How did you first get involved with SCAN?

I first became familiar with SCAN while I was a prosecutor in the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Over the years I observed the stellar work of the CASA volunteers who came into the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts and advocated for the children. Many years later my friend and board member, Margaret Keightley, invited me to the SCAN breakfast where I learned more about the extensive programs SCAN offers for education, prevention, treatment, and support. I found it inspiring and was deeply moved by the stories from families whose lives have been touched by SCAN. It was a full circle moment for me to see beyond the snapshot we receive in court and experience how empowering SCAN’s whole person approach is. 

What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN? What is your current role?

I have worked in criminal law for over 25 years both at the local and the state level. As a prosecutor, I headed the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Section for many years and witnessed the rapidly growing rate of child abuse in the Richmond metro area and the need for awareness and services to create a community that protects our children. SCAN’s mission aligns with my own career values and mission, and I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors.

What inspires you to stay involved with your work at SCAN?

As a member of the Board, I have found increased opportunities to discuss SCAN’s mission with people who want to become more involved in their community but do not necessarily know where to begin. The earnest question I receive most often is how someone can stop child abuse from happening as opposed to merely reacting to it.  The child abuse and neglect prevention piece is so important and learning more about the programs and services offered to families through the Family Support Program, the Circle Preschool Program, and Community Programs has enabled me to have meaningful conversations about a whole community approach to effectuate change.

Is there anything you wish other people knew about SCAN?

I wish that more people were aware of the opportunity to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate and how meaningful their work is to the court system, foster care system, and the child they advocate for. Having a CASA volunteer who stays with a case and helps ensure that the child is in a safe home, whether it is with their own family or a new permanent home, gives the child the stability needed to heal from the trauma of neglect or abuse. I am always inspired by the dedication and passion of the CASA volunteers.

What has been the best experience with SCAN so far?

I had the privilege this year of being a co-host for the SCAN Progressive Dinner. I have enjoyed attending the dinners over the last several years and was thrilled to be a co-host this year. I enjoyed the opportunity to invite friends who wanted to become more familiar with SCAN and to spend time with other board members and SCAN supporters. 

What are any challenges you have faced in your work with SCAN?

In the work that I do I regularly speak with people who express a desire to support their community and assist children but feel they do not have the time to commit to something long term. I endeavor to encourage people to volunteer or participate in just one of SCAN’s events. What may seem like a small contribution can join together to become a groundswell of progress and change.

Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year with SCAN? Is there anything coming up/happening in your work that you are excited about or want to share?

One of my goals this year is to participate in all of SCAN’s fantastic events to raise awareness and support our mission. I also aim to foster relationships with people in the community who wish to become involved with SCAN through our wonderful events, volunteer opportunities and trainings. 

Are you involved with any other community organizations, hobbies, or activities?

I currently serve on the Board of Directors for The Friends of Foster Care. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Parent Association of Saint Christopher’s School. I have participated in National Night Out for over 15 years. I am very involved in community events in Henrico County pertaining to public safety. One of my favorite events is the monthly community walk where we join the Henrico Police Department to walk with members of various communities in the evening and reach out to people who may need services.

What might someone be surprised to learn about you?

I love the outdoors and trained as a white-water raft guide on the Ocoee River when I was in college.

SCAN Child Advocacy Center Overview and Tour Video

SCAN has a new Child Advocacy Center Overview and Tour video. It features interviews with the CAC Director and MDT Partners and includes a video walkthrough of the Richmond CAC. A special thank you to Kendall Cole, Lisa Wright, CAC MDT partners and Reel RVA Productions for creating this impactful video!

 SCAN Totally 90s Bash!

Presented by the SCAN Board of Young Professionals

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Mainline Brewery

Dust off your butterfly clips, slap on a bracelet, and get ready to

rewind the clock at SCAN's Totally 90s Bash. Celebrate with a night of nostalgia featuring 90s music, childhood games (think Skip-It and four square),

plus your favorite 90s snacks. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best

90s gear and embrace the throwback vibes.

All proceeds benefit Greater Richmond SCAN, supporting their mission to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect throughout the Greater Richmond area by protecting children, promoting positive parenting, strengthening families, and creating a community that values and cares for its children. Don’t miss this chance to party like it’s 1999 while making a difference!

SCAN Volunteer of the Year: Zach Daniel

SCAN is thrilled to honor Zach Daniel, the Emmy Award-winning Chief Meteorologist for WTVR, as our 2026 Volunteer of the Year. While Zach keeps an extremely busy schedule, juggling work, family and community engagement, he has managed to devote significant time and energy to SCAN. He has served as the emcee and auctioneer for our largest fundraiser, Progressive Dinner, for many years, and he has also emceed all four years of our Rally for SCAN tennis and pickleball fundraising event. His genuine passion for SCAN shines through, helping us raise funds and generate excitement around supporting our mission and work. Zach has also donated numerous auction packages, inviting winners to join him on set at WTVR as “Meteorologist for a Day,” and he has helped spread awareness through news stories and social media publicity. Zach is a dream to work with, always ready to jump in and show up for SCAN with a smile. We are so grateful for his commitment to supporting us and the children and families in our community. Thank you, Zach!

Interested in learning more about joining SCAN's Board of Young Professionals for the 26-27 year? Email Sarah Mersereau at smersereau@grscan.com for more information.

Become a CASA Volunteer

SCAN's CASA Program is currently recruiting for our Spring 2026 training class, which will begin in May. Learn more about what it takes to be a CASA Volunteer on our website. For more information and to apply to be a CASA Volunteer, contact SCAN Volunteer Coordinator, Pilar Ortiz-Waters at volunteer@grscan.com

The 7th Annual Resilience Week Virginia is May 1-7!

This year, we are building community and connection with

the 7 Stressbusters from ACEs Aware.

Stay tuned for more details about events, activities, and training opportunities during Resilience Week 2026. Visit the Resilience Week webpage for more information.

Thank you to the GFWC Capitol Woman’s Club and GFWC Kanawha Woman’s Club for their recent donation of items to support SCAN's Circle Preschool Program!

Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign

A special thank you to everyone who has participated in our pinwheels for prevention campaign this April through donations and by planting pinwheel gardens!

We are grateful for STEPS Head Start and Childcare, Southside Behavioral Health, Charles City Elementary School, Children's Museum of Richmond, Stella's Market and others for hosting pinwheel gardens throughout the community during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The pinwheel serves as the national symbol for child abuse prevention. This campaign focuses on positive efforts to ensure all children have safe, stable, nurturing homes by promoting positive parenting and healthy families.

Upcoming Trainings & Screenings

Find the full list of upcoming SCAN trainings and register to attend HERE

April 29, 2026 | Child Development Basics (Early Childhood)

12-1pm ET via Zoom 

This training will begin by providing an overview of typical developmental milestones during early childhood (birth-age 5). Next, we will explore strategies that parents, caregivers, and professionals can use to assist with child development. The training will conclude by recommending actions adults can take when they have concerns about a child's development.

April 30, 2026 | The Developing Adolescent Brain: Strategies for Connection & Support 

1-2pm ET via Zoom

Adolescence is a time of profound brain growth, creativity, and transformation — not just turbulence. This workshop explores what’s happening inside the adolescent brain and how these changes shape behavior, emotion, and connection. Participants will learn practical ways to stay connected, offer guidance, and nurture strong, supportive relationships with teens.

May 1, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Balanced Nutrition

1:30–2pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

May 4, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Quality Sleep & Physical Activity

12:30–1pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

May 5, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Experiencing Nature

12:30–1pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

May 6, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Mental Healthcare

12:30–1pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

Register

May 7, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Supportive Relationships

12:30–1pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

May 7, 2026 | Resilience Screening

2–3:30pm ET via Zoom

Resilience is a one-hour documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to treat and prevent toxic stress.

View the official trailer here.

May 8, 2026 | Resilience Week Mini Training: Mindfulness Practices

12:30–1pm ET via Zoom

During Virginia’s Resilience Week 2026, happening May 1–7, Greater Richmond SCAN will be hosting a series of mini trainings highlighting the ACES Aware Stress Busters. During each 30-minute training, we will describe the stress buster and provide examples of how to enact it in practice. The stress busters include quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships.

May 11, 2026 | Staying Steady: Managing Stress in Parenting

12-1pm ET via Zoom

Parenting can be overwhelming, especially when stress builds up. In this 1-hour workshop, we’ll explore how stress impacts our well-being and parenting, learn about the Window of Tolerance, and try simple tools to help us stay more calm, present, and connected with our children. This is a space for reflection, support, and practical strategies you can start using right away.

May 12, 2026 | Introduction to Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

2-4pm ET Via Zoom *CEUs Available

This training provides a foundational learning experience around the topics of trauma and trauma-informed care. We will define trauma, discuss the many types of trauma/adversity, explore the impact of trauma on the brain and behavior, introduce resilience, and discuss SAMHSA’s 4 Rs of trauma-informed care. Throughout the presentation, we will share useful tools and techniques.

May 14, 2026 | Trauma-Informed Supervision

8:30-10:30am ET via Zoom *CEUs Available

This training will provide a discussion of six trauma-informed principles and how each can be applied to the practice of supervision. The principles include creating physical & psychological safety, building trust, creating collaborative and empowering spaces, utilizing peer support, and practicing humility & responsiveness. Supervisors will learn about the importance of addressing secondary traumatic stress in themselves as well as those they supervise. 

May 14, 2026 | Self-Care & Wellness

12-1:30pm ET via Zoom

This training will help participants develop an understanding of how stress and trauma affect our state of well-being. We will explore wellness and self-care practices and tools that help promote emotional regulation, compassion, empathy, and calm in our environments. In addition, we will examine ways to create healthy boundaries to establish safe and positive relationships with the self and with others.

May 19, 2026 | Impact of Trauma Exposure on Professionals

1-2:30pm ET via Zoom *CEUs Available

This training will help participants identify symptoms and warning signs of traumatic stress as well as learn the differences between three common trauma exposure responses: secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. We will discuss strategies for responding to trauma exposure and provide resources that professionals can use to mitigate the impact of trauma exposure and improve wellness.

May 21, 2026 | Understanding Autism & Neurodiversity in Early Childhood    

1-2pm ET via Zoom

Do you work with young children? Are you noticing an increase in children that seem to learn and behave differently? You are not alone. According to the CDC, in 2025, 1 in 31 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 1 in 6 have some form of neurodiversity. This training is designed to help you learn more about ASD and neurodiversity and what strategies could help. 

May 27, 2026 | Trauma-Informed De-Escalation

1-3pm ET via Zoom *CEUs Available

This training will begin by providing an overview of relevant topics related to trauma-informed care that highlight the necessity of providing de-escalation in a trauma-informed way. We will then discuss verbal & non-verbal strategies for regulation and de-escalation of self and others. The training will conclude with time to practice these skills in small groups.

May 28, 2026 | Trauma-Informed Family Engagement

12-1:30pm ET via Zoom

In this training participants will learn what it means to engage families through a trauma informed lens. This will involve critical reflection and include thinking outside the box, beyond the traditional methods of family engagement that have been practiced within many of our school and community settings. We will discuss strategies on how to engage families, how to navigate and overcome challenging interactions with families to prevent distrust and damaging relationships. Participants can also expect to receive helpful tips on how to make meaningful home visits within their communities.

Find the full list of SCAN Trainings and register to attend HERE

 *Some of these trainings are eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) from the National Association of Social Workers. Check SCAN's training page for details.