data and research to inform CAC services. CAC leadership should understand the critical role data and research play in programs and services and in the outcomes for children and families. We'll talk about the importance of ensuring that CAC data is protected, accurately gathered, documented, and shared. 

Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW, Coordinator for Mental Health Programs

Libby Ralston, PhD, Founding Director of the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center, Inc (DNLCC)

Kaitlin Lounsbury, MA, Program Evaluation Coordinator

Track: Chapter

Building systems and structures that are designed to facilitate equitable access to individually responsive services is at the core of State Chapter work. But what does that look like in action? How can Chapters bring their members and networks along with them? In this panel discussion, participants will hear about the strategies, success, and challenges of advancing equity from peer Chapter leaders and Regional CACs.

Corey Brodsky, Program Manager for Chapter Development and Partnerships

Patty Terzian, State Liaison

Track: Research and Innovative Practices 

Youth that exhibit problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) have historically been labeled and pathologized, even with the best intentions. A considerable number of topics  need to be considered and assessed when determining a scope of interventions for youth with PSB. Along with mental illness, PSB symptoms have similarities with a variety of other conditions and need to be differentiated prior to prescribing a course of treatment.

Geoff Sidoli, MSW, LCSW, Coordinator of Mental Health Programs

Track: Rural

Based on 2010 U.S. Census data, over 80 percent of the land mass of the United States is considered rural or frontier, with only 20 percent of the US population residing within that vast area. Children residing in rural and frontier America share many of the same risk factors for abuse and neglect faced by children in more populated communities, but distance and isolation, higher poverty levels, fewer community services, and higher rates of substance abuse may place them at increased risk of maltreatment and associated traumatic stress.

CACs serve as a multidisciplinary hub for communities to determine the facts surrounding allegations of child abuse and at the same time help children recover and heal from the abusive events they have experienced. For many children, their recovery will require access to skilled, well-trained mental health clinicians. Therein lays another problem; while 20 percent of the population lives in or around what is considered rural communities, 65 percent of rural counties lack a single psychiatrist, 47 percent lack even one psychologist,5 and the 20 percent of licensed social workers who live outside of urban region are concentrated in areas just outside the urban centers, leaving very few licensed mental health providers to serve rural and frontier communities.

The WRCAC Rural Mental health project during their first strategic planning process identified Telemental health as a strategy to enhance access to trauma mental health service delivery in CACs in rural and frontier communities. Two chapters were selected to participate in a Statewide pilot project that would recruit mental health professionals to become part of a Statewide network of professional that could serve children and families in these areas.

This presentation will give an overview of a pilot project that is focused on providing access to quality mental health services to children and families in rural and frontier communities. A review of Telemental health, clinician/advocate training, administrative processes and lessons learned will be reviewed as part of the statewide network of Telemental health service delivery that is being developed with pilot sites.

Lisa Conradi,

Track:  Research and Innovative Practices

CACs are well-positioned to connect children with mental health services, but many children referred to therapy do not start services. We'll review effective strategies to increase family engagement, including an example of how a rural CAC created short-term services to bridge the gap between a referral and the first therapy session.

Elizabeth McGuier, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Mary Tatum, MPA, Director

Track:  Advocacy and Communications 

We'll explore the partnership between Palomar Health's CAC and Camp Pendleton in San Diego County--its successes and challenges--and discuss strategies for enhancing CAC-military partnerships, the challenges military families face, and how CACs can specialize their services for military-affiliated families.

Anna Ginther, Program Case Coordinator

Michelle Shores, RN, MSN, MBA-HC, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P, Director of Forensic Health Services

Track: Research and Innovative Practices  

Join a panel of grantees as they share their goals and objectives for expanding CAC access and services to American Indian and Alaska Native youth and their families. Learn from their firsthand experience how these grant funds have benefited and expanded their reach to serve Native children, the challenges and successes they face, and how they plan to navigate obstacles and opportunities to reach their goals.

Alyssa Mrozek, Program Associate

Deanna Chancellor, MPA, Project Director

Erin Hourihan,

Leigh Bolin, Executive Director

Opal Boyer, Program Associate

Track: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

Advance your understanding of best practices for accommodating children with disabilities in a child advocacy setting. Learn about biases and assumptions related to investigating cases, practical accommodations, and basic communication techniques that are reliable, legally defensible, and effective for children with disabilities who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect.

Kate Homan, MS, Senior Consultant

Dermot Whelan, Senior Consultant

Track: Chapter

Leading the growth and development of a state chapter organization takes care and consideration. In this workshop, State Chapter leaders will explore strategies for identifying the greatest opportunity for growth and development, consider how to navigate the roles and responsibilities as the chapter plans for and implements changes, and identify factors that promote accountability. 

Corey Brodsky, Program Manager for Chapter Development and Partnerships

Patty Terzian, State Liaison

Track: The Business of Child Advocacy 

NCA’s three new Optional Standards for Accreditation will take effect in 2023: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Medical Evaluation of Physical Abuse, and Prevention. We will review the requirements for each, how to document that your CAC met the requirements, and the process to gain accreditation in one or more of the Optional Standards.

Alyssa Todd, Accreditation Coordinator

Alyson McKenzie, Director of Accreditation

Track: Research and Innovative Practice

NRCAC is conducting a two-year pilot project, Enhanced Team Development, with long-term goals of improved outcomes for children/families and increasing adaptability/sustainability of CACs/MDTs. Two sites were selected for this pilot project. Participants will learn about the design and implementation of the process, and offered an overview of the team selection process and team characteristics. Then, presenters will guide a discussion on the outcomes of the project, lessons learned, and evaluation of the pilot project as it might apply for teams throughout the CAC movement.

Sue Ascione, Training Specialist

Anthony DeVincenzo, Training Specialist

Melissa Stewart, Independent Consultant

Track: Research and Innovative Practice

On May 6, 2021, an 11-year-old child shot and wounded several people at Rigby Middle School. One CAC served as the primary victim service provider during both response and recovery. Learn how to implement the CAC model in an incident of mass violence involving children and families. Discover the skills you already have, and prepare for a situation you hopefully never have to experience first-hand.

Track: The Business of Child Advocacy 

Talent management is one of the most important assets an organization  has. When funding limits your ability to pay top salaries, learn how to recruit and acquire talent based on brand reputation so your center is seen as a career destination for the right talent. We'll also discuss other benefits you can offer staff.

Christy Prang, Training & Prevention Director

Paige Piper, Executive Director

Track: Research & Innovative Partners

Welcome to the age of the Strong Female Lead. In this workshop, we’ll explore the impact of #MeToo on media, particularly among fictional female characters, and discuss its applications in adolescent trauma therapy. We'll examine superheroes, ordinary people, and everyone in between and how their struggles with trauma and resilience reflect experiences of real-world survivors. How can these concepts  be woven into trauma therapy to aid teen survivors?

Melissa Boege, Program Director

Track: Rural 

This presentation will provide an overview of the unique strengths and challenges in rural America and will describe how these strengths and challenges can be used and addressed to build and maintain much needed Children's Advocacy Centers in rural America.

Kathleen Belanger, Professor Emeritus

Track: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

What  factors  place LGBTQ+ youth at greater risk for maltreatment, and what barriers may these youth face following victimization and trauma? This session offers you an opportunity to examine current practices and learn practical skills to improve responses and interview techniques for sexual and gender minority survivors of violence. 

Amy Russell, MSEd, JD, NCC, Executive Director

Track: Rural 

This session offers strategies to expand MDTs and CAC services through rural community engagement, peer to peer mentoring, cultural considerations and service delivery via technology.  This session will cover expanding MDTs and CAC services with specific tools for relationship building, getting an accurate community assessment, and working constructively with respect for key partners.     

Brenda George, Executive Director

Jamie VanderLInden, LCSW, LAC, Director of Behavioral Health and Child Evaluation Center

Dana Toole, LCSW, Bureau Chief

Track: Rural 

Child sexual child is a public health issue that affects children of all ages, from infancy through adolescents. When children experience sexual abuse, they are not alone in suffering from the loss of innocence and trust; the family also experiences the adverse effects of the sexual crime. According to Child Molestation, Research and Prevention Institute, 95% of sexual abuse is preventable through education. This interactive workshop will discuss the best practices for caregivers and responsible

Jessica T. White, Chief Executive Officer

Track: Research and Innovative Practices 

Studies show that less than 20% of investigated cases of child sexual abuse move forward to prosecution, and approximately half of those result in a dismissal or acquittal. With so few cases resulting in criminal convictions, how is justice achieved for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation? This session will discuss methods that have been demonstrated to increase criminal convictions, the concept of justice and various approaches through which justice may be realized for children.

Amy Russell, Executive Director, Arthur D. Curtis Children's Justice Center