"Love is all you need."
– All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
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Dear Friends,
I stumbled on an article recently that made me chuckle, but also related so closely to, "Pandemic Words & Phrases People Absolutely Never Want To Hear Again". I'm sure you can guess what some of them are; new normal, social distancing, unprecedented, uncertain, trying times, and essential to name just a few. These words and phrases have taken a life of their own for sure.
I do think that it's really important, especially for people in leadership positions, to take a step back as we are "re-entering" and observe the changes in ourselves and others to best support our workplaces. Children's Advocacy Centers have continued to do the important work of serving our most vulnerable citizens in Illinois without skipping a beat, however, our staff and MDT's are also dealing with their own challenges.
CACI will continue to offer supportive services to CAC directors and their staff as they are navigating this "new normal" by providing training, resources, networking opportunities, team building activities, and sometimes just a listening ear.
My greatest hope for you all is health, safety, and resilience through the rest of this transition. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Kim
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Make sure to sign up for
Coalition Manager
for access to all CACI trainings/conferences/events/etc.
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We have recently started using Coalition Manager. This is where you will update your contact details for our directory, register for trainings, track training attendance and certificates, and access CACI member resources.
If you are an Illinois CAC employee, your Director has, or will soon, add you to the system. Once this is done, you will receive an email to login and change your password.
If you are a MDT member, CACI/CAC Board Member, or other collaborative partner, you will register yourself HERE and a CACI staff member will approve your entry.
NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2021, this will be the only option available to register for trainings, pay dues, and/or retrieve past certificates of attendance.
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Meet Natalie Phelps Finnie, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC |
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Natalie Phelps Finnie MSN, APRN, FNP-BC served as State Representative for the 118th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from September 2017 to January 2019. Appointed by the Democratic chairmen of the district, she has the distinction of being the first female to hold that position as well as being the first nurse to serve in the history of the General Assembly. During her time in the legislature she was successful in passing several meaningful pieces of legislation - some of her bills required extensive negotiations and amendments. Legislative successes include but are not limited to: a one-time appropriation to State Board of Education’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget of $16.3 million to leverage matching funds from the federal government to help cover the cost of construction for installing fiber-optic connections in schools across the state, creation of the Broadband Taskforce to investigate and ultimately remove the barriers to expansion of broadband in rural Illinois, and creation of an exemption allowing agriculture to haul heavier weights during annual harvest from August through January without fee or need for Governor to declare emergency. Natalie was elected a Delegate for Joe Biden from the 15th Congressional District. She also comes from a family of public servants - her father, David D. Phelps, served in the Illinois General Assembly from 1985 - 1998 and in the U. S. Congress from 1999 - 2002.
Natalie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana and a Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Her professional career includes experience as an RN on a cardiac unit at a large teaching hospital in Evansville, IN, and in the operating room of Harrisburg Medical Center in Harrisburg, IL. For nearly seven years Natalie worked for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals as a Therapeutic Specialist. After obtaining her MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner degree she worked as an FNP in Cardiology and Dermatology but spent most of her time at the Gallatin County Wellness Center - which is a School Based Health Center and Primary Care Clinic. Natalie and her husband Kyle also own and operate Rose Creek Lumber, LLC which produces custom wood flooring, trim and other building products. Natalie handles the business side of Rose Creek Lumber as well as marketing, sales, design, and customer management. Her healthcare experience coupled with her business acumen and time spent in the Illinois General Assembly, have uniquely qualified and prepared her for her newest journey as an independent Lobbyist/Consultant in her own firm, Rose Creek Consulting, LLC.
Natalie has been married over 20 years to Kyle Finnie. They live in Southern Illinois on Rose Creek Farm where they raise cattle and their three children. Natalie comes from a family with a rich heritage in Gospel music. She and her three sisters sing in the trio, The Phelps Sisters.
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The VOCA Fix org sign-on letter is again open – so if any CAC that missed the deadline last November, can add your names now!
Names will be taken thru
this Friday, Feb. 26th.
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OnDemand Webinar - Leading through Extraordinary Times:...
This webinar series has been created for leaders to foster and facilitate meaningful connectivity and support during this season of uncertainty. As leaders, it's important to have actionable tools to lean on and apply as you guide yourself, your...
Read more
www.nubrickpartners.com
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The "RockStar RoundUp" is aimed at helping us reach our $10,000 goal that will help support CACI's long-term financial health and well-being. YOU can change the future of tomorrow's rockstars by rounding up your purchases each month, giving monthly or even a one-time gift!
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The Connection Between Eating Disorders and Sexual Violence
The #MeToo movement has plenty of people talking about the prevalence of sexual violence and what they can do to help prevent it. But there are still many aspects of sexual violence that have been left unaddressed in this national conversation....
Read more
www.nsvrc.org
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LPGA's Sagstrom reveals childhood sexual abuse
LPGA Tour player Madelene Sagstrom first shared her secret five years ago. For 16 years, she acted like nothing had happened. She immersed herself in golf, creating an identity on the course. But in March 2016, as she prepared for a Symetra Tour...
Read more
www.espn.com
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ChildFirst is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct a forensic interview of an alleged child abuse victim.
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ChildFirst is designed for investigative teams of law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, and forensic interviewers.
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ChildFirst is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct a forensic interview of an alleged child abuse victim.
- ChildFirst is designed for investigative teams of law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, and forensic interviewers. Students receive training on the ChildFirst Forensic Interview Protocol, memory, and suggestibility, child development, testifying in court, legal issues and preparing children for court.
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ChildFirst is rigorous and interactive. Each participant completes homework assignments, a critiqued mock forensic interview, and a written examination. Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion.
- ChildFirst is an ideal course for investigators and prosecutors seeking to enhance their ability to speak to and for abused children.
ChildFirst Illinois will send you a mandatory reading assignment prior to the training sessions. Homework is assigned in the evening to supplement each training session. Each student will be given a written examination at the end of the course. Students who fail to attend all the workshops, to complete homework, or to pass the exam will not receive the certificate of completion.
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1. All applicants MUST be endorsed by the Children's Advocacy Center in the applicant's service area.
2. All participants MUST attend all days of their training in order to receive a certificate of completion.
3. If someone is unable to make this commitment, he or she should not apply.
4. All participants MUST keep their camera on at all times. If a camera is not available, he or she should not apply.
5. Registration deadline is March 5, 2021.
6. Participants will be notified by March 12 if they are accepted or not.
7. Registration is limited to 30 participants per session.
8. Acceptance will be based equally on the following factors; the order in which the application was received by our office, coordination with the sponsoring CAC, and applicants who will be in the primary role of forensic interviewer.
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ChildFirst EX February 3 - 5, 2021:
Rita Ferrell and Rachel Johnson from Zero Abuse Project provided this virtual training to 18 participants (picture below). This training provides a defensible process for conducting interviews with children who may not succeed in a single, standard interview.
Participant Quotes from Evaluations: "Great information and I love the concept." "This training was necessary and relevant." "The virtual engagement and excitement."
Addressing Concerns About the Covid Vaccine February 17, 2021:
Joseph Kurland, Infection Prevention Specialist, with Children's Minnesota Hospital, provided this informative training and answered questions and concerns for the 32 people that attended.
This event was recorded and is available HERE, until May 17, 2021
MDT Coordinator Roundtable May 19, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
This is an opportunity for MDT Coordinators to network, assist one another with overcoming challenges, and share ideas. Attendees are encouraged to come with a question that they would like feedback on from their peers and more information from other Coordinators from across the state. This training will be virtual.
Mike Burns
Statewide MDT Coordinator
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Collaborate News:
- We have added mapping for the Attorney General report. The AG report should be available in the near future.
- Collaborate Training Schedule can be found here
- Should you need Collaborate assistance you can send a support ticket through the application. I receive these as well.
- Please join our next Collaborate Forum meeting on Friday, March 5th at 9:00 a.m. - Register here
OMS Updates:
- Learn more about OMS by clicking here
Jean Garner
Strategic Administrator
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Reminder to CAC Directors: When emailing about VOCA, please remember to include both Kathy and I on the email.
We will be reaching out about CESF Site Visits, but in the meantime if you have any questions about CESF just let me know.
Michael Morgan
VOCA Program Grant Monitor
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VOCA Fiscal News
I’m looking for samples of Pandemic Policies and Procedures. If anyone has policies in place I would appreciate it if you would share with me by email.
CESF fiscal reports, along with supporting invoices and documentation for February expenses are due Friday, March 5, 2021.
VOCA fiscal reports for February expenses are due Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
Reminder: The PFR form is the official expense report. PDF copies with two signatures are
required to be submitted each month. Signed PDF copies and the PFR Workbook in Excel format should be uploaded to AmpliFund in the Public Folder in the Fiscal Reports folder for the appropriate month.
Kathy Murphy
VOCA Fiscal Grant Monitor
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We have the Advocate Roundtable approaching, and we will have these roundtables quarterly as of now the first will take place March 30th 10-11:30 AM. Register below.
Below is a flyer of a training opportunity from the Pediatric Resource Center. Their Medical Aspects of Child Maltreatment will be held digitally this year, and will be available February 11, March 24, and June 29, 2021. Please pass this important training opportunity on to your team members. DCFS and MCLE credits are available.
Ya'Shika Reed
Training and Prevention Specialist
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I would just like to thank everyone for the warm welcome! These first few weeks have been a whirlwind of learning, Zoom calls, and getting to know the team here at CACI. Thanks to everyone I've met and worked with, this transition has been so smooth and I'm excited to be here and can't wait to continue to learn and grow with you all.
Please feel free to reach out with a hello or any questions you might have for me!
Here are some easy icebreakers, guaranteed to get a quick response: book recommendations, March Madness, all things personal finance (duh, right?), or your favorite podcasts.
Kenny Matthews
Chief Financial Officer
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CAC Statistics - National Children's Alliance
Children's Advocacy Centers offer high-quality care to help children heal from the trauma of abuse. Below you can find out more about the work done by NCA's Member CACs last year: the total number of children served, the types of abuse those...
Read more
www.nationalchildrensallian...
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Child Abuse Medical Preceptorship
The goal of the Midwest Regional CAC's Child Abuse Medical Preceptorship program is to increase access to quality medical care for victims of child abuse by providing practitioners with hands-on technical skills training and mentorship. Bridging...
Read more
www.mrcac.org
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Keep up to date with CACI on social media |
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