The Regional Children's Advocacy Centers are partnering to host virtual MDT Facilitator Peer Forums. These forums provide a space for MDT facilitators to connect with their peers across the country doing similar work. Each forum starts in a large-group format to review a topic related to MDT facilitation, and then participants are placed in Zoom breakout rooms for self-facilitated, small-group discussions and resource sharing. At the end, participants are brought back together in one large group for a Q&A with Regional CAC staff.
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These forums are open nationally to individuals with a primary or shared responsibility for facilitating the success of the MDT - i.e., tending to the relationships, communication and accountability of the MDT at a Children's Advocacy Center.
Jordan Benning, MEd, Project Director - Midwest Regional CAC
Tony DeVincenzo, Senior Training Specialist - Northeast Regional CAC
Lydia Johnson Grady, Program Manager, MDT Development - Southern Regional CAC
As a result of this forum, participants will:
- Gain foundational knowledge and skills for effective team facilitation.
- Apply learning to practice through peer discussions.
- Connect with peers throughout the U.S.
These forums are free to attend. Individuals may attend any or all forums. Please pay attention to which time zone you are in below each date. Please note that the times below do not represent multiple peer forums, rather it represents when the call starts in the time zone you are located in. Dates and training topics of upcoming scheduled forums are as follows:
Thursday, June 26, 2025 | Developing Effective MOUs for MDTs Serving Native Nations
- 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. AKDT (Alaska)
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PDT/MST (Pacific/Mountain Standard)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. MDT (Mountain)
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. CDT (Central)
- 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EDT (Eastern)
**If you registered for the May 8th peer forum, you have been automatically enrolled in the new session on June 26, 2025.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | Topic TBD
- 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. AKDT (Alaska)
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PDT/MST (Pacific/Mountain Standard)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. MDT (Mountain)
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. CDT (Central)
- 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EDT (Eastern)
Important Notice: We use various platforms to send automated emails, notifications, and auto-generated certificates. To ensure you receive these communications, please add the following emails to your Safe Sender List:
- noreply@salesforce.com
- mrcacoutreachcoordinator@gmail.com
For assistance with Outlook and Gmail, refer to this help document: https://bit.ly/mrcac-safesend
What you can expect during the 90-minute forum:
Each forum starts in a large-group format to review a special topic relevant to MDT facilitation, and then participants move to Zoom breakout rooms for small-group discussions and resource sharing. The meeting closes with all participants returning together in one large group for a Q&A with Regional CAC staff.
How you can prepare:
- Make sure you have high-speed internet access, a computer or laptop, speakers and a microphone (or a headset), and a web camera. To best facilitate peer conversations, we will ask you to keep your camera turned on whenever possible.
- To honor the confidentiality of other discussion group attendees we ask that you participate in space that is private or use headphones to limit the broadcast of the discussion.
- Prepare your thoughts and comments about the identified topic.
- Review the agreements below.
Agreements:
- Be brief - Investing less time in back story allows us more time for discussion.
- Be mindful of your airtime - Allow for everyone to add to the discussion or ask questions.
- Be confidential - What is shared here stays here.
- Be curious - Use those learner questions - open-ended, open-minded questions which promote discoveries, understanding, and solutions. Start with phrases like "what if….", "what else…."
Contact your Regional CAC representative:
- Midwest Regional CAC: Jordan Benning
- Northeast Regional CAC: Tony DeVincenzo
- Southern Regional CAC: Lydia Johnson Grady
- Western Region: Please feel free to contact any of the representatives above