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* The S&T Model
* Model Overview
* Model Effectiveness and Results
* Those We Serve
* Women’s Sector
* Child Welfare
* Family Court
* Mental Health & Addiction
* Multi-disciplinary teams
* Men’s Behavior Change
* Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers Book
* Keynote Speaking
* Tools
* Practice Toolkits
* Perpetrator Pattern Web-Based Mapping Tool
* STIM Protocol
* Choose to Change
* Ally Guide
* Tools for Systems Change
* Training and Certification
* Organizational and Systems Assessment
* Evaluation Services
* Trainer Certification Program
* S&TI Certification
* Train the Trainer
* Supervisor Training Credential
* Global Certified Trainer & Partner Agency Network
* Online & In-Person Training
* Foundational Courses
* Overview Training
* 4-Day CORE
* Supervisor & Manager Training
* Popular Trainings
* Intersection Training
* Partnering with Survivors
* Training Bundle
* Subscriptions & Bulk Pricing
* LMS-Ready Training Courses
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Our goal is to help you get the support you need. What can we help with today?
I WANT TO ELEVATE MY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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Health/Home Visitors
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Substance Misuse Services
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on Your Side View Resources The Safe & Together Institute’s mission is to
create, nurture and sustain a global network of domestic abuse-informed
professionals, communities and systems. "Safe & Together" The idea is
in our name Watch Video Learn more about how we keep adult and children
survivors safe and together. Specializing in
systems change & training A domestic abuse-informed agency will see improved
outcomes for adult and child survivors. Our shared success sees both child and
adult survivors, as well as your professionals, become more safe, stable,
self-determined, and satisfied. Learn More
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STOP BLAMING MOTHERS AND IGNORING FATHERS BY DAVID MANDEL
“…Written at the cusp of a revolution in the rights of women and children in
personal life, the book targets a lay audience, is filled with real-life case
illustrations… I recommend this book for every parent or practitioner who hopes
to move the agenda for safe families forwards.” – Evan Stark, PhD, MSW,
Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University and author of Coercive Control (oford,
2006, 2022) and Children of Coercive Control (oxford, 2023
LEARN MORE
Best Seller in Domestic Partner Abuse
#1 New Release in Child Abuse
#1 New Release in Social Work
#1 New Release In Domestic Relations Family Law
Awarded 2024 Book of the Year by Coercive Control Chat Magazine
Best Seller in Domestic Partner Abuse
#1 New Release in Child Abuse
#1 New Release in Social Work
#1 New Release In Domestic Relations Family Law
Awarded 2024 Book of the Year by Coercive Control Chat Magazine
Best Seller in Domestic Partner Abuse
#1 New Release in Child Abuse
#1 New Release in Social Work
#1 New Release In Domestic Relations Family Law
Awarded 2024 Book of the Year by Coercive Control Chat Magazine
COURSES, TOOLS & TRAINING DESIGNED FOR YOUR SECTOR
CHILD WELFARE
FAMILY COURT
BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
WOMEN'S SECTOR
MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE
MULTI-AGENCY TEAM
UPCOMING EVENTS
04
September
Wednesday
TRAIN THE TRAINER
View Detail
10
September
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – EUROPE
View Detail
08
October
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – ASIA PACIFIC
View Detail
06
August
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – NORTH AMERICA
View Detail
06
August
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – ASIA PACIFIC
View Detail
04
September
Wednesday
TRAIN THE TRAINER
View Detail
10
September
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – EUROPE
View Detail
08
October
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – ASIA PACIFIC
View Detail
06
August
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – NORTH AMERICA
View Detail
06
August
Tuesday
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – ASIA PACIFIC
View Detail
04
September
Wednesday
TRAIN THE TRAINER
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06 – 14 August 2024
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – NORTH AMERICA
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06 – 14 August 2024
2024 SAFE & TOGETHER™ MODEL LIVE REMOTE CORE TRAINING – ASIA PACIFIC
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04 September 2024 – 04 December 2024
TRAIN THE TRAINER
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VIRTUAL
EVENT
JANUARY 13 AT 9AM - JANUARY 14 AT 3PM
2022 EUROPE/NORTH AMERICA SAFE & TOGETHER INSTITUTE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
For the first time ever, participants at the 2022 Safe & Together Model
Conference will have the opportunity to learn and share meaningful, sustainable
strategies for practice and systems
Register Now
HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
This Monday I was so pumped and ready to make a difference, that I purposely
walked around the child protective investigators building following up on the
referrals I had received.
Multi-disciplinary Teams
We were all really impressed by the Safe & Together Conference and I personally
have to say it’s probably one of the best events I’ve ever attended.
Events
Since the e-learning course, the staff have been more conscious in using the
concepts and questions. They have found specific topics covered in the companion
document aligning very well with their day-to-day program implementation from
family violence and child protection cases.
Foundational Courses
This Monday I was so pumped and ready to make a difference, that I purposely
walked around the child protective investigators building following up on the
referrals I had received.
Multi-disciplinary Teams
We were all really impressed by the Safe & Together Conference and I personally
have to say it’s probably one of the best events I’ve ever attended.
Events
*
*
RECENT PODCASTS & BLOGS
* SEASON 5 EPISODE 6: THIS WORK IS SACRED: AN INTERVIEW WITH BETH ANN MORHARDT
safetogetherin
05 June, 2024
* SEASON 5 EPISODE 5: A TRAUMA HISTORY IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR ACTING ABUSIVELY
safetogetherin
20 May, 2024
* SOCIAL WORLD PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH DAVID MANDEL ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK “STOP
BLAMING MOTHERS AND IGNORING FATHERS”
safetogetherin
10 May, 2024
* GUEST BLOG: THE TYRANNY OF DISTANCE?(1) DOMESTIC ABUSE IN REMOTE, RURAL AND
ISLAND SCOTLAND
safetogetherin
17 July, 2024
* GUEST BLOG: SAFE & TOGETHER: PRACTICE THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND ETHICAL
safetogetherin
19 June, 2024
* GUEST BLOG: EMPOWERING VOICES, PROTECTING FUTURES: ADVOCATING FOR CHILD
SAFETY IN NEW ZEALAND
safetogetherin
26 January, 2024
SAFE & TOGETHER INSTITUTE
P.O. Box 745 Canton, CT 06019
Phone: 1.860.319.0966
CONTACT US
* About Us
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© 2022 Safe & Together Institute. All Rights Reserved
Kimly Sills, a 26-year child welfare veteran in Ontario, Canada, has been a
passionate Safe & Together advocate since she discovered it seven years ago. Her
journey began when she was tasked with supervising a specialized domestic
violence protection team, developing the program, and acting as the community
liaison to improve relationships between Child Welfare and Violence Against
Women sectors. Since that time, she introduced the Safe & Together™ Model to her
agency and has grown the practice within by actively using it with every family
impacted by domestic violence that she supervises. Kimly has dedicated her child
welfare practice to becoming more domestic abuse-informed by coaching staff,
supervisors, members of the legal department, and community partners to
implement the Safe & Together™ principles, tools, and skills into their daily
practice to improve outcomes for families and cross-system collaboration.
Kimly is bi-lingual and has worked in child welfare as a front-line worker, team
supervisor, and program manager. Kimly’s experience as a supervisor/manager
includes intake, clinical assessments, ongoing family services, as well as,
working with foster families, children/youth in care, and public relations. She
has been trained in the Signs of Safety (SOS), strength-based approach and
guides staff to increase the implementation of SOS in their child welfare
practice. Kimly understands first-hand the similarities and differences between
the two models (SOS and S&T) and how they can work together clinically to reach
optimum results in child, survivor, and/or worker safety, as well as increased
engagement with fathers in a child welfare system.
Kimly also runs her own private practice as a Clinical Social worker providing
individual and couples therapy. She specializes in working with individuals
impacted by domestic violence, including survivors, family/friends trying to
support them, and perpetrators motivated to make better, non-violent/controlling
choices.
×
Rebecca’s journey with the Safe & Together Institute began in 2024. Rebecca
brings a solid educational foundation to her role with a Bachelor of Science in
Finance and Investments from West Chester University and a Master of Science
Degree from Wilmington University. Prior to her tenure at Safe & Together,
Rebecca served as the Director of Finance and IT for an entertainment
attraction. While finance serves as the cornerstone of her expertise, Rebecca’s
journey has ventured into the domains of Information Technology and Human
Resources. She has cultivated a well-rounded skill set that uniquely positions
her as a catalyst for progress within the Safe & Together Institute. At the
heart of Rebecca’s approach lies a commitment to partnership and ensuring that
business growth remains intertwined with organizational mission and goals. Her
inclusive mindset is at the core of balanced decision-making.
×
With over 15 years of business operations, strategy, and partnership experience,
Kat has led teams and consulted for global organizations, including Amazon,
Procter & Gamble, American Express, and Microsoft. She joined S&TI to accelerate
the mission and vision by enabling individuals and teams to find more powerful,
efficient ways to deliver results for our expanding global community.
Kat’s business expertise spans sales, finance, engineering, product, marketing,
HR, legal, and PR. She is an entrepreneur with previous consulting and career
coaching business leadership. Kat received her MBA from the Yale School of
Management in Sustainability (inclusive of Social Enterprise) and her BFA in Art
from New York University.
×
Christine leads the Finance Team for Safe & Together since her joining in 2023.
She has over 20 years of cumulative experience in the areas of finance and
business, and change management. Christine is a certified Executive Coach from
the Institute of Leadership at United Kingdom. She brings her experience of
working in leadership coaching, management training and human resources to her
work practice, along with her passion for a mindfulness-based approach. Having
qualified in Computer Studies, she also has a wide-ranging experience of
technology gained during her tenure in the technology arena.
×
JACKIE WRUCK
Jackie Wruck has been a Certified Trainer with the Safe & Together Institute in
Australia since 2017 and joins the Safe & Together Institute as the Asia Pacific
Regional Manager! Jackie lives in Queensland, AU, and has been working within
the community sector for over 20 years. This included working within Government
and Non-Government agencies that worked with vulnerable individuals and families
in Australia. Jackie has worked in the fields of Child Protection and Domestic
Violence as a frontline practitioner in both advocating and crisis support of
families. She has also worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
organisations as a DV Specialist and would consult on cases that involved
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Jackie has the lived experience,
knowledge and understanding of the issue of DFV in the context of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander families and was the cultural lead for the Walking With
Dad’s program, which is grounded in the Safe & Together Model. Jackie has
assisted in bringing both Safe & Together and the Child Protection Child
Placement Principles framework together to enhance the lives of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander families in Australia to assist in keeping Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children out of the Child Protection system. In addition
to training on the Safe & Together Model, Jackie continued to use the Safe &
Together Model directly with families as a child protection professional,
coaching and consulting on cases with domestic violence. She continues to be
committed to the safety and well-being of children and families through practice
changes through the Safe & Together Model. Jackie will be representing,
assisting and supporting Safe & Together Institute in the development and
implementation of the model across Australia and Asia Pacific regions.
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DONNA DUKES
Donna joined the Safe & Together Institute in December 2022 as a Coordinator for
the Trainer Certification Program. She comes to us with a combination of both
corporate and non-profit experiences. Previously, Donna held training
coordinator positions in the financial sector with The Vanguard Group and
Training The Street. In the non-profit sector, she was dedicated to community
service, both professionally and personally. As the Training Manager for United
Way of Central Carolinas, she managed a leadership development program.
Volunteering in her spare time, she became an integral part of domestic violence
awareness, advocacy and training. Appointed by the City Council and the Board of
County Commissioners, she previously served two years as the Chair of the
Domestic Violence Advisory Board in Charlotte, NC.
Donna holds a Masters Degree in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelors
Degree in Organizational Communications. Donna has received the “Volunteer of
The Year” award from United Family Services, a Commendation Award from the chief
of the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Police Department and has had several
appearances on local television. Academically, she consistently made the Dean’s
List; was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, The National Communication Association
Honor Society; and was recognized by the North Carolina State Senate for her
academic achievements. With a sense of humor and a lot of inspiration, Donna
loves bringing joy and hope to others.
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NICOLA DOUGLAS
Nicola Douglas has eighteen years of experience in the field of domestic abuse.
Her passion for the issue began when she was an undergraduate, volunteering in a
homeless hostel and working with women made homeless as they fled abuse. She
went on to work as a front-line practitioner in a range of settings, including
refuge, outreach (as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor – IDVA) and
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA). Nicola’s interest lies in systems
change and she moved into strategic roles, successfully implementing programmes
to improve domestic abuse outcomes within social care, police and the ambulance
service. Nicola spent four years at Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse in
the UK, with and alongside partners, to improve the way that systems respond to
domestic abuse. This included leading a team of coordinators working in
healthcare and child protection settings, as well as developing a health-based
accreditation scheme. Most recently, Nicola completed her MA in Criminology and
Criminal Justice, achieving a Distinction and award for best dissertation which
focused on the impact of the Domestic Abuse Act on strategic partnerships in the
UK.
Nicola joins the Safe & Together Institute as the European Training Delivery
Specialist, working with the EU Lead.
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KAY STEVENSON
Coming off of an employment history of managing several small businesses in
Connecticut and enjoying the growth and expansion process, Kay is a founding
employee of Safe & Together Institute, having started with David in 2006. Now
overseeing finance, human resources and technology, Kay balances her commitment
to the company’s growth with hobbies of gardening and novel writing.
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×
MANDY ROUSSELLE
Mandy joined the Safe and Together Institute in February 2022 as a bookkeeper.
She studied Early Childhood Develop at the University of Maryland European
Division in Germany. Prior to working for Safe & Together, Mandy did
bookkeeping, customer service coaching, admin support, and managed a
transportation charity in Canada for several years.
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JANET PENZA
Janet joined the Safe & Together Institute in 2022. She has a long history of
supporting executives to achieve their goals.
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KIM JURGENS
Kim started at Safe & Together Institute in November of 2021. She holds a
Diploma in Business (Australia) and Hotel Management (South Africa). She began
her working career in South Africa working for a leading hotel chain in Event
Management, Food and Beverage. She has lived and worked in South Africa,
Australia, Singapore, Oman and the USA and has worked in both the private sector
on large-scale events globally – including Hong Kong, Malacca, Zambia,
Mozambique, and the USA and then working in a project management capacity for
the not-for-profit sector in Australia (Australian Institute of Management). As
the Training Delivery Project Administrator, Kim provides logistic support to
the UK, USA and AU client leads. She maintains the training calendar, is a
point of contact for clients and faculty alike and is responsible for client
correspondence
once training dates have been confirmed. Kim has a strong commitment to her
community and has volunteered in suicide prevention in Australia and animal
welfare in both South Africa and the USA.
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DOROTHY STRIKER
Dorothy Striker has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of
child welfare and domestic violence. In a career that has spanned frontline
casework to policy and program development, Dorothy has been involved in major
family violence and differential response initiatives. Her areas of expertise
include individual and family assessment, structured decision making and risk
assessment, CAPTA related policy, practice model development and quality
assurance case reviews. Dorothy has also participated in various levels of all
three of the federal Child and Family Services Reviews in Ohio. Certified Safe &
Together™ Model Trainer since 2010, she has provided multi-day training and case
consultations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
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CASIE BURKE, MSED, PC
Casie Burke, MSEd, PC, has been a trainer of the Safe & Together™ Model since
2012. She has experience training and working with child welfare agencies, as
well as other community partners who support child welfare agencies (schools,
domestic violence advocates, law enforcement, mental health/substance abuse
counselors). She has over 10 years of experience working directly in child
welfare, holding various positions including intake and assessment, visitation,
parent education, and supervisor. Casie has provided consultation services
within agencies surrounding the Safe & Together Model to staff, casework staff,
and management. She participated in the National Quality Improvement Center on
Child Welfare Involved Families Experiencing Domestic Violence Listening Tour,
where she could voice the current state of conditions and challenges, and the
potential direction for future research, investments and interventions. Casie is
committed to providing training and support to professionals working with
families and children surrounding the intersection of child welfare and domestic
violence.
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BETH ANN MORHARDT
Beth Ann Morhardt is an experienced Domestic Violence advocate, program
director, consultant and facilitator, with decades of rapport and relationship
building with clients, colleagues and collaborators. Through curricula
development and training facilitation Ms. Morhardt has developed a reputation
for authentic and soul-based work that enhances human-centered practice.
Currently, Beth Ann consults as faculty with the Safe and Together Institute,
providing DV-informed professional development for US and international agencies
seeking to improve how services are provided to families living with the impacts
of a pattern of coercive control. Beth Ann is also the founder of Indeed It Is
Time, a holistic professional development practice rooted in the
experience-based certainty that it is Sacred in the System. This philosophical
shifting and skill-based practice, being developed by Ms. Morhardt, combines
empathy, authenticity and creativity with professional, concrete tools and
skills to strengthen collaboration, encourage individual empowerment and
increase collective thriving. At the core of this practice is the proven concept
that vulnerability is not the opposite of strength, it is the very foundation of
strength that leads to deeper success for individuals, families, agencies and
communities. In both, Indeed It Is Time and Safe & Together sessions, creating
an authentic, safe and mutually beneficial learning environment is always the
priority. The confidence and contentment of professionals seeking knowledge and
skills are prioritized equally with the broader goal of contributing to safer
families and communities.
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BETH ANN MORHARDT
With over 20 years of experience in the domestic violence field, Beth Ann
Morhardt has worked with both child and adult victims/survivors in many roles
including Child Advocate, Children’s Community Educator, Adult Advocate, Shelter
Services Director and Associate Director. After years of working in direct
services Ms. Morhardt transitioned into a consultant role, serving as the
Domestic Violence Consultant to Connecticut’s Department of Children & Families.
In that role, she was able to build and maintain solid collaborations rooted in
mutual respect, which resulted in the growth and development of Domestic
Violence-Informed practice and skills to better support victims/survivors of
domestic violence and their children. Within this role, working directly with
perpetrators of coercive control became a focal point and passion within her
work. Since 2016 Beth Ann has been a key member of the Faculty with the Safe &
Together Institute, where she traveled throughout the US and internationally,
collaborating with child protection workers and other community services
professionals to increase their proficiency in Domestic Violence-Informed Case
Practice. Currently, she works as the Associate Director at a domestic and
family violence agency, overseeing shelter, housing, counseling, education and
court advocacy services, while also serving as faculty with Safe & Together
Institute. Inspired by the current social climate, Ms. Morhardt has returned to
a more independent and multi-purposed career with a broader focus on social &
racial justice & personal healing.
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DANIELLE MARTIN, MSW
Danielle Martin has more than 20 years of experience working with children and
families within child welfare, early childhood development and domestic violence
settings. Her work with at-risk children and families has involved direct
service provision, management and administration. She initiated her career in
the field of domestic violence creating new programming, advocating for
additional services and creating improved collaboration at a local level. She
served on the Governor’s Task Force in Michigan for the prevention of child
sexual abuse as a departmental representative. She has trained the Safe &
Together™ Model in Michigan and beyond since 2015. Danielle has a Master’s
degree in Social Work with an emphasis on child welfare. Danielle’s focus has
been on the provision of trauma-informed care for families and children
experiencing child welfare intervention. She has worked closely with community
partners to integrate trauma information and practices into schools, mental
health, child welfare and residential communities. Danielle has received the
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services “best practice award” for her
leadership in the development of local child trauma assessment programming.
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SARAH L. HEUSER
Sarah Heuser, MS, has nearly 25 years of experience working in the domestic and
sexual violence field. Her roots are in direct service work with survivors in
grassroots service agencies focused on crisis intervention, counseling-advocacy,
outreach, support and program development. She also has substantial experience
in training, prevention and awareness efforts and has worked with a broad
spectrum of groups ranging from high school and college students to athletes, DV
advocates, child welfare, law enforcement and the judiciary. Sarah has also
served on multiple task forces and workgroups in Michigan to address policy
issues. A substantial focus of Sarah’s work has been on the intersection of
domestic violence and child welfare. Sarah was a strong early advocate for
integrating the Safe & Together™ Model to Michigan and became a certified
trainer for the Safe & Together Institute in 2015. Sarah has trained on the
Model across the US and in Scotland.
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LISA FLEISCHER, MSW, LSW
Lisa began her career in child welfare in 2003. She has served in the role of
caseworker and supervisor, working long-term with families as well as
supervising an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)/Alternative Response (AR) Unit.
Lisa has also been training on the Safe & Together™ Model since 2010.
Lisa previously worked as a Social Worker in an emergency room at a local
hospital and a Community Instructor at the Ohio State University College of
Social Work. She has a Master of Social Work and is a licensed Social Worker.
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LÓRIEN CASTELLE
Lórien Castelle has been an activist and advocate for social justice focusing on
ending gender-based violence for over two decades. She has had the honor of
working with several national organizations across the United States including
work as a trainer for the National Center on Domestic Violence, a prevention
consultant to the National Resource Center on Domestics Violence, a trainer and
consultant for Major League Baseball (MLB) and currently for the Safe & Together
Institute.
While working as the Director of Prevention for the New York State Coalition
Against Domestic Violence, she was responsible for promoting best practices for
preventing and responding to domestic violence and coordinating diverse
stakeholders to design and implement community, regional and state-level
initiatives. She also worked with the Pennsylvanian Coalition Against Domestic
Violence to launch a statewide prevention initiative in Pennsylvania.
Ms. Castelle brings a wealth of experience with coaching, support and training
to both domestic violence programs and allies. She has specialized experience
with community organizing, organizational development and prevention strategies.
In addition, Ms. Castelle has served on numerous national, statewide and
regional committees and is a much sought-after trainer, meeting facilitator and
keynote speaker.
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RHONDA DAGG BSC, BSW
Rhonda Dagg has over 20 years of experience working in the child welfare field
in a variety of roles including front line worker, supervisor and business
analyst. In her current role as a CFS Program and Leading Practice Specialist,
Rhonda is a passionate advocate for families affected by domestic violence and a
strong supporter of staff who work with these families. She is also the media
consultant for federally funded systems change project created to reduce
gender-based violence and improve outcomes for children and families.
Rhonda has utilized the Safe & Together™ Model in her work since 2014, writing
policies, coaching and mentoring staff and trains internationally for the S&T
Institute. In her personal time, she also creates educational material and
videos for the community on gender-based violence and prevention.
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KRISTI BURRE, MA
Kristi Burre began her professional career over 22 years ago in local and state
government, community partnerships, and system transformation. Most recently,
she served as the Director of Children’s Initiatives for Ohio Governor Mike
DeWine, focusing on child well-being and driving improvements with communication
and coordination across all state agencies providing services to children and
families. In this role, she prioritized system enhancements and advancing policy
with early childhood education, early intervention and prevention services,
maternal and infant health, child physical and mental health, and children
services. Kristi has vast experience collaborating with local, state, federal,
and private sector partners to align efforts and investments to have the largest
possible impact on improving outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Kristi has worked extensively in the child protection and foster care system in
the capacities of caseworker, supervisor, manager, and director. In addition to
her public service work, she has held various roles teaching, training, and
coaching for the last 22 years, to include roles as a social and behavioral
sciences adjunct instructor at Columbus State Community College, and a trainer
and executive coach with the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program.
Kristi has been a Safe & Together Institute Senior Faculty and certified trainer
since 2011 and is committed to guiding child and family serving agencies to
become more domestic abuse-informed. She has trained professionals in North
America, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom from various disciplines, to
include child protection, domestic violence advocacy, law enforcement,
education, behavioral health, juvenile justice, health care, and the legal
community. She also coaches and mentors professionals from across the world
involved with the trainer certification program and observes training sessions
for evaluation, feedback, and approval for certification.
Additional leadership roles have included chairing the Ohio Governor’s Children
Services Transformation Advisory Council and Eliminating Racial Disparities in
Infant Mortality Task Force. Kristi has also held leadership positions and
appointments for many other state and local entities committed to protecting
children and strengthening families, including the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and
Mental Health Board, Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Regional Prevention Council,
Ohio Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative, and Ohio Early Childhood Advisory
Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, criminology and psychology
from Capital University and a master’s degree in sociology from Ohio University.
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ASHLEY BOWERS, MSW, LSW
Ashley Bowers, MSW/LSW, has been a Trainer with the Safe & Together Institute
since 2012. She facilitates training and consultation services around the Safe &
Together™ Model for child welfare professionals. Ashley is a licensed social
worker who has worked throughout the child welfare field for over eleven years.
She has worked as a Child Welfare Intake Supervisor in both intake and ongoing
departments. In addition to training on the Safe & Together Model, Ashley has
utilized the Safe & Together Model directly with families as a child welfare
professional, coaching and consulting on cases with domestic violence. She
continues to be committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and families
through practice changes through the Safe & Together Model.
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KARI AKINS
Kari Akins is the Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Families and
Children at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services responsible for state
level administration and oversight of child and adult protective services.
Prior to this position, Kari was appointed to the Office of Children Services
Transformation leading children services and foster care efforts in Ohio.
With 20 years’ experience in the child welfare system, Kari has served in
multiple capacities including screening, intake and assessment for direct
service, and community response and outreach at an administrative level. In
addition, Kari’s work has emphasized community collaboration and education
regarding child maltreatment and trauma, the intersection of domestic violence
and child welfare practice, and coaching/supervision in child welfare. In 2010,
Kari began her work with the Safe & Together™ Model as part of a pilot county in
a statewide rollout of the Model, allowing her to be at the forefront of this
practice in her state. Kari has served as an advocate on numerous local and
state-level workgroups to address best practice policy around Intimate Partner
Violence while providing education and training at the state and national level
as Faculty for the Safe & Together Institute.
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ALISON SIMARI
Alison joined the Safe & Together Institute in August 2021 as an Administrative
Assistant for the Trainer Certification Program. Prior to this, she provided
almost a decade of support to the Certified Trainer community at the Center for
Nonviolent Communication in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Alison thrives in an
environment where she can support the work of those positively impacting the
world for the greater good. She is thrilled to be part of Safe &
Together’s mission to be an agent of systemic change in the domestic violence
field.
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MINH-CHAU TRUONG
Minh-Chau has been with the Safe & Together Institute since June of 2021 as the
Virtual Academy Customer Experience Specialist. Her time with eLearning in the
non-profit sector, with patients experiencing chronic pain and illness, and 15
years of customer service, back her lifelong goal of helping individuals pursue
personal sustainability. Her goal at the Institute is to make the online
learning process as easy as possible so that learners can focus on what matters
most: maintaining themselves and peace at home.
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COLLEEN JAMESON
Colleen has 20 years of experience working at the intersection of mental health,
domestic violence, and education. She has worked as an educator and advocate in
DV shelters, teen safe houses, residential programs for at-risk youth, and
programs for adults with disabilities. For the past 10 years, Colleen has worked
in rural Mississippi with children and families impacted by mental health. She
serves on the inaugural Board of the domestic violence shelter in Oxford,
Mississippi. In 2010, she authored a curriculum that was awarded an Iowa Women’s
Foundation grant for implementation state-wide. Colleen is passionate about
making tools that equip individuals to be agents of positive change in the
systems where they work and live.
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LINDBERG CHAMBLISS
Lindberg joined Safe & Together Institute in June 2021 as Events Logistics
Administrator. His professional career includes over fifteen years of
experience in live music event coordination and marketing, artist management,
and tour logistics. As an activist with a focus on equity for youth and equity
through education, he volunteers with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and
participates in projects that advocate for systemic and equitable policy change
in K-12 education. Lindberg is passionate about social justice, personal growth,
love, art, and adventure.
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JACOB LINZENBOLD
Jacob Linzenbold has been with the Safe & Together Institute Staff since March,
2021 and currently holds the title of Resource Development, Events & Evaluation
Administrator. He works across the organization with each department to ensure
that each team is on the same page and best serving survivors and advocates.
Jacob graduated from Penn State University and has been involved with several
start up companies, giving him the skill set necessary to help with the
different aspects of the organization. Jacob excels in providing mentorship and
advice to prospective business founders and enjoys teaching students. In his
spare time, he enjoys going on adventures and exploring nature with his fiancé
and their dog.
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DANA SCHMERSAL, MSW – RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Dana Schmersal has been involved in child and family policy and programs for
nine years, most recently managing Safe & Together trainings for child welfare
staff across the state of Ohio. She has worked directly with families impacted
by the juvenile justice system, provided training for child support staff
working with families impacted by domestic violence, advocated for women’s
reproductive rights, and served as communications director for a state and
federal child advocacy organization and taught as an adjunct professor for the
Interdisciplinary Child Welfare Institute at Capital University Law School.
Currently, she is a member of the Institute’s Resource Development Team and
coordinates the certified trainer mentoring program. She has completed both
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work as well as a B.A. in criminal
justice and has made advocacy for vulnerable populations and improvements in
community and system responses the focus of her macro practice.
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PEJU THOMPSON
Peju Thompson has been with Safe & Together Institute since July 2020 providing
international accounting support for Safe & Together Institute’s business
overseas. Peju holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from
Rutgers University and a Master of Science Degree in Accounting from Fairleigh
Dickinson University. Prior to working for Safe & Together, Peju was a staff
accountant for both a mid-size CPA firm and in city-government. In addition to
her diverse professional experience, she enjoys working with people and
endeavors to always positively impact others.
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LEAH K. VEJZOVIĆ, LMSW
Leah has been working as a social worker in the fields of child welfare and
domestic violence victim advocacy since 2007. She has experience as a child
welfare services provider, a domestic and sexual assault victim advocate, a
therapist specializing in work with adult and child survivors and perpetrators,
a men’s behavior change program facilitator and the coordinator of domestic
violence training and response for the Department of Human Services in Iowa.
Leah first became connected to the Safe & Together Institute during her tenure
as state coordinator when she helped facilitate the implementation of the Safe &
Together Model across the state. She came on board in 2020 as a Resource
Development Specialist, creating DV-informed curriculum, eLearning and practice
tools. She also worked to coordinate programming for our Events. Leah is
passionate about equipping professionals with the tools they need to do
effective work with families and engage in larger agency and systems change.
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INGRYD FLORES
Ingryd commenced her tenure at the Safe & Together Institute in June 2019. With
a background in Social Behavioral Science, she furthered her education by
obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in History from the
University of California, Irvine. Proficient in Spanish, she possesses fluent
speaking, writing, and reading skills in the language.
Her professional journey commenced at the National Association of Latino Elected
and Appointed Officials (NALEO), where she contributed to a national leadership
program aimed at supporting and training Latino elected and appointed officials
on pertinent issues. Here, she developed a passion for empowering the Latino
community towards naturalization and active civic engagement. Concurrently
pursuing her education, she earned a Paralegal diploma and subsequently served
in roles focused on Criminal and Immigration Law, conducting comprehensive
research on various legal matters.
Ingryd’s conviction in the transformative power of education is evident in her
role as a Per Diem Substitute Teacher, where she fosters a positive learning
atmosphere and nurtures students’ desire for knowledge.
Currently serving as the TCP and Technology Administrator, Ingryd delivers
top-tier technological support, demonstrating adeptness in managing event
registrations and facilitating pre- and post-event evaluations with finesse. She
prioritizes effective communication with learners and participants, ensuring
their comfort and engagement throughout online courses and event proceedings.
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SHELLY NAPOLETANO FLYNN, MSW
Shelly Napoletano Flynn, MSW began at Safe & Together Institute in July 2018 as
the Trainer Certification Program Manager overseeing the Institute’s Certified
Trainer Expansion. Shelly’s professional career includes over twenty years of
experience in the field of child welfare with a dual focus on direct practice
with children and families and systems-level social work practice. With the
focus on children birth through age eight and their families, her career
included direct service, case management and administration which included
intersections with statutory child protection, juvenile and family courts,
mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and local crisis response
teams.
Shelly’s experience in systems-level practice involved projects such as the
evaluation and development of a community’s local capacity to holistically serve
its at-risk population of children and families. Additionally, she evaluated and
reported on the state-wide supervision practices of Connecticut Certified School
Social Workers. As a result of this research, Shelly served on the State of
Connecticut Department of Education’s Task Force to develop and implement
properly aligned and discipline-specific evaluation standards for school-based
social workers in the State of Connecticut. Additionally, her work in systems
practice led to the honor of being invited to present on local capacity
development of a Birth through Age Eight Children and Family Initiative to the
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services in Washington DC.
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ANNA MITCHELL, SAFE & TOGETHER UNITED KINGDOM LEAD
Anna Mitchell’s interest in women’s issues began when she studied a degree in
Geography with Gender Studies at Edinburgh University in 1996. After working in
various women’s organisations she went on to gain her Social Work Masters and
began to think about the importance of engaging with men who abuse in order to
increase the safety of women and children. She worked as a Women’s Service
Worker with the Caledonian System; an integrated approach to addressing domestic
abuse combining a court-ordered programme for men, aimed at changing their
behaviour, with support services for women and children. Anna co-authored the
Caledonian System Women’s Service Manual and was seconded to the Equality Unit
in the Scottish Government as a Professional Advisor to support the roll-out of
this innovative system across Scotland. Since 2012, she has been employed as
Domestic Abuse Lead Officer for Edinburgh’s Public Protection Partnership with
the remit to help coordinate domestic abuse services across the council, police,
health and the voluntary sector. Anna has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in
Public Services Leadership and led a number of initiatives in Edinburgh to
improve systemic responses, not only to adult and child victims but to domestic
abuse perpetrators; including the development of auditing tools, improvement
plans, service pathways, policies and training. In her current role, she is
representing the Safe & Together Institute in the UK and is supporting the
development and implementation of the Model across Great Britain.
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RUTH REYMUNDO MANDEL, CO-OWNER AND CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Ruth has been in training and implementation since 1995. Her career began as a
middle school teacher in post-revolutionary Nicaragua. As a teacher in a
developing, post-war country, she became dedicated to issues surrounding social
justice and violence. She later transitioned to higher education and worked at
the Bryman School and at The Art Institute of Phoenix as an Assistant Director
of Admissions. Her responsibilities included vetting prospective students and
identifying barriers to enrollment and to matriculation.
After taking a break to raise her three children, she began working as a trainer
and technical support for a national professional-line nutritional company and
an international professional-line herbal company, which trained medical
professionals in alternative therapies.
In her role, she trained doctors and medical professionals in clinical
application and provided ongoing support for successful implementation through
patient outcomes. She developed systems for practice management, patient
support, and managed, created and promoted cyclical education events for
clinical success. She developed training strategies to respond to a variety of
real-time field challenges.
Ruth also worked as a professional business coach specializing in systems and
practice management. Her dedication to understanding root challenges,
institutional, structural and personal impediments that keep people from
applying their skills and knowledge in a targeted and successful way helped many
of her clients increase their business success.
Aside from her professional accomplishments, Ruth is a published poet, writer
and public speaker. Ruth has worked with clients using various energy medicine
and body-centric coaching techniques for trauma recovery. Drawing on her
childhood experiences growing up in an abusive religious cult and as a survivor,
she is a fierce advocate for those who have experienced abuse. She is dedicated
to helping survivors and allies understand behavioral coping mechanisms arising
out of trauma and mitigating societal and personal judgments surrounding common
human responses to violence and harm. This transformative approach helps those
who have experienced violence and their allies better understand how to support,
nurture and nourish survivors in a common-sense manner and without blame.
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BRITTANY DIBELLA, MSW, DVS
Brittany DiBella has been with the Safe & Together Institute since 2015.
Brittany has extensive experience developing curricula, e-learning content, and
resources, as well as with providing consultation and training facilitation on
the Safe & Together™ Model for a wide range of family-serving professionals.
Brittany has over 10 years of experience in the field of domestic violence work
including research and evaluation of New Jersey’s co-located advocate program;
educating advocates, child welfare professionals and social work students on
issues related to violence against women and children; direct-practice
experience with survivors of trauma and interpersonal violence and work with
adolescents impacted by violence. Brittany also served on New Jersey’s Child
Fatality Review Board in 2017, is certified in Violence Against Women & Children
from Rutgers University School of Social Work and is certified in New Jersey as
a Domestic Violence Specialist.
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HEIDI RANKIN, MPA – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Heidi has over 30 years of experience in the sexual and domestic violence fields
and social justice. She has worked in crisis counseling, program and policy
development and advocacy in both the United States and Canada. Heidi received a
Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in domestic violence from
the University of Colorado at Denver, the only program of its kind in the
country. In her current role as Associate Director and North American Lead, she
helps agencies navigate plans for systems change and supports efforts to build
capacity through training and collaboration. Heidi also oversees the Institute
training staff, faculty and mentors, manages training for Certified Trainers and
presents nationally and internationally.
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DAVID MANDEL, MA, LPC – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With over 35 years of experience in the domestic violence and child welfare
fields, David is the creator of the Safe & Together Model, a transformational
approach to changing how systems and practitioners respond to domestic violence
when children are involved. He has identified how a perpetrator pattern-based
approach can improve the ability to partner with survivors, intervene with
perpetrators as parents, and improve outcomes for children.
David is the founder of the Safe & Together Institute, which works with
governments and NGOs across the globe, including Canada, the US, Australia, New
Zealand, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Through their live
training, organizational consulting, e-learning, and trainer certification, the
Safe & Together Institute provides organizations and systems with a wide range
of practice change tools. Currently, the Institute supports almost 300 Certified
Trainers and 80 Partner Agencies worldwide. The Model has proven its relevance
to multiple sectors, including family court, substance use, law enforcement,
mental health, multi-agency efforts, and other disciplines.
David has written or co-written numerous journal articles, book chapters, and
white papers, including his most recent one on the alignment of the Safe &
Together Model with the children’s best interest framework. The Institute’s work
is regularly the subject of research studies, including a current project
examining the relevance of the Model in a First Nation context in Australia. He
has just published his first book, “Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers:
How to Transform the Way We Keep Children Safe from Domestic Violence,” which is
available online through Amazon.com.
journal articles on batterer’s perceptions of their children’s exposure to
domestic violence, domestic violence case reading tools, and the intersection of
domestic violence and child welfare practice. His chapter on “Batterers and the
Lives of Their Children” was published in the Praeger Series Violence Against
Women in Families and Relationships.
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