EPISODE SUMMARY:

How do you define the role and responsibilities of Team Facilitator at your CAC? In this episode, Tony speaks with Sue, Vicky, and Brittnee on professionalizing the role of the Team Facilitator. They discuss the importance of the role moving beyond case review to having the role be viewed as more of a leadership position within the CAC. Furthermore, they share what was learned from a recent survey done as a collaborative project by the four Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers. 

GUESTS:

Sue Ascione is a Training Specialist at the Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC). Sue has been with NRCAC for over six years, focusing on team development and the Leadership, Exchange and Coaching (LEC) project. Prior to joining NRCAC, Sue was a CAC Director and Team Facilitator in Lawrence County, PA.  

Vicky Gwiasda is the Program Manager at the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (WRCAC) based out of the Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA. Vicky has been with WRCAC for over five years. WRCAC provides training and technical assistance on team building for CACs. Prior to joining WRCAC, Vicky was a CAC Director at an accredited CAC in Oakland, CA. 

Brittnee Aten-Acheson is the CAC/MDT Coordinator at the Chadwick Center for Children & Families. Brittnee is responsible for program development and evaluation, managing weekly case review, case management and case tracking, website and social media, internal and external administrative and clinical support. Brittnee has 12 years of experience in the field of  child abuse and trauma, previously working as a child welfare social worker in adoptions and hospital based CAC in central CA. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

• Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.nrcac.org 
• Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.srcac.org 
• Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.mrcac.org 
• Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - http://www.westernregionalcac.org 
• Regional Children’s Advocacy Center - https://www.regionalcacs.org 
• Chadwick Center for Children & Families - https://www.chadwickcenter.org 
• Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center EduNet “Moving Beyond Case Review: Role of the MDT Facilitator - https://www.mrcac.org/course/moving-beyond/ 
• NCA 2023 Standards for Accreditation - https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2023-RedBook-v5B-t-Final-Web.pdf

Have an idea for a future Team Talk guest or topic? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestions to Tony DeVincenzo at tony@nrcac.org.

Disclaimer: This project was sponsored by NRCAC from Grant Award Number 2019-CI-FX-K005 and CFDA #16.758 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, OJJDP or NRCAC.