| Biographies |
|
|
| Keynote Speakers |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Robert N. Arcos |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Robert N. Arcos was born in San Antonio, Texas. His family moved to the Northeast Area of Los Angeles, where he was raised. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1979. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served for four years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the Union Institute and University, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Woodbury University. |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Arcos was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department on September 12, 1988. He worked a variety of assignments, Areas and Divisions, as a police officer, which included Rampart and Communications Divisions. His experience included Patrol, Gangs, Vice, Narcotics and Senior Lead Officer. In 1997, he was promoted to Sergeant. His supervisory assignments included Van Nuys, Northeast and Management Services Divisions. His experience included Patrol, Community Relations, Gangs, Administrative Operations, Adjutant and Assistant Watch Commander. In 2003, Deputy Chief Arcos was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Wilshire Area as a Watch Commander. In 2005, he was selected as the Adjutant to the Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau. Later that year, he was selected to serve as a Platoon Leader assigned to Metropolitan Division. While assigned to Metropolitan Division, he served as the Platoon Leader for the A, C and K-9 Platoons. His duties included directing the activities of the platoons to impact City-wide violent crime and City-wide response to requests for K-9 searches. He was promoted to Captain on November 20, 2011, and appointed as the Olympic Area Patrol Division Commanding Officer. On September 9, 2012, he was appointed as the 77th Street Area Commanding Officer. He was promoted to Commander on August 10, 2014, and was appointed as the Assistant to the Director, Office of Administrative Services. On January 25, 2015, he was appointed as the Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau. As the Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau, he also served as the Department Homeless Coordinator, as well as the Department Smart Policing Coordinator. On March 6, 2016, he was appointed to Deputy Chief, and Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau. |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Arcos has been the recipient of numerous internal and external commendations, and was twice awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. Deputy Chief Arcos has graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the West Point Leadership Development Program, the FBI National Academy–Session 225, and the Senior Management Institute for Police–Session 58. |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Arcos is a member of the Latin American Law Enforcement Association (LA LEY), and the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association (LACPCA). He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). |
|
|
| Deputy Chief Arcos is a passionate advocate for community policing and youth development programs. He has a visible leadership style that is proactive and a results-oriented management style that strives for effectiveness. |
|
|
| Chris Luera |
TOP |
| Community Activist |
|
|
| Mr. Luera is a product of humble beginnings. He was raised in San Pedro, CA. His background includes a significant history of trauma and violence which culminated in Mr. Luera’s incarceration in the California Correctional system. Mr. Luera credits a significant part of his healing journey to his discovering a personal connection to physical fitness and mental awareness. While in prison be began to share his story and mentor others. Currently, Mr. Luera is a 3 time champion of World Calisthenics. He travels thought the United States and abroad sharing his story as a means of empowering others. |
|
|
| Presenters |
|
|
| Dulce Acosta, MSW |
TOP |
| University of Southern California |
|
|
| Mr. Acosta is a first generation U.S born son to parents who migrated from Mexico; born and raised in the North East Los Angeles area. Dulce began her academic journey within various LAUSD academic institutions, at the age of seventeen she successfully completed High School and received vocational certification in the Health Field. She entered the competitive workforce at the age of nineteen. Dulce became employed by University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, where she currently still administrates online education. Dulce pledge to continue her academic career, she returned ten years later to ELAC and receive her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Certification as a Recovery Specialist in Chemical Dependency. Dulce transfer to Cal State University Los Angeles in the fall of 2009, where she majored and received her B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Diversity and Inequalities, in 2011. While attending CSULA she also served as a peer advisor in the Sociology Department. She was recognized for her contributions to CSULA and her community by her advisor, she was nominated and received a Special Congressional Recognition by Congresswomen Lucille Roybal Allard in March 2011; in addition, she was awarded and recognized as “Latinas to Watch for 2012” by the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). She pursued her long life dream of a Masters in Social Work at the University of Southern California, where in May 2014 she completed her studies and was awarded the “The Order of Arête” of USC; she was selected from more than 1500 graduate student’s university wide. The award represents the highest honor accorded for graduate students upon completion of their academic programs. Students are recognized for demonstrating significant depth and scope of responsibility in a campus or community leadership role. Members of the Order of Arête uphold value and meaning over individual achievement. Dulce is committed to strengthening and empowering her community by serving as mentor and sharing her journey and narrative of resilience and trauma. |
|
|
| Heather Adamson |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Heather Adamson is a 23 year old, second year student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Psy.D. Clinical Forensic Psychology program. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at UCLA in 2014 and went straight into her doctoral degree. She previously had a practicum placement at a school in Buena Park where she worked with children with academic, behavioral, social, and emotional issues and in the fall will be working at Exodus Recovery which is a crisis, in-patient locked ward. After graduating, she aspires to work with the police, in corrections, or in the court system doing assessments. |
|
|
| Alexandra Assalley, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Central New York Psychiatric Center |
|
|
| Alexandra M. Assalley, Psy.D, obtained her Psy.D in Clinical Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles campus in 2014. Dr. Assalley worked as a pre-doctoral intern at the Institute on Violence Abuse, and Trauma (IVAT) and the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute (FVSAI) in San Diego, California. While at IVAT/FVSAI, Dr. Assalley completed psychological assessments, court-ordered evaluations, and individual education plans (IEPS). She also provided individual therapy, court- ordered individual therapy, and court- ordered supervised visitation. Additionally, she completed the certification requirements for custody evaluators in the state of California, and co-authored a book chapter entitled Child protection: Issues and challenges. |
|
|
| Currently, Dr. Assalley is an Associate Psychologist with the Office of Mental Health’s (OMH) Central New York Psychiatric Center (CNYPC) in Marcy, New York. There she conducts psychological evaluations for diagnostic clarification for both the forensic inpatient and outpatient prison populations, medical competency evaluations and testimony, Jackson v. Indiana relief evaluations, court-ordered evaluations, psychological autopsies, parole evaluations, violence and risk assessments, behavioral management plan consultations, and consultations with treatment teams. Dr. Assalley also provides individual inpatient psychotherapy. Furthermore, she developed the competency restoration group therapy protocol that is utilized by the forensic hospital for their competency restoration groups. |
|
|
| In addition to her work with the forensic population, Dr. Assalley provides trauma education for newly hired CNYPC employees, and is a member of CNYPC pre-doctoral forensic psychology internship faculty. Her clinical and research interests include trauma, substance abuse treatment, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). |
|
|
| Christopher M. Anderson, Executive Director |
TOP |
| MaleSurvivor |
|
|
| Christopher M. Anderson is the Executive Director of MaleSurvivor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping male survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones by creating communities of Hope, Healing, and Support. Through its website, social media platforms, training programs, and professionally facilitated Recovery workshops, MaleSurvivor helps hundreds of thousands of people every year who have been impacted in some way by sexual victimization. |
|
|
| Mr. Anderson joined MaleSurvivor in 2007 after coming to understand the extent to which the sexual abuse he suffered as a child profoundly altered his life. A survivor of multiple forms of childhood trauma with an ACES [Adverse Childhood Experience Study] score of 6, he has overcome battles with severe depression, anxiety disorder, and suicidal impulses to become a passionate advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and other forms of childhood trauma. He speaks publicly about his own story, the unique challenges male survivors face, and on the need for greater partnership between professionals and survivors across disciplines. |
|
|
| As a speaker, Mr. Anderson has provided trainings and informational presentations for thousands of students and professionals in mental health, social work, law enforcement, and the military among other fields. |
|
|
| A member of Local One, IATSE, he has worked as a stagehand on and off Broadway until 2011. He currently lives in New York City with his wife, Jane. Mr. Anderson graduated in 1996 from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD with a BA in Liberal Arts. |
|
|
| Jeremy Arzt |
TOP |
| Windward Way Recovery |
|
|
| The presenter is a graduate of Alliant International University CFT program. As a student trainee, he worked at HealthRight360, a residential program for men transitioning out of prison, utilizing individual, family and group therapy modalities. Based on his work he was hired post-graduation at HealthRight360 as a full-time mental health therapist. He currently works at Windward Way Recovery as a therapist working with men struggling with addiction and other co-occurring disorders. He is now an adjunct faculty at Alliant University- Irvine. |
|
|
| Gautami Ashok, MA |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Gautami P Ashok is a 2nd year student, pursuing her PsyD in clinical Forensic Psychology student. Being born and raised in India, she had a triple major in Psychology, Economics and Sociology. She has a Master's in Counseling Psychology and started a masters in Forensic psychology before transferring to a doctoral program. She has worked with individuals with substance abuse at in impatient rehabilitation center, as a school counselor and has interned at Downtown Women's Center in providing individual and group therapy to homeless women in Skid Row. |
|
|
| Nili Askari, M.A. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Nili Askari is currently in her last semester of her Master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy at TCSPP Irvine Campus. She is currently working as a MFT Trainee at TCSPP Irvine Counseling Center where she provides psychotherapy. She is interested in using her training to become an advocate to bring awareness to the mental health field. |
|
|
| Gibran Bonner |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership and Instructional Team |
|
|
| Gibran has been affiliated with working in the field of Community Violence for years. He has professionalized his mission of being a change in his community by becoming a member of the P.C.I.T.I Leadership and Instructional Team. His own personal transformation has allowed him a better understanding of what it is to truly be a service provider and serving the community. |
|
|
| Terry Boykins, CEO |
TOP |
| Street Positive |
|
|
| Mr. Terry Boykins currently serves as the CEO of Street Positive, a social impact agency focused on the emotional, educational and economic needs of underserved communities and students at-risk. Mr. Boykins obtained degrees in Marketing, Management and Communications from California State University, San Bernardino. Prior to venturing as social entrepreneur in 1997 to raise much needed funds for child maltreatment prevention, fatherhood engagement and mentoring development, Boykins achieved corporate success in the consumer products industry during the 1980’s with Clairol, Inc. and the Nabisco Company. |
|
|
| Mr. Boykins is the recipient of over 320 local, regional and national community service and mentoring awards. Mr. Boykins sits on multiple advisory boards and steering committees and is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He frequently presents on significant and sensitive topics involving children of color and underserved populations. He is a proud father of two children who are graduates of UCLA and UC Berkeley with degrees in the S.T.E.M fields. Mr. Boykins “Family Mentoring Model” has been widely recognized in academic institutions for increased parent engagement and student achievement. He is currently in collaboration with an emotional needs success campaign entitled “Helping Hurt Men Heal” and is author of the Street Positive developed “Man Plan” program. His favorite motto: “If you don’t spend time with your child, someone else will. We guarantee it.” |
|
|
| Stinson Brown |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| On January 5, 1987 Stinson Brown stood on the black line at Elysian Park Police Academy and took the oath of office and loyalty oath and was sworn in as a Los Angeles Police Officer. Stinson has 28 years of service with the LAPD and has worked a variety of assignments that includes eight years as a Drill Instructor and mentored close to 400 recruits. Currently he is assigned to Operations-South Bureau, Criminal Gang – Homicide Division as a Gang Intervention Liaison. |
|
|
| Prior to accepting this assignment Stinson Brown only son, Stinson Ameer Brown was murdered without provocation on July 17, 2009 after returning to a house party in Baldwin Hills to pick up a friend who was stranded. Though Stinson’s’ life has been changed indelibility forever he still finds time to mentor young men between the ages of 11 to 19 years of age through his non-profit BrotherIIBrother. He also on occasion gets asked to speak at gang funerals and attend candle light vigils to inspire and encourage bereaved families. |
|
|
| Stinson believes that the Lord has given him a ministry for young men as he shares his testimony on how he forgave the young man that murdered his only son and chose to live a life that fosters unconditional love, peace and living life to its full potential. He also plans on doing consulting work internationally when he retires in two years. |
|
|
| Brent Burton, Captain |
TOP |
| Los Angeles County Fire Department |
|
|
| Captain Brent F. Burton has been a member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the past 30 years. He is currently in charge of the Recruitment Unit for the Department. |
|
|
| He is the immediate past President of the African American Firefighter Museum in Los Angeles. Captain Burton has been a member of the instructor cadre for PCITI since its inception. |
|
|
| Gregory Canillas, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| With a double major in Psychology and American History from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Canillas is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles campus). He is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on relationship issues, foster care, domestic trafficking of children, intimate partner violence, substance abuse, psychological treatment and ethnic minority populations and LGBTQ issues. He served as a Program Director at several nonprofit organizations, overseeing the child and adult therapy programs and pregnant/parenting teen programs. Dr. Canillas has also served as a Children's Social Worker with the Department of Children and Family Services, as a Clinical Psychologist with the Department of Mental Health, and later as the Clinical Director of a family preservation program. He currently serves on the Commission on Youth and Children (Long Beach, California), a body that advises the Mayor and city council on issues of importance to children, adolescents and families in that city. |
|
|
| Robert Carey, Psy.D., Managing Director |
TOP |
| Platt College, PSYCHARTS |
|
|
| Robert Carey is a therapist at a community mental health organization in San Diego CA and a doctoral student in Clinical Forensic Psychology. He has worked with a variety of client populations but his current focus is primarily on two groups; adult survivors of child sexual abuse and young children with behavioral problems. With young children, he uses evidence based techniques that improve behavior while strengthening child/parent bonds. When not working he can usually be found building geodesic domes or excavating toy dinosaurs with his young son. |
|
|
| Michael Carrodine, Lieutenant |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| He is currently a Lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department and has been an officer for over 30 years. Beginning his career as a patrol officer in the most dangerous housing projects of Watts, Lt. Carrodine understood early on that he could only be effective as an officer on the strength of developed and maintained relationships with community members. Since then he has climbed the ranks of the LAPD and is now currently the Oversight for the Metro Canine Patrol as well as an Instructor for the LAPD’s Gang Awareness Training. |
|
|
| Marcelo Cavalheiro, M.A., L.M.F.T, Regional Director of Operations |
TOP |
| Telecare Los Angeles |
|
|
| Marcelo Cavalheiro, M.A., L.M.F.T., joined Telecare in 1997 and had many roles such as administrator of Telecare's Older Adults programs in Los Angeles, which specializes in ACT/FSP/FCCS services for older adults, administrator for the adult FSP and Step Down IMD (ATLAS) in service area 7 (southeast Los Angeles) and Clinical Director for our AB203 Homeless Outreach Program (HOP 7). He practiced as a Clinical Psychologist in Brazil from 1986-1990, when he came to the USA. Marcelo received his Masters in Counseling Psychology at National University in 1999. Marcelo worked for Telecare's ACCESS team in San Diego from 1997-1999. From 1992 to 1997 Marcelo worked as a bilingual therapist and Clinical Coordinator for Crisis Centers in San Diego with Community Research Foundation, and from 1990 to 1992 he worked with children with multiple disabilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
|
|
| He is from Brazil, where he was a licensed Child Psychologist and worked in various public settings since 1986, including an Autism Clinic, a Forensic Mental Hospital, a Human Research Foundation and public schools in the Brazilian slums. |
|
|
| In 2005 Marcelo was selected as one of the top five mental health leaders in psychosocial rehabilitation in Southern California, and recently has participated in panels regarding Race And Ethnicity Issues in Mental Health for the formerly incarcerated (AB109 CIMH YouTube videos). |
|
|
| Lauren Costine, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Antioch University, BLVD |
|
|
| Among her extensive list of accomplishments, Lauren Costine is a clinical psychologist, author, educator, advocate, activist, and one of BLVD’s founding members. Her work focuses on addiction and codependency issues, co-occurring disorders, depth psychology, psychodynamic and family systems modalities, and LGBTQ-affirmative psychotherapy. Previous to her work at BLVD, Lauren acted as the Family Counselor at a local substance abuse recovery center for over five years. Lauren is also currently an Adjunct Faculty member in the Masters of Psychology program at Antioch University. |
|
|
| In her efforts to maintain and expand BLVD’s reputation as a top tier treatment center, Lauren continues to develop and monitor the relevancy of the curriculum, methods, and its theoretical understandings as well as measure client satisfaction. In this way she brings the highest quality of standards to BLVD’s treatment programs. |
|
|
| Lauren has a book that was published in 2015 by Rowan and Littlefield,Lesbian Love Addiction: Understanding the Urge to Merge and What to Do When Things Go Wrong. She is presently at work on her second book. |
|
|
| Carol Crabson, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer |
TOP |
| Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council |
|
|
| Carol Crabson graduated from the University of Redlands, Johnston College with a B.A. degree in Humanistic Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She went on to get her Master’s degree in Social Work from UCLA in l984 and passed her state licensing in l986. |
|
|
| Ms. Crabson worked as the clinical director of the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley for 5 1/5 years where she helped develop a state of the art child sexual abuse treatment program. For the past 19 years she has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council. |
|
|
| While serving in this capacity, Ms. Crabson has worked to develop unique programs including being the first shelter in the United States to serve male victims, boys over the age of 13 and LGBT victims. Due to her work, all State funded domestic violence shelters in the State of California must provide services to these populations. |
|
|
| Some of Carol’s credits include: Expert Witness on the Montel Williams Show, Participating in a |
|
|
| Lifetime television documentary that won national awards entitled “Hidden Victims- children of domestic violence”. She was Woman of the Year in Los Angeles County in 2000 and Citizen of the Year in the Antelope Valley in 2002. She has provided trainings for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and students at Cal State Los Angeles. Ms. Crabson was a featured speaker at a training regarding male victims sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and has presented at the International Training on Family Violence on the topic of male victims. She served in the capacity of consultant to over 10 agencies in the United States in the development of shelters for male domestic violence victims. |
|
|
| Mark Cripe, Sergeant |
TOP |
| Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department |
|
|
| Mark first escaped his dysfunctional and abusive home through backpacking with the local scouting troop. He left home for good as a seventeen-year-old, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corp. |
|
|
| After serving in the Marines, Mark went to college to be a marriage counselor but soon developed a desire to work with youth within the faith-based community. This evolved into a focus in education with an emphasis on wilderness experiential education. Mark was a wilderness backcountry guide for several California-based companies working with “at-risk” youth, CEOs, and families. He also did a stint as a professional rock climber for Disneyland. Together with his wife (his best friend), Mark backpacked across thirteen countries and was homeless for eight months upon return to the States. |
|
|
| Eventually, Mark found employment with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It did not take long before his assignments steered him toward delinquency intervention. Mark received the prestigious “Leadership and Communication” award from Toastmaster International, and he has been recognized by the California State Senate, the Governor of California, and the United States Congress for his work in juvenile intervention. He has received the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Exemplary Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award for his continued effort in changing how delinquent youth are handled in the juvenile justice system. His focus has gone from street gangs to child abuse to delinquency intervention. Now in his 26th year, and a Sergeant, Mark has worked the last fifteen years in juvenile delinquency intervention, where he developed a state-certified Juvenile Intervention Instructors Course that has trained numerous community-based leaders and other law enforcement agencies state wide. |
|
|
| Mark wrote an awarding winning book called “Love Loudly, Lessons in family crisis, communication and hope”. Mark continues to work with families in crisis, focusing on the challenges of parenting and spreading the belief that if we can change the way adults communicate, we will change the way kids behave! |
|
|
| Bennie Davenport |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership and Instructional Team |
|
|
| An educator for over forty years, Bennie Davenport has been committed to proactive change of besieged communities. As Founder of the Blazers Foundation, he has made a difference is thousands of youth’s lives here in Los Angeles. The Blazers is cradled in a community rich with resources. The diversity of the community adds to the richness in experiences for the many participants in the program. The Blazers provides a safe place for learning and quality programming. |
|
|
| He is also serves an advisor for the P.C.I.T.I, Leadership and Instructional Team. He is a pillar of hope for the community he serves as his support for holistic transformation of communities is unwavering. |
|
|
| Mark Davis |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team |
|
|
| Mark has highly contributed to lessening the degree of violence and increasing the opportunities of youth in his communities. Through years of affiliation with C.U.R.E and P.C.I.T.I, he has been able to touch the lives of youth through coaching and direct mentorship. A valued member of the P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team, he has dedicated his life to stopping the violence through proactive instruction and individual determination. |
|
|
| Nikko Deloney |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team |
|
|
| Nikko is a dedicated member of the P.C.I.T.I Leadership and Instructional Team. He has spent the past few years of his life assisting in restoring besieged communities locally and regionally. Currently he manages the Pico Guidance Center in Mid-City Los Angeles and provides services ranging from youth development, Intervention/Prevention Sessions, mentoring, community feed-the-needs, and a host of others. His mission truly defines the work of providing hope, restoring communities and curbing violence through proactive solutions and self-determination as it relates to the field of Community Violence Intercession. |
|
|
| Mike de la Rocha |
TOP |
| Mike de la Rocha is a social entrepreneur, multidisciplinary artist and inspirational speaker who specializes in criminal justice, social innovation and health and wellness. With more than 15 years of experience advancing public policy and empowering community stakeholders, he has become a leading voice for innovative ways to reduce violence in America. He is the Founder of The Revolve Agency, a daring new impact agency that puts arts and culture at the center of change. He is also the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Californians for Safety and Justice. He currently advises members of the United States Congress and other state and local elected officials on criminal justice issues. In 2012, Mike created Living Rooms Across America, a nationwide tour and series of curated events that shifts the public conversation around pressing social issues. |
|
|
| Virginia Delgado |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Virginia is a 3rd year Psy.D Clinical Forensic Psychology student. Growing up in Los Angeles, Virginia understands the struggles many individuals in lower SES communities endure. She received her associate’s degree at Mount St. Mary's University in Los Angeles and then pursued her bachelor’s degree at the California Polytechnic State University in Pomona. Virginia’s areas of interest include psychological testing and conducting psychological evaluations. Virginia also hopes to become an expert witness in the field of forensic psychology. Virginia is currently working with a non-profit organization called The Ness Counseling center, which offers individual, family, couples, and group therapy to individuals in the community who are either court mandated to receive services or seek services voluntarily. In the near future, Virginia will be working for the Orange County Department of Education where she will be working with adolescents who are incarcerated. Virginia believes in tailoring therapy to fit the needs of the client and applying a modality that the client would most benefit from. |
|
|
| Mark Durrell |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| Speaking Topic: Law Enforcement Panel |
|
|
| Reginaldo “Chase” Espinoza, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Reginaldo “Chase” Espinoza is a professor of clinical and organizational psychology, and a course developer, at Concordia University Irvine. Chase is also a doctoral student of clinical forensic psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Irvine. He is in his third clinical training placement and will be at Orange County Health Care Agency’s Neurobehavioral Testing Unit for pre-doctoral internship. He has worked with diverse populations, is engaged in research, and is passionately dedicated to contributing to the discipline of psychology and treatment of mental illness. Chase is a committed advocate and agent of trauma awareness, education, and treatment. |
|
|
| Joey Estrada, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| University of California, San Diego |
|
|
| Dr. Estrada received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He received his M.S.W. from UC Los Angeles and his Bachelor's from UC Santa Barbara. Dr. Estrada's research interests include street gang culture, school violence, school-based intervention, resiliency, and youth empowerment. He specializes in data driven school-based models to reduce gang activity and school violence. His work has been published in major academic journals, and he has presented his research at various national and international research conferences. He is currently conducting research that examines socio-ecological risk and protective factors of vulnerable youth susceptible to gang-involvement to create safe and supportive school climates that improve academic, behavioral, and social outcomes. He is also excited to be part of the Building Capacity in Military-Connected Schools project, which empowers schools to create military-friendly school climates. In his spare time, Dr. Estrada enjoys spending time with family, coaching youth football, attending live music and poetry events, and riding his motorcycle along the coast. |
|
|
| Jay Finkelman, M.B.A, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Finkelman is an Industrial and Forensic Psychologist as well as a Certified Professional Ergonomist. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from New York University and an M.B.A. in Industrial Psychology from the Bernard M. Baruch School of Business of The City College of The City University of New York (CUNY). He was a tenured full professor of Industrial Psychology at The City University of New York as well as Dean of Students at Baruch College. He also served on the Doctoral Faculty in Business, specializing in Organizational Behavior, at the Graduate Center of CUNY. Dr. Finkelman served in a variety of senior line management positions after leaving CUNY, including Station Manager of KTVU Television Channel 2 in San Francisco, Vice President in charge of Marketing for Walt Disney television, Executive Vice President for United Personnel Services, Executive Vice President for AppleOne Employment Services, and Senior Vice President and General Manager for Kelly Services - in the Human Resource Management and Staffing Industry. |
|
|
| Dr. Finkelman holds Diplomates from the American Board of Professional Psychology in Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology and in Forensic Psychology. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. He is a Certified Personnel Consultant from the National Association of Personnel Consultants and a Certified Employment Specialist from the California Association of Personnel Consultants. He is a licensed psychologist in the State of California and in the State of New York and is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He is a member of Psi Chi, Delta Sigma Rho – Tau Kappa Alpha and Beta Gamma Sigma, and received the Excellence in Teaching Award from CUNY. He is a member of the Industrial Psychology, Consulting Psychology and Engineering Psychology Divisions of the American Psychological Association, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. |
|
|
| Dr. Finkelman specializes in Human Resources, workplace investigations, leadership, staffing industry management practices, training, employment discrimination (gender, age, race, and disability), sexual harassment, diversity, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Return to Work, compensation practices, executive compensation, wage & hours, independent contractor status, conflict of interest, negligent hiring/retention, wrongful termination, adverse impact, performance appraisal, psychometrics, statistical analysis, human factors and ergonomics. |
|
|
| Ashley Fortier, M.A. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ashley Fortier is a second-year student in the M.A. Forensic Psychology program at TCSPP and will be continuing her education in the Psy.D.. program in the fall. She is currently conducting individual and group psychotherapy with survivors of sexual trauma as part of her practicum placement. Ashley is also a member of the Child and Adolescent Suicide Review Team. She is interested in using her academic and clinical knowledge to advocate for youth who are impacted by various forms of trauma and abuse. |
|
|
| Rachel Foster, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Harbor-UCLA Medical Center |
|
|
| Correctional Psychology and Assertive Community Treatment/Psychosocial Rehab Fellow |
|
|
| Rachel Foster grew up Southern California and on her 12th birthday moved to Israel with part of her family. Following her service in the Israeli Defense Force (in the military hospital and combat zones), Rachel moved back to the U.S. and attended the University of California in San Diego, where she majored in Sociology and Psychology and minored in Women Studies and Race and Ethnic Relations. At UCSD, Rachel worked in a Psychology and Law laboratory and conducted research on sexual assaults and eyewitness identification and testimony. Affected by her familiarity living in a war zone and timely terrorist attacks in New York City in 2001, Rachel wrote her undergraduate honor thesis on the debate on torture and enhanced interrogation techniques used on suspected terrorists. |
|
|
| She has given multiple presentations at conferences, universities, grand rounds and didactics on topics such as LGBTQAI case conceptualization, Thinking for a change, male victims of domestic violence, hostage negotiations, eating disorders, psychological impact of infertility on women and couples, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma recovery and diversity issues when treating families affected by family violence. |
|
|
| Dr. Foster attended the American School of Professional Psychology in Southern California where she completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology. Her graduate clinical research project focused on the “Caliban Syndrome” the personality characteristics developed by healthy individuals as impacted by growing up with a mentally ill sibling. She is currently an Assertive Community Treatment Post-doctoral psychology fellow at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. This is a split fellowship between the Harbor-UCLA campus focusing on the severely mentally ill utilizing evidence based practices in different modalities for inpatient and outpatient populations, specifically CBT, DBT, ACT and CBASP and conducting psychological assessments. The other part of her fellowship is focused on treating incarcerated, high risk and violent offenders awaiting trial in Los Angeles County jails (Twin Towers Correctional Facility and CRDF). Dr. Foster facilitates competence groups, high risk groups, individual therapy, and psychological assessment in addition to her administrative duties. |
|
|
| Erik Garcia |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Erik Garcia is currently a graduate student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA. completing his first year of study. He currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Ashford University, San Diego, CA., Class of 2014 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from San Francisco State University, San Francisco CA., Class of 2007. Currently, he has a variety of professional interests that lie in police evaluations, criminal profiling, anti-terrorism, and Behavioral Evidence Analysis. |
|
|
| Stanley Green, ME |
TOP |
| Intimate Partner Violence Prevention for the Men’s Health Network |
|
|
| Stanley Green is the first male survivor of domestic violence to present the opening keynote at a professional/academic conference on family violence. His international advocacy for victims of intimate partner violence spans more than 20 years and he was the founding co-chair of the Male Victims/Survivors Task Force of the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council. |
|
|
| Mr. Green has appeared on ABC News 20/20, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and numerous other print and broadcast media in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He has conducted trainings for social service agencies and Native American organizations in the USA and Canada and presented to numerous universities and military institutions—including twice for the US Army Academy of Health Sciences. |
|
|
| Mr. Green has testified at a hearing on insurance industry discrimination against victims of domestic violence conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, by invitation of Washington State Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn; and a similar hearing conducted by (now-US-Senator) Ron Wyden, then a member of the US House of Representatives from Oregon. Mr. Green served as the only man on the legislative committee of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs from 1997 - 2001 and served on the Public Information Committee of the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council from 1992 to 1993. |
|
|
| In 1999, Mr. Green co-launched the effort to include a nondiscrimination clause in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). He testified at nine meetings of the US President's National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women and the US Office on Violence Against Women awarded Mr. Green a scholarship to attend the invitation-only Symposium celebrating the 10th anniversary of VAWA, held in Washington, DC, in September 2004. |
|
|
| President Barak Obama signed a bipartisan-supported nondiscrimination clause into VAWA in 2013. This is the first Federal law to not only prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, but to also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity—actual or perceived. Mr. Green is a member of the speakers’ bureau of Stop Abuse for Everyone, SAFE. |
|
|
| Lieutenant Andrea Grossman |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| Lieutenant Andrea Grossman began her career in law enforcement as a Reserve Police Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). She has been employed by the LAPD as a Police Officer for over 25 years. Her assignments include Patrol, Traffic, Community Relations and Internal Affairs. She is currently assigned to Juvenile Division, where she is the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. The ICAC Unit investigators conduct investigations in which the Internet has been used for the purpose of the sexual exploitation of juveniles. The investigative cases include the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography including online enticement of child pornography through file sharing networks and undercover operations. These complex and highly technical cases are then presented to local or federal authorities for criminal filing consideration. She also provides investigative advice and guidance to Department personnel concerning cases involving the Internet, social media sites, and basic forensic information concerning retrieving information from cellular phones, GPS systems and computers. |
|
|
| The LA ICAC is responsible for a five county area working in tandem with sixty-five affiliate state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. |
|
|
| Lieutenant Grossman graduated from the University of LaVerne and California State University at Long Beach, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree. She also received a Presidential appointment as a Fulbright Scholar in the United Kingdom for the study of Victimology. |
|
|
| Jeff Harmon |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team |
|
|
| A trusted member of his community, Jeff has worked in facilitation of peace efforts through individual effort and active participation in the P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team for over 10 years. His reputation precedes himself as he has the innate skills and ability to establish peacekeeping in his immediate area and various neighborhoods. His endeavors are truly inspirational and speaks to the mission of P.C.I.T.I’s objective of providing hope to his community members. |
|
|
| Jasmine Hendrix |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ms. Hendrix was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA with a degree in Psychology and Sociology. She worked several years doing ABA therapy with children with autism and other behavioral disorders as well financing, accounting, and property management. Currently, she is in her 2nd year as a doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles campus for a PsyD in Forensic Psychology. |
|
|
| Robert Hernandez, Adjunct Assistant Professor |
TOP |
| University of Southern California |
|
|
| Aims to educate and engage in practice-driven research to address critical areas of society that continue to hinder communities from flourishing. His areas of interest include vulnerable youth populations, adolescent social issues, adolescent gang intervention, strength-based/resiliency and youth empowerment models of practice. In particular, Hernandez's work examines risk and protective factors within communities that are associated with vulnerable youth populations residing in trauma-exposed communities. He has focused on advancing marginalized populations through a range of practice approaches addressing violence-related trauma through violence reduction, prevention and intervention strategies. |
|
|
| As a practitioner and evaluator, Hernandez has worked with various street youth populations in areas ranging from San Jose, California, to his hometown of Los Angeles. He also served on the Community Engagement Ad-Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development, headed by then-District 6 Councilman Tony Cardenas. He contributed to the creation of “Two Prong Approach,” the city's community-based gang intervention model. |
|
|
| Hernandez currently serves on the National Juvenile Justice Network, which is composed of coalitions and organizations that advocate for juvenile reform. Much of his work centers on community violence prevention and intervention. He also is cofounder and executive director of Visionary Youth Center, Inc. |
|
|
| At USC, Hernandez teaches Leadership in the Social Work Profession and Organizations: Theory and Practice; Policy and Practice in Social Service Organizations; Social Work Practice with Families, Groups and Complex Cases; Social Work and Law; and Adolescent Gang Intervention. |
|
|
| Melissa Herrera |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Melissa is currently a 3rd year student in the doctoral program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology studying forensic psychology. She previously completed her undergraduate education in sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research and experience is among legal studies and psychology in interning for the Santa Barbara district attorney and recently providing mental health services for children and adolescents in Orange County. Melissa is currently conducting research in finding early interventions and prevention for criminal and antisocial behavior in children with incarcerated parents. In addition, Melissa will begin providing clinical services to youth challenged with substance use in Orange County juvenile hall. |
|
|
| Loren M. Hill, PhD |
TOP |
| Associate Professor, Clinical Forensic Psychology Distinguished Professor of Psychology, |
|
|
| Forensic Training Institute Director |
|
|
| Dr. Loren M. Hill is the Director of the Forensic Training Institute at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles Campus. Dr. Hill is also an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Forensic Department She oversees mental health training, research and community outreach in the area of forensic psychology. Additionally she works tirelessly to identify and build relationships to provide underserved and under-resourced community members with the information about the importance of mental health and mental wellness. |
|
|
| Dr. Hill has over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. She is a cultural evaluator and her areas of interests include history and systems of psychology and trauma. As a subject matter expert Dr. Hill is frequently invited to address difficult issues related to psychology. She serves on a number of advisory board and has membership with the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, Los Angeles County Psychological Association, Los Angeles Child and Adolescent Suicide Review Team. National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan Think Tank, Psi Chi National Psychological Honor Society and the Society of STEM Women of Color. Dr. Hill received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. She is the principal of Acclivity, a consultancy that advises clients in the areas of psychoeducation, program management and evaluation. |
|
|
| Heba Hilou |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Heba Hilou is a second year doctoral student in clinical forensic psychology. She has an interest in working with the broad and diverse forensic population providing therapeutic services and conducting psychological assessments. She has a Bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University Northridge where she worked as a trainer on their helpline and volunteered in several psychological projects led by the faculty. Heba has just completed her first therapy practicum for Outreach Concern and has recently accepted a position for her second assessment practicum at Pasadena Rehabilitation Institute where she will be working in the neuropsychological department. |
|
|
| Christina Hoag, Journalist/Author |
TOP |
| Peace in the Hood |
|
|
| Christina Hoag is a journalist and fiction writer in Los Angeles, California. |
|
|
| She is the co-author of "Peace in the Hood: Working with Gang Members to End the Violence," a groundbreaking book on gang intervention, published in July 2014 by Turner Publishing. |
|
|
| When she was six years old, Christina won a prize for "writing interesting stories," and that's what she's been doing ever since. She has had numerous short stories, poems and creative nonfiction published in literary magazines and journals, including eFiction, and authored the romance thriller-mystery novella "Miami Steam" under a pseudonym (Liquid Silver Publishing, 2009). Her short story "My Mother's Knives" was included in a horror story anthology, "And Now the Nightmare Begins" (Bear Manor Media, 2009.) |
|
|
| Born in New Zealand, Christina lived in seven countries by the time she was thirteen. Her career as a journalist took her to Latin America, where she reported from fourteen countries in the region on issues such as the rise of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Colombian guerrillas, Guatemalan human rights, Salvadoran gangs, Nicaraguan landmine victims, and Mexican protests. A former staff writer for The Miami Herald and The Associated Press' Los Angeles bureau, she has also written for Time, Business Week, The Financial Times, the Houston Chronicle and The New York Times. She is fluent in Spanish. |
|
|
| The book "Los dueños de América Latina" features one of her magazine articles. She is also the author of "From Battlefield to Oilfield: 500 Years of Friendship between Venezuela and Great Britain," (2002) and wrote text for the art book "A Trip through Infrared Photography" (2000). |
|
|
| A graduate of Boston University, she won two writing awards from the New Jersey Press Association early in her newspaper career in the Garden State. Christina has also won several awards for her pie-baking. |
|
|
| Robert A. Hoff, MBA |
TOP |
| A Better Los Angeles (ABLA) |
|
|
| Mr. Hoff has a BS Bucknell University and an MBA from Harvard University. He has spent 35 years in the venture capital industry as General Partner of Crosspoint Venture Partners. He has been a Board member of ABLA since 2006. He recently served as Interim Executive Director of ABLA. |
|
|
| Barbara Jett, Intervention Specialist |
TOP |
| Maximum Force Enterprises |
|
|
| Through her love for the community and potential to inspire change, Barbara is on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. She is a trained experienced professional Intervention Specialist specializing in community service, crisis intervention and street mediation. She has worked in the non-profit community for many years. Barbara graduated from Washington Prep and studied at Los Angeles Southwest College. She is a certified graduate of the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute. She has received certificates from the City of Los Angeles Fire Department, Maximum Force Enterprises, The Chicago School of Psychology, Yuba College, Leo Chesney Center of Live Oaks and Los Angeles Office of Education. Barbara is an active member in her community. She is a key member of the Neighborhood Action Council - Community of Hope. She is part of the Leadership Team for Vermont Manchester Collaborative and she is a member of the Westmont/Athens Task Force. |
|
|
| Clive Kennedy, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Although trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, Dr. Kennedy has practiced as a forensic psychologist for over 25 years. He has been a member of the Los Angeles County Superior Court Panel of Experts since 1985 and his practice continues to serve courts within LA County. His practice has also included contracts with the California Youth Authority, California Department of Child and Family Services Family Preservation Department, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He is one of the early APA Minority Fellows and one of the founding members of APA Division 45-The Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues. Before beginning his teaching career, he worked for over 20 years as a substance abuse specialist at UCLA. He has worked with the South Central Training Consortium as a supervisor and training director since 1993, dedicated to supervising the work of all students with families of Color. In addition to domestic violence in families of Color, his practice interests also include substance abuse, AIDS prevention/treatment issues, cross-cultural relations, and other stress, mental health, and forensic psychology related issues. |
|
|
| Dr. Kennedy believes in meeting the student at his or her level. He values life experiences that have contributed to the student's level of development; and he aims to assist the student in recognizing their values and skills relevant to the curriculum. Learning is viewed as a lifelong process of knowledge acquisition and skill development. Through communication, the student can incorporate these resources into the learning process as they meet the course objectives presented. |
|
|
| Gurucharan Khalsa, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Executive Management Consultant |
|
|
| Dr. Gurucharan Khalsa has been a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist since 1981 and a Psychologist since 1991. His orientation is somatic-relational with an interest in the deep patterns of thought, emotion, relationship and spirit. He has worked in private practice, community mental health, hospitals, a federal prison and non-profits; as therapist, supervisor, trainer & in executive management. |
|
|
| William D. King, M.D. |
TOP |
| W. King Health Care Group |
|
|
| He was born in Inglewood California and raised in Los Angeles. He received his BA in Cellular Molecular Biology at California State University at Northridge in 1989. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Medical Scholars Program in 1996 receiving dual degrees in medicine and law. Dr. King completed his internal medicine residency at Cambridge Hospital in 1999 and his Chief Residency in 2000. For the past four years, Dr. King has been affiliated with UCLA where he completed the UCLA Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar Program in 2002 and is currently completing a postdoctoral clinical fellowship in HIV clinical care and research with the Department of Infectious Disease. His main research interests are in racial inequities and disparities in care and in community based research in domestic and international settings. |
|
|
| Steven Kim, M.S.W. |
TOP |
| Project Kinship |
|
|
| Steven co-founded Project Kinship in 2014 to serve former gang members and formerly incarcerated lives successfully re-integrate back into our communities. His dedication to breaking cycles of incarceration, gang membership and community violence stems from over 15 years of working among traumatized and abandoned youth in Orange County. |
|
|
| Steven holds a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis on mental health and understanding biopsychosocial factors relating to youth violence and gang membership. His academic knowledge in criminal justice and social work theory has proven positive results on the macro and micro levels of practice. He has held teaching appointments with the University of Southern California lecturing on best practices in regards to adolescent prevention and intervention strategies. |
|
|
| Steven's combination of life experience, theoretical knowledge, community involvement and work in the educational system has allowed him to effectively bridge gaps between service providers and clientele while working hand-in-hand with the community and its leaders in the work of youth justice and violence prevention. Steven’s unending heart for the abandoned and disenfranchised continues to be the driving force in standing together in the margins of inequality among gang and formerly incarcerated populations to create a hope for a future. |
|
|
| David Lau, DPM, MBA/MPH, CDR, USPHS |
TOP |
| Department of Homeland Security |
|
|
| CAPT David Lau is a Podiatrist and Health Administrator in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). He currently serves as a Health Services Administrator (HSA) with the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As the Health Service Administrator for his IHSC site, he oversees all aspects of his facility’s operations. In addition he also oversees and assists with additional HQ assignments. While as HSA in San Diego, his facility had the largest mental health department in the entire agency with a 40 bed inpatient unit and complementary medical team. |
|
|
| Prior he served numerous years with the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a Chief Clinical Consultant, clinician and administrator. He enjoys both the clinical and administrative sides of medical practice, being fiercely passionate concerning his patients and amputation prevention. He initiated a “Zero Amputation Program” at his hospital and achieved one of the lowest amputation rates within IHS thru patient and provider education along with innovative treatments techniques and surgical interventions. He has deployed with the US Coast Guard (USCG) to the Arctic Circle as part of Operation Arctic Shield Medical Teams several times, providing much needed medical services in remote Alaskan Native villages in the Arctic Circle. He was deployed to Liberia for the Ebola Response and served as the Executive Officer for the first rotation/team of US Government medical assets/USPHS in that theatre. He has also served as a Special Operations Clinical Coordinator and Preceptor for the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC) in the field, training US Army Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) students. |
|
|
| CAPT Lau serves as the Team Commander for Service Access Team #2, one of 5 such teams in the US Public Health Service. SAT Teams specialize in disaster case management. Each SAT focuses on ensuring access to essential services to preserve the lives and the health of affected, displaced, returning and vulnerable individuals and populations. Areas of focus: 1. Needs Assessment; 2. Plan Development/Cultural Sensitivity; 3. Advocating/Connecting; 4. Clinical Care Coordination; 5. Continuity/Transition Management; 6. Psycho -Social Management; 7. Re-integration; and 8. Confidentiality assurance. |
|
|
| CAPT Lau has served as a Federal Executive Board (FEB) Leadership Associates Program-Mentor and is a graduate of the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives Course at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). He currently serves as the USPHS Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) Senior Advisor, and was USPHS AMSUS Committee Chair the previous 4 years. He is also a Senior Advisor for the Minority Officers Liaison Committee (MOLC) and Leadership Advisor for the USPHS Rx for Change Tobacco Cessation Program. |
|
|
| CAPT Lau attended the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM), and residency trained at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center (LAC+USC). He earned his MBA/MPH at the University of California at Irvine (UCI)/University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He has a strong interest in Organizational Behavior and Marketing. |
|
|
| He is a Life Member of the Delta Omega the Public Health Honor Society, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), the Commissioned Officers Association (COA), and the Reserve Officers Association (ROA). He is also a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and American Public Health Association (APHA). |
|
|
| Elisa Leal, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Sharper Future, Los Angeles |
|
|
| Dr. Elisa Leal is a graduate of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at Sharper Future in Los Angeles and continues work there as a staff clinician. Currently, she conducts risk assessment evaluations for High Risk Sexual Offenders (HRSOs), and performs individual and group psychotherapy. |
|
|
| Michael Levittan, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Psychotherapist |
|
|
| Dr. Michael (Levittan) is an accomplished and recognized expert on Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Child Abuse, and PTSD. He is a licensed psychotherapist, director of a state-certified batterers’ treatment program, and serves as an Expert Witness in court. Dr. Michael teaches seminars at UCLA Extension, National Alliance on Mental Illness, International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, Women’s Shelters, U.S. Marines, L.A. Superior Court, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, etc. He has appeared on the Tyra Banks Show, Staring Over, Bad Girls Club, Montel Williams, Hollywood 411, and wrote "The History of Infanticide" – a chapter in Violence in Our Society. He recently completed the soon-to-be-published “Essentials of Anger Management.” Dr. Michael believes in his work to further the cause of establishing safety in the family and peace in the world. His passion comes across in his presentations. |
|
|
| Kandee Lewis, Executive Director |
TOP |
| The Positive Results Corporation |
|
|
| Kandee Lewis is the Executive Director of The Positive Results Corporation, a non-profit and a highly sought after public speaker. The PRC’s mission is to teach leadership and character development skills, promote healthy sustainable relationships, and prevent acts and exposure to violence and high risk behaviors such as bullying, teen dating violence and sexual assault. |
|
|
| She is also a Certified Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Advocator, a Board Member of the South Los Angeles Homeless TAY and Foster Care Collaborative, Compton’s Policing & Education Task Force, and Los Angeles City Attorney’s DV Round Table. |
|
|
| Honors and awards include, 2014 Woman of Distinction Award, March 2014.; Johnnie L. Cochran Award, August 2014; Hearts of Today Award October 2014; 2015 Woman of the Year and Women’s Leadership Award April 2015. Most recently, The PRC received grants and funding from UCLA’s School of Social Enterprise, SoCal Gas Company, Edison International, Kaiser Permanente, Verizon and Allstate Foundation’s coveted Purple Purse Award. She recently served as Harbor Area Planning Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles, and Youth Representative to the Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council. |
|
|
| Alfred Lomas |
TOP |
| Inner City Visions |
|
|
| Is an international peacemaker, celebrated gang intervention specialist, humanitarian and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and Executive Director of Inner City Visions, a violence reduction organization based in South Central Los Angeles. He has been involved in programs working with high -risk youth who live in gang-infested neighborhoods throughout the Los Angeles County. Mr. Lomas is also currently working with a multi-agency collaborative that specializes in rescuing children from sexual slavery. He is a pioneer in Hispanic and African American gang conflicts/mediation in South Los Angeles and specializes in transnational gang intervention efforts/strategies. His anti-violence strategies have positively impacted thousands of young adults and children both locally & worldwide, including the “child gun soldiers” of Sudan. |
|
|
| His work has been featured on CNN, ABC Worlds News, NY Times & NPR to name a few. |
|
|
| Lynne Macer-Rhodes, Advisory Board Member |
TOP |
| A Better Los Angeles |
|
|
| Lynne Macer Rhodes has over 35 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She ran a state funded juvenile diversion program for 7 years, providing support to young first-time offenders and 25 years in various managerial roles at the Walt Disney Company, ranging from Manager of Research and Planning to Director of Program Development, culminating in her role as Producer. She has experience in Public Sector Management, Program Development and Management, Strategic Planning, Marketing Development, and Producing. For the past 7 years she has been passionately engaged in supporting initiatives in underserved communities of South Los Angeles as an Advisory Board member of A Better LA. |
|
|
| Jorge Martinez, Detective |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| Detective Jorge Martinez has served 31 years with the LAPD, involved with Street gangs and Prison gangs dealing with Intel, a strong resource in the world of gangs. Throughout his professional career as an officer he has taken the position of Director of the Community Law Enforcement and Recovery Program (CLEAR). Martinez is an Advisory Board Member of the California Gang Task Force (CGTF) prison Intel Mtg. Executive Board Member for California Gang Investigators Association, Liaisons with Prisons and the Los Angeles County Jails. He is also the Department Instructor for Hispanic street gangs and Prison Gangs. His wealth of knowledge and dedication to serving the community has been his focal point throughout his career as an officer of the law. |
|
|
| Teri Masi, MFT |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Terry Masi, MFT has been employed by The Chicago School of Psychology since October of 2009 and is currently the Senior Director of training for the department of Applied Professional Practice. Her current role includes site development and training, student mentoring through professional development and Assistant Faculty for the MFT department. |
|
|
| Ms. Masi is also a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and maintains private practices in Westwood and West Los Angeles working with patients from the liver transplant unit of UCLA as well as those presenting with various mental health and co-occurring disorders. Ms. Masi has served as director of the Proposition 36 outpatient substance abuse program for California Graduate Institute and The Chicago School of Psychology and is on the Board of Directors for L.A. Goal an organization working to empower adults with Developmentally Disabilities. Through her work at L.A. Goal Ms. Masi was able to contribute a case study to a book chapter. The Book entitled “Falling through the Cracks: Psychodynamic Practice with Vulnerable and Oppressed Populations” was published in 2012. |
|
|
| Judy Matthews, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Brandman University |
|
|
| Dr. Matthews has been a clinician in private practice treating individuals of all ages who suffer from PTSD. She has been an assistant professor for Brandman University for the past 30 years. |
|
|
| David Morehead, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| California Department of Corrections |
|
|
| Dr. David Morehead is a licensed clinical psychologist with many years of correctional experience at the state and federal level. He has worked with diverse client populations while implementing evidence based cognitive behavioral therapy approaches related to behavior modification. Recently, he joined the staff of a state of California run women's correctional facility that services the severely mentally ill. He is active in social media and recently was a guest on the radio show Stop Child Abuse Now. In his spare time, he is an avid James Bond fan and singer of Frank Sinatra tunes. |
|
|
| Mabel Munoz, M.S. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Mabel Munoz graduated from the University of California- Los Angeles in 2007 with a Bachelor's of Art in Sociology. She then went on to receive her Masters of Science degree in Public Administration from California State University- Los Angeles in 2013. Ms. Munoz is currently attending The Chicago School of Professional Psychology- Los Angeles campus and pursuing a Doctorate degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She has a worked in the mental health field for over 8 years as part of various programs, which include: Full Service Partnership (FSP), Field Capable Clinical Services (FCCS), Assembly Bill 109 (AB109), and Prevention Early Intervention (PEI). Ms. Munoz is currently working for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health in the Assisted Outpatient Program (AOT) as a Medical Case Worker II, as well as periodically works after hours for the Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) to respond to psychiatric emergencies. |
|
|
| Sara Munoz |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ms. Munoz graduated from California State University, Northridge in 2015 with a B.A. in Psychology. She currently attends The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles campus, pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology. Ms. Munoz has experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. |
|
|
| Ervin R. Munro, M.S. |
TOP |
| SRO Housing Corporation |
|
|
| Ervin R. Munro is currently the Director of Social Services for the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Corporation in Los Angeles, California. He has a Master of Science degree in School Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater. He has worked in the behavioral health field for over 35 years as an educator, licensed school psychologist, case manager, and program manager of case management services in a variety of settings. Mr. Munro has worked with many populations including homeless, mentally ill, elderly, substance users/abusers, runaway/throwaway youth, immigrants, persons with chronic health conditions as well as persons affected by HIV/AIDS. He has provided training for dozens of social service agencies and has received several awards and commendations for his workshops at local and national conferences. Mr. Munro was the recipient of the National 2011 “Distinguished Alumni Award for Community/Regional Service” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; Currently, serves as an Advisory Board Member, College of Education and Professional Studies, UW-Whitewater; Board Member – National Association of Case Management. |
|
|
| Bill Murray |
TOP |
| National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse |
|
|
| Mr. Murray is the founder of multiple organizations that has been assisting the Southern California community for years. One of those organizations is the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (NAASCA), which is a grass-root organization that fights against child abuse and trauma on a national stage. Mr. Murray also is the founder of the National Association of Alert and Concerned Citizens and the Los Angeles Community Policing organization as well. Mr. Murray works diligently with these organizations to prevent child abuse and trauma due to the fact that he is a child abuse survivor himself. He is also a producer, director, editor, and writer for over 30 years with careers in both film/TV and journalism. |
|
|
| Bryan Nevin |
TOP |
| Addiction Specialist |
|
|
| Mr. Bryan Nevin is an addictions specialist who has a compelling and miraculous story of surviving and conquering the demons in his life by overcoming web of mental viruses and addictions. At eleven years old, he turned down the long road of substance abuse, starting with alcohol. His incredible and painful journey took him to nine rehabs, several detox centers, and dozens of confinements in jails. This left a wreckage—of broken relationships, hurt family members, and a criminal background that still haunts him. Ultimately, through dedication spirituality, and hard work he was able to recreate himself as an asset to society. |
|
|
| Mr. Nevin is an entrepreneurial, business owner, and advocate of the green movement whose mission includes healthy living, conservation of resources, and education of sustainable solutions for businesses and individuals. Mr. Nevin lives in New Jersey and works in the consulting industry for sustainable products. His passion is working with youth and young adults in sharing his experience, strength, hope, and knowledge about the devastating consequences of making poor choices. His future goals include expanding his outreach to parents and family since he believes the family dynamic within addiction is most important. |
|
|
| Raymond Nourmand, Ph.D |
TOP |
| Clinical Psychologist |
|
|
| Dr. Raymond Nourmand is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist Specializing in Relationships. His goal is to help people better understand themselves, so they can build happier, more fulfilling relationships. Dr. Nourmand has a private practice in Brentwood, and enjoys serving children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, couples, and families. |
|
|
| Scot Ober, CPA |
TOP |
| A Better Los Angeles, USC |
|
|
| Mr. Ober is a graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business, a CPA, and currently president of Allen Packaging Company in Tustin, CA – a packaging distribution company serving Southern California. |
|
|
| He became involved with A Better LA in 2007 as a volunteer, and continues in that role which now includes event planning and photography. He also supports and volunteers with several areas of USC, including 20 years of membership in the athletic department’s Board of Counselors. Mr. Ober also is involved in event support for A Better LA by USC Marshall's annual “Challenge for Charity” (C4C) program and the athletic department’s community outreach program. |
|
|
| Kaylynn Patel |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ms. Patel is 25 years old. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is in her second year. She also holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. She has experience working with substance abuse and the homeless population. Once graduates, Ms. Patel hopes to work in a prison, conducting assessments, as well as be an expert witness. |
|
|
| Lizbeth Pereyra |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Lizbeth Pereyra attained a B.S., in psychology from the University of La Verne and a Post-Baccalaureate in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University as well as a CADC-CAS. Ms. Pereyra attends The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, Campus, pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology. Ms. Pereyra’s experience includes the management of daily operations and clinical treatment of residents in a drug and alcohol residential facility. Currently, she is employed as a Mental Health Coordinator with an agency contracted by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. |
|
|
| Kendall Phelan, M.A. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Kendall Phelan is currently in her last semester of her Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology at TCSPP Los Angeles. She is currently working as a Forensic MA Trainee at TCSPP Irvine Counseling Center where she provides psychotherapy and career assessments. She is interested in using her training to advocate for incarcerated populations and breaking the stigma to broaden the lens of male and female offenders. |
|
|
| Christopher Pieczynski, J.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Mr. Christopher Pieczynski is a current doctoral student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Forensic Psychology Psy.D. program. Mr. Pieczynski received his undergraduate degree from Oregon State University in psychology in 2010 and a law degree from New England Law, Boston in 2015. He has worked as a counselor in the mental health field, particularly in residential treatment facilities and for a forensic psychology unit for two years. His legal work has involved mental health law, specifically spending nine months with the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee in Boston, MA. His work with the MHLAC directly involved mental health law research and advisement on new policies and changes, as well as work with legal cases involving clients who have been previously diagnosed with mental health disorders. Mr. Pieczynski has also worked as an independent contractor, gathering housing court statistics focusing on disparities in evictions that were filed within the Boston Housing Court. His current interests focus on gang violence and intervention, as well as legal complications and hurdles faced by those diagnosed with mental health disorders. |
|
|
| David Pisarra, J.D., |
TOP |
| Mew Media Marketing |
|
|
| His YouTube videos have been watched over 140,000 times. His podcasts have been downloaded over 15,000 times, and his FIVE books have sold from Burbank to Bangalore. |
|
|
| Since 2001, he has been writing weekly the What’s the Point? column in the Santa Monica Daily Press asking questions and providing insights on topics of local, national and international interest. |
|
|
| As a professional speaker he presents on the world of New Media Marketing for Professionals and Corporations, Leadership Lessons from Dads, and with his message of individual inspiration, See Your Best Self. |
|
|
| His mentorship programs are designed to help you find your voice, and share it with the world, through podcasting, videos and webinars, authorship and public speaking. |
|
|
| What are you waiting for? you have a message, let’s share it with the world! |
|
|
| Anthony Porter |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team |
|
|
| A man truly dedicated to changing the state of his community from violence to peace. Once a part of the gang problem, now a part of the solution. His unwavering support of this work encompasses what it means to conduct Gang Intervention. He is a member of the P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team and has utilized his personal transformation to ensure he upholds the creed of restoring hope and effecting positive change in his community. |
|
|
| Natalie Reinfeld, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Telcare |
|
|
| Natalie Reinfeld is an Argentina native who moved to Miami, Florida in 1994. She started her career in mental health in 2002 as the assistant director for the AmeriCorps’ Community Integration Pilot Program. This experience provided her with a strong foundation for the serious mentally ill population. Natalie completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2003, her Masters of Arts degree from Pepperdine University in 2005; and her Doctorate of Psychology degree with an emphasis in Health Psychology in 2010. She received her license in clinical psychology shortly thereafter. Natalie worked with a variety of populations ranging from children with autism, children and adult survivors of sexual trauma, adults diagnosed with co-occurring disorders, LGBTQ, and adults diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. All these populations were treated in outpatient, step-downs and/or inpatient settings. Most recently, her focus has been on the serious mentally ill population and the forensic cross-over. Throughout the years she has been leading a variety of teams; currently she is in charge of 4 programs with 40 staff, who the majority consider themselves employees with lived experience. |
|
|
| Dean Rishel, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Rishel received his degree in clinical psychology from Alliant International University, Los Angeles. His forensic/clinical field experiences include, but are not limited to, managing an intensive substance abuse day treatment program for women and their children; providing individual, family, couples, and child psychotherapy to ethnically and diagnostically diverse populations; conducting full psychological batteries on adults and children; working with teenagers who have co-occurring disorders through individual, group and family therapy; providing crisis intervention to survivors of trauma or serious loss; performing time-limited psychotherapy with college students; serving victims of domestic violence through individual and group psychotherapy; and counseling serious juvenile offenders in the California Department of Juvenile Justice (formerly the California Youth Authority). |
|
|
| Tommie Rivers |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I. Leadership Team |
|
|
| One refined and committed individual in restoring peace to traumatized and violent-prone communities, Tommie has re-dedicated his life to community restoration. He is an abundance of positivity in the lives of youth and young adults he touches. He is not only a member of the phenomenal Instructional and Leadership Team of P.C.I.T.I but he also coaches, speaks, and gives every bit of himself to his community and those in need. |
|
|
| Fidel T. Rodriguez, Human Relation Consultant, Violence Prevention Specialist |
TOP |
| County of Los Angeles Human Relation Commission |
|
|
| Fidel T. Rodriguez for nearly 20 years has been raising consciousness and awareness through the aphorism "Know Thy Self.” His life’s work has been built upon the three pillars; knowledge, wisdom and understanding. |
|
|
| Through these pillars he has developed a mindful pragmatism rooted in indigenous cultural paradigms and beliefs that has enabled him to share practical tools that assist youth and adults on their journey to develop character and grit. His trainings focus on meditation, personal transformation, indigenous spirituality and writing ones personal narrative to heal from trauma and further develop ones self-worth. Furthermore, trainings assist participants on their journey towards self-mastery based on universal principles and knowledge. The ultimate goal is to create paradigm shifts in thinking with youth and young adults affected by the Juvenile and Criminal Justice System. |
|
|
| Fidel is a Human Relations Consultant and Violence Prevention Specialist for the County of Los Angeles’ Human Relation Commission where he facilitates and coordinates “Spreading Seeds: Body, Mind, Spirit” a rite of passage program which began at Homeboy Industries in 2008. Currently, Fidel is coordinating Spreading Seeds Healing Network, a support Network for regional community-based service providers in LA County. The support and training's focus on: providing a safe space to heal from trauma, developing more meaningful working relationships with each other, and developing and nurturing spiritual practices, guiding principles and methods to create personal change. |
|
|
| Currently, Fidel facilitating an 8 hour state-certified wellness and cultural diversity training entitled Breaking the Cycle with Dignity: Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles - 24/7 with over 60 probation officers from Camp Rockey while simultaneously facilitating a 3 month wellness and leadership training with 25 selected juveniles mentored by a team of probation officers from Camp Rockey. Weekly, Fidel can be found in numerous high schools in Los Angeles leading Spreading Seeds trainings with students focused on meditation, personal transformation, and Hip Hop culture. |
|
|
| Alana Route, Psy.D., Clinical Program Director |
TOP |
| Intensive Outpatient Program at BLVD Treatment Centers |
|
|
| Dr. Alana Routé earned a Psychology Doctorate (Psy.D.) in Clinical Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in December of 2013. Since then, she has gained a wealth of experience working in a variety of forensic populations including outpatient and residential mental health agencies, narcotic treatment programs, drug court, LGBTQ populations and has worked with both juvenile and adult offenders. Prior to receiving her doctorate, Dr. Routé worked in the Emergency Department for 10 years and became an expert in policies, procedures and HIPAA compliance. Dr. Routé consults with medical and mental health professionals, specializing in substance abuse & co-occurring disorders, program development and start-ups. Currently, Dr. Routé is the Clinical Program Director for the Intensive Outpatient Program at BLVD Treatment Centers in San Diego, CA. |
|
|
| Matthew Sandusky |
TOP |
| Peaceful Hearts Foundation |
|
|
| Matthew Sandusky, Founder and Executive Director of Peaceful Hearts Foundation, was a victim of childhood sexual abuse from the age of 8 to 17 at the hands of his adopted father, Jerry Sandusky. Matthew is working to turn his traumatic personal experience into a mechanism to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help other survivors heal. |
|
|
| Through his work with Peaceful Hearts, Matthew, raises awareness around child sexual abuse in local communities, supports the life-saving work of children’s advocacy and sexual assault treatment centers, and advocates for legislative changes. Matthew works with researchers, clinicians, the media, politicians, social workers, and child protection professionals to raise awareness and improve the quality and availability of services to survivors nationwide. |
|
|
| In addition to his advocacy work, Matthew is committed to empowering and educating children to use their voices and help protect them against abuse. He is working with other advocates to implement an in-school curriculum to empower children to use their voices as a first line of defense, along with parents and teachers. |
|
|
| Matthew is also an accomplished author, chronicling his years of abuse in his memoir, Undaunted: Breaking my silence to overcome the trauma of child sexual abuse, which sheds light on the truth about abuse and the healing journey that a victim goes through to become a survivor. |
|
|
| As an internationally recognized spokesperson, on the topic of child sexual abuse, Matthew is asked regularly to comment on breaking news. He has done a one-on-one interview with Oprah Winfrey, been featured in two documentaries, Happy Valley and Invisible Scars, and is regularly published in major newspapers across the country. |
|
|
| Matthew attended Penn State University, studying Business. He along with his wife and children currently reside in State College, PA. Through his work with Peaceful Hearts Foundation, Matthew Sandusky has moved from victim to survivor of child sexual abuse. |
|
|
| Cris Scaglione, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Assistant Professor, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Cris Ann Scaglione holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She has over 25 years of experience in neuropsychological assessment, rehabilitation, and therapy, but was initially drawn to psychology by the works of Jung. Human potential, creativity and spirituality continue to inform her clinical work, which has focused on brain injury, dementia, trauma, and grief/loss. She has a wide range of interests within and outside of psychology, especially music, holistic and comparative psychology, and anthropology. |
|
|
| She teaches full time in the Marriage and Family Therapy department of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where, among other duties, she is involved in developing specialty training in multicultural and gero-psychology, and the application of neuropsychological models to the treatment of substance abuse and trauma. |
|
|
| Donald Schultz, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Donald Schultz, Associate Professor of Psychology, is an integral member of the faculty at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. As a Core (Department) Faculty Member of the Applied Clinical Psychology Department, he teaches courses in gerontology, life span development, family systems, existential-humanistic psychology and various other areas within the clinical psychology realm. Dr. Schultz received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Master of Arts in General-Experimental Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from the California Graduate Institute. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he does extensive committee work, serves as a chair or reader on dissertation committees, chairs the comprehensive examination and candidacy interview committees, is an oral comprehensive examiner, and has served as a clinical supervisor at the Chicago School’s counseling center, among other activities, including having served as the Vice-Chair, then Chair, and then Past Chair of the Southern California Faculty Council. He is an innovator and participant in projects, programs and initiatives throughout the The Chicago School. Recent examples include his serving as a Faculty Mentor to other Chicago School professors, as well as serving as a “shadowing professor” for Chicago School students as part of the Preparing Future Psychology Faculty (PF2) program. |
|
|
| As a California Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Schultz maintains a private practice in Los Angeles. Dr. Schultz’s clinical focus is interpersonal and existential in nature, with an emphasis on the “here and now” while also emphasizing successful aging and the achievement of life meaning as ultimate life goals. He actively applies his clinical and philosophical viewpoints to his teaching and practice. In addition to California state licensure, Dr. Schultz holds a Certificate in Gerontology from the California Graduate Institute, a Certificate in Clinical Supervision from the Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences, and is certified as an Alzheimer ’s disease and Other Dementias Treatment Specialist (ADODTS) from the Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences. |
|
|
| Richard Sinacola, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Marital and Family Therapy Department |
|
|
| Richard S. Sinacola, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Pasadena. He is also Lecturer, Department of Psychology at California State University - Los Angeles, as well as Adjunct Professor of Psychology and MFT at both The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Mount Saint Mary's University. He is the author of Basic Psychopharmacology for Counselors and Psychotherapists (Pearson Publications) and lectures widely on topics related to pharmacology, spirituality, and ethics. He is a psychological consultant with Audio Digest Corporation in Glendale and is an ordained member of the Catholic clergy (Liberal Rite). |
|
|
| Kenneth Smith |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I. Leadership and Instructional Team |
|
|
| Kenneth has been a member of the P.C.I.T.I’s Leadership and Instructional Team for years. He has made a tremendous impact on the community he serves. His affiliation with the non-profit 2nd Call allows him a forum to educate troubled youth and steer them in more positive directions in life. Along with impact weekly impact sessions, he also facilitates classes that assist persons with past criminal backgrounds to prepare and attain employment. He gives the community every inch of himself, and greatly impassioned individual. |
|
|
| Tammi Stefano, Executive Director & Director of Public Relations |
TOP |
| National Safe Child Coalition |
|
|
| Ms. Stefano is the Executive Director of The National Safe Child Coalition (NSCC). She has spent over two decades on the front-lines fighting for child safety. She understands the emotions of being victimized, having survived a kidnapping in her younger years. Determination was the driving force that prompted her to go undercover to catch a pedophile school teacher. She hands-on advocacy work has drawn comparisons to Erin Brockovich. She brings a background of legal research, training in child sexual abuse, certification as a Supervising Visitation Monitor and years working with parents on their Family Court cases. Having launched Capital Campaigns for Law Enforcement, Fire Organizations and Public Schools, Ms. Stefano is eager to launch a campaign to reform a broken system. |
|
|
| She is on the Planning Committee for the International Violence Abuse and Trauma Conference (IVAT). She also is on IVAT’s Sub-Committees; Child Maltreatment Victims (physical and Sexual Abuse); Children Exposed to Violence;Legal & Criminal Justice Issues. Tammi is a member of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence (NPEIV) and is Co-Chairwoman on their Networking & Public Relations Committee |
|
|
| John Thomas, Chief |
TOP |
| Department of Public Safety |
|
|
| University of Southern California |
|
|
| Chief John Thomas is a native of Los Angeles. Prior to his appointment to Captain at the University of Southern California (USC) Department of Public Safety (DPS) in October 2006, he spent twenty-one years as a member of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) where he retired at the rank of Lieutenant in December 2005 to accept a position as Deputy Chief of Police for the University of the District of Columbia Department of Public Safety & Emergency Management in Washington D.C. He was promoted to USC Department of Public Safety’s Assistant Chief in February 2009 and to Chief in January 2013. |
|
|
| A product of South Los Angeles, he graduated from Crenshaw High School before attending UCLA. He holds a BA in Political Science/Liberal Arts from UCLA, and also completed graduate course work in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia and recently graduated from the Cottonwood Leadership College with a degree in Biblical Studies. He holds California State Police Officer Standards in Training (POST) Certificates for the Basic, Advanced, Supervisory and Management levels. He is a graduate of the West Point Leadership Program, the Los Angeles Police Department Command Development Program and the 218th Session of the FBI National Academy. |
|
|
| Chief Thomas resides in Long Beach, CA and has been married for 29 years. He and his wife Stephanie have three adult children. He has been an active member of Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, CA since 1989. And despite being a retired Los Angeles Police Lieutenant, Chief Thomas continues to “Protect and Serve” the people of Los Angeles as an LAPD Line Reserve Officer working patrol and other assignments throughout the city. |
|
|
| Alicia Thompson |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I |
|
|
| A committed individual to organizational and community development. Alicia has contributed a major portion of her professional career to the betterment of communities through proactive administration of P.C.I.T.I. She has been a member of this team for the past 7 years and continues to market and publicize the significance of PCITI’s service to communities worldwide. |
|
|
| Anne C. Tremblay, J.D. |
TOP |
| Director, Gang Reduction & Youth Development |
|
|
| Anne has served as the Director of Mayor Garcetti's Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development (GRYD) since January of 2014. GRYD’s mission is to strengthen youth, family and community resilience to the influence of gangs by fostering public/private collaborations and supporting community-based prevention and intervention services. |
|
|
| Anne joined the City in 2002 and spent over five years as the Neighborhood Prosecutor assigned to Los Angeles Police Department’s Newton Area. In this position, she worked in partnership with the police, city agencies and area stakeholders on projects designed to improve the quality of life and increase safety in the community. Anne later supervised the City Attorney's Anti- Gang Section where she led the office's gangs and firearms violence reduction strategies. She co- created and administered the gang alternative sentencing program and the gang injunction removal process. |
|
|
| Anne is the author of Beyond Community Policing: Engaging Prosecutors in Community Safety Partnerships and is co-author Creative Problem Solving and the Law, a call for increased innovation and collaboration among criminal justice system partners. |
|
|
| Anne holds a J.D. from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. in History from the University of California Berkeley. She was the 2013-14 President of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and is a former foster parent. |
|
|
| Nita Watson, M.A. |
TOP |
| Heritage Homes Inc. |
|
|
| Nita L. Watson is a Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Intern. She received her B.S. in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Inland Empire, before eventually becoming supervisor of the Therapeutic Behavioral Services department with Ettie Lee Homes, Inc. After her ten-year career as a therapist and supervisor there, Ms. Watson accepted an independent contractual position with Heritage Homes, Inc. as she prepares to open her private practice (Watson Counseling Services). Ms. Watson, is a dedicated member of 300 Boxing Gym and Elite Boxing Gym (Pomona, CA) where she mentors and trains inner-city youth and is an enthusiastic Lakers fan. She recently collaborated on a proposal and presented on a panel at the Daniel Memorial Institute- “Growing Pains” independent living conference with friend and colleague, Professor Sharrica Miller, PNP, RN entitled in Denver, CO. She currently resides in the Inland Empire with her partner and their dog “Princess Dior.” |
|
|
| Terry Webster, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| Pacific Oaks College |
|
|
| Dr. Terry Webster holds a PhD in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine. Currently, Dr. Webster is a faculty member in the Human Development department at Pacific Oaks College. Her current research interests include development across the lifespan, specifically the impact of social and built environments on human behavior. |
|
|
| Compston Wilson |
TOP |
| P.C.I.T.I. Leadership Team |
|
|
| An individual truly dedicated to serving his community for over 10 years, more specifically the youth through which he mentors daily from sports programs and volunteered safe passage. Compston is a committed member of the P.C.I.T.I Leadership Team and continues to support its mission through loyalty and unwavering performance of peace efforts. |
|
|
| Erika Windish |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Erika is 26 years old and is in her second year in the Clinical Forensic Psychology, Psy.D. program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice with a concentration in Criminal Behavior from Wilmington University in Wilmington, Delaware. When she completes her Doctoral program she hopes to work in the criminal justice system conducting psychological assessments. |
|
|
| Curtis Woodle, Sgt. |
TOP |
| Los Angeles Police Department |
|
|
| Mr. Woodle is a 26-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, currently assigned to the Office of Chief of Police, as the Department-wide gang intervention liaison supervisor. Mr. Woodle was born and raised in Southern California; he made the decision to join the Los Angeles Police Department in 1985, after eleven years in the Banking Industry as a night shift supervisor at Bank of America data processing center in downtown LA. Mr. Woodle has worked several different assignments within the police department, which include, Street Patrol, Juvenile Narcotics, CRASH and Gang Details as a officer and supervisor, Mr. Woodle was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1994. Over his career Mr. Woodle has been involved in some of the most innovative programs that involve hardcore gang interventions, street level gang intelligence, mediation, and assisted with the creation and implementation of a new community based gang policing model in South Bureau. Mr. Woodle has also been involved in working and developing prevention and intervention programs with inner-city youths, who live in the most gang-infested neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles City and County. In 2004 he was honored by the County Board of Supervisors-Countywide Criminal Justice Coordination Inter-Agency Gang Task Force for his Rampart-Virgil Intervention Project in reducing gang membership among middle school youths. He has facilitated and taught positive psychology and cognitive skill curricula to professional staff, parents, youth groups and gang members. He is a keynote speaker and has lectured for professionals in the following areas: Community Policing, Crime Prevention, Gang Awareness, Terrorism Awareness and International Gang Intelligence. Mr. Woodle is a co-founder and a technical advisory board member of the non-profit, “A Better LA”. |
|
|
| Cynthia Worthen, Ed.D. |
TOP |
| Dean of Academic Affairs, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Cynthia Worthen is currently Dean of Academic Affairs at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles Campus where she is responsible for faculty and curriculum across all programs at the campus. Prior to her current appointment she served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Argosy University, Washington DC. She has also served as Campus Director at Redlands University Burbank, California campus, before which she was Program Coordinator at University of La Verne in La Verne, California. She earned her Ed.D. degree in Educational Leadership from the University of La Verne and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University. She has presented at conferences in the area of student academic success, diversity and leadership. Dr. Worthen has led or participated in projects which demonstrate fluency in managing operations, change, accreditation and regulatory compliance and the institutionalization of modern academic policies and procedures. Her interests now focus on the pedagogy of teaching and learning for the non-traditional student. She was recently appointed to the Board of Advisors for Deans and Provost and was formerly on the Board of Directors of Alliance for Adult Higher Education where she served as Secretary. |
|
|
| Roxann Wright |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Roxann Wright is going into her third year of the Clinical Forensic Psychology Doctoral Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles. Roxann holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology for the Helping Professions and a Masters in Forensic Psychology. Roxann is a member of the Golden Key and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She currently works as a therapist with court ordered clients at the Ness Counseling Center, a non-profit for court ordered and voluntary low income client. She will soon be joining the San Fernando Valley Mental Health Centers for Older Adult Services, providing mental health care for the elderly. Ms. Wright hopes to work for the court system, correctional system, and/or law enforcement in the roles of assessment and psychological services upon graduating. |
|
|
| Joshua Wyner, Ph.D. |
TOP |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Josh is one of the only Clinical Neuroscientists practicing as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the Los Angeles area. He uses his unique understanding of the relationship between mind, body, and heart to help clients become more mindful of their thoughts and emotions. He began his career as an engineer, working at USC’s Optical Materials and Devices Laboratory where he helped develop retinal prosthetics to restore vision to blind. However, he quickly discovered that his real interest was in the human aspects of helping people see, not building the devices themselves. He soon transitioned to USC’s Neuroscience and Marriage & Family Therapy programs, where we studied with Dr. Laura Baker at the USC Twin Project. There he worked weekly with twins in their early teens, trying to discover how environment and genetics help shape who we become. |
|
|
| He has also worked at the Suicide Prevention Center as a Crisis Counselor, at The Maple Counseling Center, where he specialized in Mindful Parenting and child work, and with Dr. John Schureman, a leader in ADHD and developmental disorder treatment. He now works as lead faculty in the doctoral MFT program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology while maintaining a private practice in Studio City. |
|
|
| Adam Yerke, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Assistant Professor, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Adam Yerke is a Clinical Psychologist licensed in California. He currently serves as core faculty in the Clinical Forensic Department at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles) and works as a clinician and supervisor in the field of forensic psychology with sexual offenders. Dr. Yerke is certified by the California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB) as an independent practitioner, is certified as a trainer for the STABLE-2007/ACUTE-2007 risk assessments, and is chair of the South Los Angeles Chapter of the California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO). |
|
|
| Ann Young, Captain II |
TOP |
| LAPD |
|
|
| Captain II Ann E. Young is in her 34th year of service with the Los Angeles Police Department. Captain Young was appointed to the Department in June of 1981. She was promoted to the rank of in July 1988. As a detective, she worked 77th Area, Juvenile Division (Abused Child Unit), Robbery Homicide Division (Rape Special Section), and Internal Affairs. Captain Young was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1991. During that assignment, she was assigned as a field supervisor in Central Area. She transferred to South Traffic Division. She was promoted to Sergeant II in 1994. She was assigned to Tactical Planning Division in charge of Special Events. |
|
|
| Captain Young promoted to Lieutenant in July of 1995; her assignments included Hollywood Area, Pacific Area, and Transit Group. She was promoted to Lieutenant II in March of 1999, and was assigned to Van Nuys Operations Support Division. In April 2000, she was the first African-American promoted to the rank of Captain I, within the Los Angeles Police Department. As a Commanding Officer, Captain Young has worked and was assigned to Van Nuys Operations Support Division, South and Central Traffic Divisions, and Detective Support and Vice Division. She is currently the Commanding Officer of Central Traffic Division. |
|
|
| Captain Young earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She earned a teaching credential from the University of California, Irvine. Captain Young has earned a Master's Degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). |
|
|
| Captain Young is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy of Law Enforcement in Quantico, Virginia, in 1998, Class 195th Session. Captain Young is also a graduate of West Point Leadership and Supervisory Leadership Institute. Captain Young is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute in Boston. |
|
|
| Staff Biographies |
|
|
| Debra Warner, Psy.D. |
TOP |
| Conference Director |
|
|
| Full Professor, Forensic Psychology |
|
|
| Dr. Warner received her Master of Arts and Master of Education in counseling psychology from Columbia University, Teachers College, in New York City. She completed her doctorate in Forensic Psychology from Alliant International University, in Fresno. She has served as an adjunct professor for several universities and as Lead Faculty for Chapman University's Marriage and Family Therapy program. She most recently was promoted to Full Professor and is the VIDA Volunteer Liaison for the Los Angeles campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Psy.D. program in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She has also served as Special Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs: Diversity and Community Engagement and Lead/Chair for the Forensic Psychology department for Los Angeles and Irvine Campuses. Some of her other professional assignments have included the Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles Police Department, C.U.R.E.-A Better Los Angeles, the Department of Defense, the Department of Corrections and Regional Center. For these assignments she designed the program elements related to mental health and evaluation. Moreover, she served as clinical supervisor relating to human trafficking, trauma, domestic violence, PTSD and multicultural therapeutic techniques. |
|
|
| In 2009 she received several awards and recognitions for community engagement from the Los Angeles City Attorney, the Department of Defense, Los Angeles Police Department and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In 2013 she was given a distinguished teaching award for Outstanding Public Service Teaching. She currently is a peer reviewer on several academic journals and is part of the Medical Advisory Board for Quality Health. She is on the board of directors for The National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV) relating to public awareness and publicity. Currently, her research focuses on diversity issues connected to forensic community mental health and was psychological expert in a recent book and documentary on the subject. |
|
|
| She is an invited consultant involving academic program review and evaluation both nationally and internationally. She has created several community based programs for law enforcement and government agencies that focus on criminogenic needs and community intervention. She is also an invited speaker pertaining to community gang intervention. Moreover, Dr. Warner has created certification materials for mental health professionals in regards to domestic violence, trauma care, CAST, and child custody evaluations. She has also written a number of encyclopedia entries related to crime, social policy and justice for Sage publications and a published article for the Journal of Banking and Economics. In her spare time, she serves as Executive Director for her private practice/consulting business and creates conferences related to community gang intervention and violence with the support of law enforcement and mental health organizations. She now focuses her clinical endeavors on male survivor issues of abuse, violence and trauma. It should be noted that in all of Dr. Warner’s professional endeavors she always involves and mentors students for professional development. |
|
|
| Nikiesha Brooks M.A. |
TOP |
| Assistant Director of Coordination |
|
|
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ms. Brooks is currently a graduate student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Forensic Psychology Psy.D. Program. She received her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix, Gardena and has worked in community mental health for the past four years. Ms. Brooks has worked with the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department for the past year in their Vital Intervention Directional Alternative’s Academy with at-risk youths and families, and also with incarcerated inmates at the Century Regional Detention Facility. |
|
|
| Crystal Flores |
TOP |
| Assistant Director of Programming |
|
|
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Ms. Flores graduated from UC riverside with a B.A. in Psychology law and society. She is graduate student of Clinical Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles. She is currently in her 3rd year and has worked with at risk and incarcerated youth and adults in outpatient substance abuse programs. She has an interest in working with diversity issues and also serves as Assistant Conference Director of Programing. |
|
|
| Christopher McMullen |
TOP |
| Assistant Director of Outreach |
|
|
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
|
|
| Christopher graduated from Savannah State University in 2014 with his B.A in Sociology. Christopher attends The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles campus, pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology. He was recently elected a board member for the Black Student Union (BSU) Board as the Public Relations Chair this upcoming school term. Christopher is also a member of the National Coalition for Men (NCFM), which stands to change the harmful gender based stereotypes that surrounds men as they impact family, friends, and those around the individual. |
|
|
|
|
|