The four Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers (RCACs) have come together to offer a National Chapter Executive Coaching Program grounded in the belief that State Chapter leaders do their best work when they are clear on their purpose, connected to their inner wisdom, and challenged to seek multiple perspectives on the many obstacles and opportunities inherent in their work. The purpose of this program is to facilitate purposeful learning, increased self-efficacy, and transformational growth for State Chapter leaders to support their movement-building efforts and increased resiliency in their role.
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As a State Chapter leader, you serve a unique role in convening, leading, and setting the tone for the coordinated response to child abuse in your state. This includes navigating important interpersonal and inter-agency relationships by modeling inclusive, intentional cultures. Your role requires you to find balance between the demands of growing and sustaining your State Chapter, while also supporting and fostering growth and development throughout your membership. It is a leadership role that can be challenging and isolating, and it has the potential for burnout if not supported with care.
The National Chapter Executive Coaching Program utilizes an executive coaching model: a partnership designed to help a leader increase self-awareness, gain clarity of purpose, and develop strategies that will be helpful in actualizing their vision without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
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Like all other personal and professional development, coaching is only as effective as the readiness and effort put forth by the individual engaging in the process. You are ready for coaching if you resonate with the following:
- You understand that how you show up and continue to grow as a leader directly impacts how your Chapter functions.
- You are willing and able to commit to and prioritize at least one hour per week to your own personal and professional growth.
- You have a growth mindset and are willing to be challenged and held accountable to your agreements and commitments.
- You are willing to experiment and fail.
- You understand and believe that your personal leadership plays a role in establishing the culture at your Chapter, as well as contributes to the CAC movement as a whole.
- You can commit to all elements of the program outlined below.
This program includes the following elements over the course of 3-4 months:
- Applications open now through January 17, 2025.
- Applicants will be notified by January 24, 2025.
- Six – 60-minute coaching sessions
- Three – 75-minute virtual Peer Connection Circles with other coaching participants (Important! Please note the specific start and end times for your time zone.)
- Program Kick-Off: Thursday, February 20, 2025
- 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
- 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. AKST (Alaska)
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. PST (Pacific)
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. MST (Mountain)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. CST (Central)
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EST (Eastern)
- Program Mid-Point Check-In: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- 7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
- 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. AKDT (Alaska)
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. PDT (Pacific)
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. MDT (Mountain)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. CDT (Central)
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EDT (Eastern)
- Program Close: Thursday, May 22, 2025
- 7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
- 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. AKDT (Alaska)
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. PDT (Pacific)
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. MDT (Mountain)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. CDT (Central)
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EDT (Eastern)
- Program Kick-Off: Thursday, February 20, 2025
- Pre/Post intake and assessment to measure progress
Prior to engaging in the coaching process, you will be asked to complete an extensive intake form that provides insight and perspective on areas of your work/life that are going well and areas that are challenging. You will be asked to identify your primary obstacles as well as your current goals for the coaching sessions. This intake form will provide the foundation for your discovery session when you work with your coach to establish your partnership and your purpose for the coaching sessions. You will also identify or refresh your personal values – an important aspect of creating and maintaining integrity within your leadership position.
We encourage a rhythm of biweekly coaching for the remaining 6 sessions that will assist with accountability and action. Each coaching session will follow a similar process to that which is outlined below:
Fully Arrive: Participants will be asked to buffer their coaching sessions with 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of reflection before and after each session. Upon arriving to the coaching session, participants will utilize a practice for transitioning into the coaching space and relationship. During this time, participants will also set their intention for how they’d like to show up during the session.
Goal Setting: At each session, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their agreements, homework, and learning since the prior session. Then they will establish a new goal for the current session.
Transformation: The coach will engage in asking powerful questions, utilize various frameworks for exploration, and guide the participant towards their established goal.
Closing: Every session will end with a check-in on progress towards the established goal and broader purpose for engaging in coaching. During this time, any additional action steps will be discussed, and a practice will be used to transition out of the space.
Peer Connection Circles will occur at the beginning, middle, and end of the program to increase connection and learning among peers who are engaging in similar transformational work. The Peer Connection Circles will also provide an additional space for reflection and action on your coaching goals. All information shared during both the individual sessions and the Peer Connection Circles is confidential and will not be shared outside of the coaching partnership.
Because issues that require more direct consulting and technical assistance may arise in the context of coaching, your coach may set up work sessions separate from the coaching sessions to explore specific strategies, tools, and resources.
NOTE: Given the intensity of this program, we will only be taking a limited number of participants and will only accept those who can commit to all aspects of the program.
Accepted participants will be paired with one of the following coaches based on a variety of factors including coaching focus, expertise, and capacity.
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Tony DeVincenzo
Training Specialist, Northeast Regional CAC Tony DeVincenzo is a Training Specialist at Northeast Regional CAC. Tony brings over 20 years of expertise in law enforcement, child advocacy, and multidisciplinary team (MDT) coordination to the National Chapter Executive Coaching Program. As a former MDT member, Team Coordinator, and Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Program Director, Tony is deeply committed to strengthening the CAC movement. He empowers leaders by fostering strengths-based leadership, promoting effective team collaboration, and delivering impactful coaching, training, and technical assistance. |
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Greg Flett
Senior Program Manager – MDT & CAC Development, Southern Regional CAC Greg Flett is the Senior Program Manager for MDT and CAC Development at Southern Regional CAC. As an experienced facilitator, trainer, and coach, Greg employs genuine curiosity to understand how individuals and teams function and thrive in different settings. With a coaching stance, Greg supports leaders as they identify goals and learn to grow beyond obstacles that stand in their way. |
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Emily Chittenden Laird
Director, Southern Regional CAC Emily Chittenden-Laird is the Director of Southern Regional CAC. Emily is an experienced strategist and leader. Fueled by a desire to develop leaders and cast an inspiring vision for growth, Emily leads the SRCAC team by providing oversight and direction to ensure transformational change within the CAC movement. As a coach, Emily enjoys helping leaders grow their innate gifts and learn to trust themselves more deeply. |
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Kori Stephens
Senior Program Manager - Chapter Development, Southern Regional CAC Kori Stephens is the Senior Program Manager for Chapter Development at the Southern Regional CAC. With 15 years of experience in the child advocacy center movement, Kori has worked as a strategic advisor, coach, and consultant with CACs and Chapters of all sizes. Fueled by growth and deep relationships, she takes pride in cultivating community and connections that offer self-development and belonging. |
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Cara Vock
Program Manager – Chapter Development, Southern Regional CAC Cara Vock is the Program Manager for Chapter Development at Southern Regional CAC. Cara is an experienced leader, advocate, coach, and facilitator. Rooted in her experience working at a CAC, and a State Chapter, Cara has a deep commitment to state-wide systems and collaborative learning. Driven by a love for connection and innovation, she helps to grow, strengthen, and enhance Chapter leaders. |
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Caitlin Smith
Chapter Specialist – Chapter Development and Resources, Western Regional CAC Caitlin Smith is a Chapter Specialist at Western Regional CAC. With over a decade of experience working with CACs at the Chapter level, Caitlin is familiar with the challenges faced by leaders in these dynamic networks. She remains committed to empowering leaders to build their confidence through deep reflection and strategizing. |
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Patty Terzian
Project Director, Western Regional CAC Patty Terzian is the Project Director at Western Regional CAC. Patty is an experienced nonprofit leader, strategist, speaker, and executive coach, with 15 years of experience working with Child Advocacy Centers and Chapters. Motivated by the impact of strong teams and empowered leaders, Patty leads initiatives designed to help professionals enhance their skills, cultivate leadership, and strengthen resilience in their roles. |