The inaugural Rhode Island State Victim Assistance Academy is set to be held at Roger Williams University (RWU) for five consecutive Wednesdays beginning July 22 - August 19. The Academy is supported by a federal grant awarded to Family Service of Rhode Island naming RWU as the educational partner.

Agenda Day One 7/22/09

VICTIM’S RIGHTS & THE JUSTICE SYSTEM 

8:00-8:30  Breakfast
   
8:30-9:00  Welcome and Overview
                  Stephanie Manzi, PhD
                  Dean, School of Justice Studies
                  Roger Williams University

                  Robert McKenna, MS, JD
                  Assistant Dean, School of Justice Studies
                  Director- Justice System Training and Research Institute
                  Roger Williams University
   
                  Susan Erstling, LICSW, PhD
                  Sr. VP Trauma, Intake, and Emergency Services
                  Family Service of Rhode Island
 
9:00-10:30  Keynote Speaker
                  Mario Gaboury, JD, PhD
                  Professor and Chair, Department of Criminal Justice
                  University of New Haven

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-12:00  Participant introductions and learning expectations
                     Robert McKenna, Roger Williams University
                     Denise Owens, Roger Williams University
  
12:00-1:00  Lunch Break

1:00-2:30  The Justice System
                  Tricia Martland, JD
                  Assistant Professor of Legal Studies
                  Roger Williams University
 
2:30-2:45  Break

2:45-3:45  The Justice System Con’t
                  Tricia Martland
       
3:45-4:30  Group Exercise

4:30-5:00  Wrap-up

Agenda Day Two 7/29/09 

COMMUNICATION, MENTAL HEALTH & THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

8:00-8:30  Breakfast

8:30-8:45  Review

8:45-10:30 Communication with Victims and Survivors
                  Sarah Kelly, LICSW
                  Clinical Administrator, Intake and Emergency Services
                  Family Service of Rhode Island 

                  Sarah DeCataldo, BA
                  SART Advocate Coordinator
                  Day One    

10:30-10:45             Break
    
10:45-12:00  Victims Issues in Mental Health 
                     Consumer Representative
                     National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Rhode Island

                     Wendy Becker, PhD
                     Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
                     Rhode Island College

12:00-1:15  Lunch Break with Guest Speaker
                   Colonel Dean Esserman
                   Chief, Providence Police Department

1:15-2:30  Elder Victims 
                 Stephen Lombardi
                 Officer, Warwick Police

                 Anita Corley
                 Elderly Services Coordinator
                 Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center

2:30-2:45  Break

2:45- 4:00 Victim’s Rights and Advocacy: The Women’s Movement
                 Deb DeBare
                 Executive Director, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

4:00-4:30  Wrap-up

Day Three 8/05/09

IMPACT OF CRIME & DIRECT SERVICES

8:00-8:30  Breakfast

8:30-8:45  Review

8:45-9:45  Impact of Crime
                 Stephanie Manzi, PhD 
                 Dean, School of Justice Studies
                 Roger Williams University

9:45-10:30  Impact of Crime on Victims: Trauma, PTSD, and Direct Services
                   Susan Erstling, LICSW, PhD
                   Senior Vice President, Trauma, Intake & Emergency Services
                   Family Service of Rhode Island

                   Jennifer Etue, LCSW
                   Director, Safe Start and Trauma & Loss Center
                   Family Service of Rhode Island

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-12:00  Impact of Crime on Victims: Trauma, PTSD, and Direct Services Con’t

12:00-1:00 Lunch and Resource table

1:00-2:00   Impact of Crime, Sexual Assault 
                  Laura Pisaturo, Esq.
                  Director of Advocacy & Legal Services
                  Day One

2:00-3:00 Crime Victim Compensation Program
                 Judith Farley, Esq.
                 Administrator, RI Crime Victim Compensation Program  

3:00-3:15  Break

3:15-4:30  Group Exercise: Impact of Crime

4:30-5:00  Wrap-up

Day Four 8/12/09

RESILIENCY & ETHICS

8:00-8:30  Breakfast

8:30-8:45  Review

8:45-10:30  Developing Resiliency
                   Elda Dawber, LICSW

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-12:00  Impact of Abuse and Neglect on Children
                     Amy Goldberg, MD
                     Child Protection Program, Hasbro Children’s Hospital

12:00-1:00  Lunch

1:00-2:00  Stacey Veroni, Esq, Assistant Attorney General
                 A Prosecutor’s Perspective on Victims
                 Attorney General’s Office

2:00-3:15  Ethics in Victims Services
                 Frederic Reamer, Ph.D
                 Professor, School of Social Work
                 Rhode Island College

3:15-3:30  Break

3:30-5:00  Ethics in Victims Services Con’t
                 Frederic Reamer, Ph.D

Day Five 8/19/09

CULTURAL & SPIRITUAL COMPETENCE & COLLABORATION

8:00-8:30  Coffee/ breakfast

8:30-9:00  Review
 
9:00-11:00  Working with Refugee and Culturally Diverse Victims
                   Manivone Thikeo, MPH, PhD Candidate

11:00-11:15  Break

11:15- 12:15  LGBTQQ, Special Issues
                      Mildred Bates, DSW
                      Professor, School of Social Work
                      Rhode Island College

12:15-1:30  Lunch

1:30-3:30  Collaboration between Victims Service Providers
                 Sheila Cardente-Capece, MSW
                 Director, Victim Support Center
                 The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence

3:30-4:00  Faith-Based Responses to Crime Victims
                 DVD

4:00-4:30  Taking it all back home

4:30-5:00  Wrap-up and Graduation