Michele Mullen, MSW, LCSW, is Senior Manager, Workforce Project at the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), where she oversees initiatives to support and innovate within the children’s advocacy center (CAC) workforce. With over 28 years in the child abuse field, Michele is a dedicated advocate for the CAC movement.  In her current role, Michele leads NCA’s Leadership and Workforce Development Project, facilitates the Working Groups, and advances key priorities outlined in the NCA Strategic Plan.  Her work focuses on leadership development and expanding career pathways for mental health clinicians and medical professionals working with CACs.  Michele also serves on the NCA CSEC Collaborative Workgroup, working to enhance best practice standards for youth who have experienced exploitation. 

Before joining NCA in March 2024, Michele served as a Training Specialist for the Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC).  In that role, she developed and delivered training on topics such as victim advocacy, secondary traumatic stress, multidisciplinary team development, strategic planning, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children, aiming to strengthen multidisciplinary teams and support CAC development. 

Prior to her work with NRCAC, Michele spent 17 years with the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office/Norfolk Advocates for Children in Massachusetts. Michele began as a Victim Advocate on child abuse cases and later became the founding CAC Director, where she played a central role in establishing a fully accredited CAC. Earlier in her career, Michele worked with survivors of domestic violence.

Michele holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).  She can be contacted at MMullen@nca-online.org.

Christina Rouse, MSW, is a seasoned child advocacy professional with more than 18 years of experience in forensic interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and trauma-informed practice. She has previously served in leadership and training roles supporting Child Advocacy Centers and statewide child protection initiatives. Her expertise includes MDT leadership, onboarding and retention strategies, secondary traumatic stress mitigation, forensic interviewer development, and Chapter-level capacity building. Christina is known for strengthening team systems, elevating best practices, and improving outcomes for children and families impacted by abuse.