ACRC’s International Direct Care Summit 2025

Dr. Whittaker received his A.B. from Boston College in 1964, his M.S.W. from the University of Michigan in 1966 and his Ph.D. in Social Work with a minor in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1970. Dr. Whittaker joined the UW senior faculty ranks in 1970 as Associate Professor and was promoted to Full Professor in 1976.  In 2005 he was honored by the award of the Charles O. Cressey Endowed Professorship at the University of Washington, School of Social Work for his many contributions to child, youth and family services research and scholarship. Dr. Whittaker is also the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Association of Children’s Residential and Community Services (ACRC) in 2011 and The European Scientific Association for Residential and Family Care (EUSARF) in 2018.

His research and teaching interests encompass the integration of evidence-based practices into contemporary child & family services including therapeutic residential care, therapeutic foster care and intensive community and family-centered treatment alternatives, child welfare history and comparative child, youth and family services. A frequent contributor to the professional literature, Dr. Whittaker is author/co-author/editor of 10 books and over 100 peer review papers and book chapters. In all, his works have been translated into Dutch, Danish, German, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

His latest book – Revitalizing Residential Care for Children and Youth: Cross-National Trends and Challenges (2023) in collaboration with Prof. Lisa Holmes (UK), Prof. Jorge F. del Valle (Spain) and Prof. Sigrid James (Germany) was published by Oxford University Press in its International Policy Exchange Series. This multi-year effort involved the work of 49 international scholars and provides a detailed and systematic review of how 16 countries with developed welfare and social service systems address the question of how differing societies assess current needs and future directions in their critical residential child and youth care sectors.

Dr. Whittaker has served on the editorial review boards of a number of U.S. and international social service journals including: Social Service Review: 1999-2017 (U.S.); Journal of Public Child Welfare: 2005–present (U.S.); The British Journal of Social Work: 2000-2019 (U.K.); Child & Family Social Work:1997-present (U.K.) ; International Journal of Child & Family Welfare:1995-present (Netherlands) ; Children & Youth  Services Review: 1979-1994 (U.S.) and Residential Treatment for Children and Youth: 2015-present(U.S.). He is a founding member of IAOBER, The International Association for Outcome-Based Evaluation and Research on Family & Children’s Services (Padova, Italy): 2001-2019 and served as an Associated Board member of EUSARF, the European Scientific Association for Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (Groningen, The Netherlands) from 2003-2017.

Dr Lisa Cherry is an author, researcher, leading international trainer and consultant, specialising in assisting settings, services and systems to create systemic change to the way that we work with those experiencing and living with, the legacy of trauma. Lisa has been working in and around Education and Children’s Services for over 35 years and combines academic knowledge and research with professional expertise and personal experience. Lisa has worked extensively with Social workers, Educators, Probation Workers and those in Adult Services, training and speaking to over 35,000 people around the world including in the US, Australia and Pakistan and across the whole of the UK.

Up until August 2025 Lisa was the Founder and Director of Trauma Informed Consultancy Services Ltd leading a dynamic and creative organisation that provides a 'one stop' approach to delivering on research, consultancy and learning and development.   Lisa is still very much an integral part of TICS Ltd.

Lisa has produced multiple pieces of research for various settings and Lisa's own MA research looked at the impact on education and employment for care experienced adults who experienced school exclusion as children in the 1970's and 1980's. In February 2024 Lisa completed her DPhil research at The University of Oxford in the Department of Education. The research asked "How do care experienced adults who were also excluded from school make sense of belonging?"

Lisa is the author of the hugely successful and award winning book 'Conversations that make a difference for Children and Young People' (2021), 'The Brightness of Stars’ 3rd Edition (2022), and her most recent book, Weaving a Web of Belonging (2025).   Lisa's next book 'Caring for the people who Care' is due to be published in December 2025.

Denise Delio is a dedicated and credentialed Family Peer Advocate with over 20 years of experience supporting children, youth, and families navigating mental health, substance use, and systemic challenges. Her journey into advocacy began with her own lived experience as a single mother raising four children, each with their own unique set of needs and challenges. 

Denise’s passion for helping others was sparked early on as she worked through the complex behavioral health systems to support her own children—one of whom faced lifelong mental health struggles, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and the impact of childhood trauma, which eventually led to substance use. Her other children also faced a range of challenges: from anxiety rooted in social pressures and identity, to depression stemming from bullying after coming out, to the silent burdens carried by overachieving youth working through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Motivated by her own experiences and the lack of support she once faced, Denise committed her career to walking alongside other families—offering empathy, advocacy, and the tools they need to thrive. She began as a volunteer in local school districts and eventually transitioned into a professional role as a Family Peer Advocate. Over time, she earned her New York State Credential and built a broad range of experience across both community-based and residential treatment settings. 

Denise has worked in multiple capacities, including in-home family support services aimed at preventing hospitalizations and residential placements. She also served at the New York State Office of Mental Health, where she gained valuable insight into statewide systems of care. However, missing the direct connection to families, she returned to SCO Family of Services, where she currently works in several programs including their Residential Treatment Facility, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS), Community Residence, and Group Residence programs. 

Her work is grounded in the belief that every family deserves compassionate, nonjudgmental support. Denise brings authenticity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to empowering families and youth to achieve better outcomes and become strong advocates for themselves. 

Dr. Deborah Getz, CYC-P, is a passionate educator and community advocate dedicated to the professionalization of Child and Youth Care (CYC) practitioners. With over thirty years of faculty experience, Deb led the development of the major and minor in youth development to provide graduates from the IU SPH-B youth development major/minor skills and knowledge needed to support the positive development of youth as they enter the job market or pursue graduate degrees. 

As the current President of the Child and Youth Care Certification Board (CYCCB), she supports the professionalization of youth care practitioners in the U.S. and Canada, promoting high standards of developmental support for children, youth, and families ensuring that CYC’s have the skills to support youth and families as they navigate today’s challenges.  She has extensive experience in curriculum development, design, delivery, and evaluation on topics, including youth development, child exploitation prevention, and community engagement.

Emma Harding, LMFT is the Director of Learning at the Meraki Institute of Learning by Tanager. She has 13+ years working with children, families, and professionals. Emma specializes in play therapy, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity. She is an experienced trainer and speaker at state and national conferences. She is passionate about equipping others with brain-based, practical strategies that build resilience and wellbeing.

Katrina Edmon is the Chief Operating Officer at MCHS Family of Services. She is a licensed clinical social worker who graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with her BS and MSW, and specialized in Brain Behavior and Cognitive Science, and Interpersonal Practice with children and families. Ms. Edmon has over 15 years of mental health experience and has extensive knowledge in strategic planning, program oversight and implementation, and leadership development. Ms. Edmon is most passionate about addressing mental health stigma in the African American Community, fostering powerful leaders in the child welfare arena, and promoting a trauma informed environment through programing.  Ms. Edmon is an avid traveler, loves cardio dance class, and enjoys gardening in the spring and summer. 

Dr. Katie McCoog, DSW, LCSW brings almost 20 years of clinical expertise and compassionate leadership, including 5 years with Embark Behavioral Health. Her work focuses on delivering transformative care for adolescents facing complex mental health challenges and supporting families healing from trauma, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practices, trauma-informed approaches, family systems work, inclusivity, and antiracist practices.

Dr. McCoog has spearheaded initiatives, at her program, that have significantly improved therapeutic outcomes, including the development of innovative trauma-informed care models and the implementation of comprehensive family support programs. 

Dr. McCoog is passionate about cultivating resilient healing environments and empowering multidisciplinary teams to provide outstanding therapeutic outcomes. Her commitment to advocacy and education in adolescent mental health has made her a respected voice in the field. 

Ryan Lynn: Ryan Lynn is the Vice President of Residential and Treatment Services at Pathway Family Services. He serves as the administrator for Blue Skies Residential Facility in Wichita Falls, TX, overseeing both long-term and short-term services.

Ryan has nearly 20 years of experience working with children from challenging backgrounds. He has worked in various residential programs across Texas, including long-term care and psychiatric settings. Ryan also has experience in education, having served as a special education teacher and behavior specialist. Additionally, he has worked as a rodeo coach and equine therapist for youth at a boys' ranch in Texas.

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, UT.

Sally Ryan Bosworth, MPA, LSCSW, LCAC, is a dedicated clinical and administrative leader with extensive experience in behavioral health, program development, and executive management. Holding master’s degrees in social work from the University of Kansas and Public Administration from Drake University, Sally is also a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), and a Certified Play Therapist. She currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Services for TFI, inc, and is based out of the residential campus in Topeka, Kansas. She provides operational and clinical leadership, spearheads program development—including substance use disorder treatment—and champions trauma-focused, evidence-based therapy models for residential and outpatient treatment teams in Texas and Kansas.

Sally’s career spans a variety of impactful roles. Her social work career began in high school, volunteering with children from inner city Chicago, before moving to other settings such as children’s emergency shelter, in-home and school based services, private practice, and residential level behavioral health. She has served as Manager of Adult Outpatient Services at Cottonwood Springs Psychiatric Hospital and Program Manager at Bert Nash Center, where she excelled in team leadership, program revamps, and implementing adolescent DBT programming. Her clinical expertise includes individual, family, and group therapy, crisis intervention, and the integration of data-driven treatment plans. Sally is known for building cohesive teams, facilitating professional development, and maintaining strong community partnerships. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Douglas County CASA, demonstrating her commitment to advocacy and child welfare.

Sally’s leadership is grounded in strengths-based coaching and a passion for turning innovative ideas into actionable solutions, consistently working to improve access to mental health care and client outcomes for the families and communities her programs serve.

Andrew Hernandez serves as the Director of Campus Based Services at Hillsides’ Residential Programs.  In this role, Andrew provides oversight to the direct care teams that support Hillsides Residential Programs. Andrew has over 12 years of experience providing direct care services and leadership in programs in South Dakota and in California. 

Dr. Janice LeBel is a licensed, Board-Certified Psychologist with more than forty years of experience in public mental health working closely with mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice and education agencies.  She oversees a statewide system of intervention for youth and families and leads the Department of Mental Health’s nationally-recognized Restraint and Seclusion Prevention Initiative and a 7-agency Interagency Initiative with the same focus.  Dr. LeBel is also a co-Principal Investigator of the Six Core Strategies©, an evidenced-based practice to prevent conflict, violence and the use of restraint and seclusion and Co-Editor of SAMHSA’s latest text “Transforming Residential Interventions” (2020).   She has published, presented, and consulted nationally and internationally on trauma-informed practice, consumer-inclusion, and restraint and seclusion-related issues. Dr. LeBel has also provided expert testimony at Congressional Briefings, served as an expert witness in legal proceedings, and currently serves as a peer reviewer for many journals.   Since the Covid-19 pandemic, she has worked to infuse services with more compassionate alternative approaches to healing for persons-served and staff. 

Jason Slemko is a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Director at Hull Services, Canada's largest campus for youth mental health and healing.  With over 20 years of experience supporting young people, adults, and families in both therapeutic care settings and the community, his work emphasizes calm as the foundation for creating opportunities for change. In his current role, Jason oversees multiple programs with Hull Services, including the Reflections Program (a Safe House to support young people who have been or at-risk of sexual exploitation) and the Reflections Outreach Program. He is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting education around issues such as sexual exploitation through understanding and compassion. 

David serves as THRIVE Program Manager at Children’s Nebraska, providing evidence-based interventions that support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of our workforce. He has a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Formation, is a board-certified chaplain, certified Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) facilitator, and has co-authored various peer reviewed articles related to family support, resiliency, and models of care.

THRIVE currently has over 140 trained Peer Supporters and since 2021 has facilitated 185 Reflective Rounds sessions with over 1,800 team members participating. The vision of THRIVE is to create a culture where emotional wellbeing and mental health is prioritized and addressed in a way that is free of shame, embarrassment, or fear of retribution. These efforts, in combination with other wellbeing initiatives, have contributed to employee engagement and retention rates that exceed national benchmarks for children’s hospitals.

With over 48 years working as a social worker in the behavioral health field, Sherry Peters is currently an independent consultant. She serves as a senior consultant with ACRC/ BBI.  She has been an Associate with Coach Approach Partners, LLC, for 7 years as well as being certified in Presence Based Coaching.  Sherry serves as a subject matter expert, curriculum developer and trainer with two Pennsylvania projects addressing behavioral threat assessment and school safety.

Sherry retired from Pennsylvania state government in the fall of 2018 where she served for two and a half years as the Bureau Director for Policy, Planning and Program Development in the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) in Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services.  She had taken a five-and-a-half-year break from an 18-year career in OMHSAS Children’s Bureau to work in a University setting.    She served as an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development’s National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health between 2010 and 2016 and continued to serve as adjunct faculty on a variety of projects until 2023.

While full-time at Georgetown, Sherry provided technical assistance to states and communities on capacity building activities such as financing children’s behavioral health services or developing trauma-informed child-serving systems using a System of Care framework.  Sherry led the efforts to develop the web-based video-enhanced resource entitled “Trauma-Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources” as a part of her responsibility as Director of the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Waiver Initiative.  This resource was developed based on the lessons learned in that federally funded demonstration. In that capacity, she provided technical assistance to the nine states in the demonstration that showed over a period of 5 years that youth with complex behavioral health needs, meeting the level of care for residential treatment, could successfully and cost-effectively be served in the community.  

Sherry’s former role in the OMHSAS Children’s Bureau between 1992 and 2010 had focused on children’s mental health policy, planning, and program development utilizing Medicaid and other financing strategies.  Interagency collaboration, especially with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, played a major part in her work with Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program and the School Based Behavioral Health Community of Practice focusing on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.  

Sherry received her MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in 1977.  For the ten years following the completion of her education, she worked locally as a therapist in both residential and home and community-based settings in Pennsylvania and New York before moving to Chicago where she served for four years in a national position developing resources and providing technical assistance to faith-based entities related to behavioral health issues.    

Like a lot of parents, Nancy started her “career” learning to navigate the child serving systems for her children. Little did she realize that her personal experiences would lead her on professional quest to ensure every family, no matter the challenges have access to a family peer helping to teach, coach and mentor parents as they journey towards their personal strength and empowerment.

Nancy works closely with Family Peer Advocates in delivering the Family Needs & Strengths outcome measure for Family Peer Support to use to quantify their excellent work.

Jacqueline has committed her career to nurturing the growth and expertise of mental health professionals. As Hillsides’ Clinical Training Coordinator, she passionately shapes the development and delivery of professional development curricula, with a particular emphasis on Trauma Informed Care and various Evidenced Based Practices. 

Her commitment to these principles ensures that Hillsides’ services remain rooted in compassion and understanding. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology with a double major in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. She also holds a bachelor's in fine art with a concentration in Photography from California State University Long Beach

Samira is driven by a lifelong desire to make a meaningful impact that empowers confidence and activates potential in others. As Hillsides’ Senior Director of Professional Development, she leads a team responsible for managing compliance training, agency initiatives, and enhancement training, ensuring that Hillsides staff remain connected to the mission and in-tune with leading industry practices. Samira's career took root as a clinical therapist, a role she assumed in 2004, and she still maintains a private practice today, ensuring that her connection to clinical work remains strong. Samira holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW, is Klingberg’s Vice President of Strategic Development, She specializes in improving systems that treat traumatized children and their families. She created the Restorative Approach™, a trauma- and relationship-based treatment method. She is a trainer for Risking Connection® and a faculty at the University of CT School of Social Work and the University of St. Joseph’s School of Social Work. She is the author of Trauma Informed Care: The Restorative Approach as well as several articles. 

Kevin King earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University and has been with Seneca Family of Agencies since 2000 and currently serves in the Seneca Institute of Advanced Practice as A Training Content and Delivery Director.   Within this role, he is responsible for overseeing the curriculum development for the (STRTP) Provider Training Academy as well as the forty-hour Initial Certification Training Program for the Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program Certification team, the twelve-hour transition certification and ongoing Continuing Education classes and programs.  Previously, Mr. King served as Program Director for Seneca’s Concord Community Treatment Facility, San Francisco Community Treatment Facility, Willow Rock Center Stabilization Unit, The James Baldwin Academy non-public school, and as the Principal of a large elementary school in East Oakland.  Mr. King is excited about this new role and is confident that his vast and varied program director experience will be beneficial in supporting the transformation of California group homes to Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs.

Rachael is a Peer Support Worker with the Reunification Team at Life Without Barriers. She brings powerful lived experience to her role, having navigated the child protection system herself following the removal and reunification of her three children 22 years ago. This personal journey revealed how disempowering and exclusionary the system can be for parents. Motivated by this insight, Rachael has spent over two decades advocating for family-inclusive practice and supporting parents to engage positively with child protection services. Her work focuses on ensuring parents are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect, and that their voices are heard in decisions affecting their families. 

Claire Walker has dedicated the past eight years to working at Allambi Care, supporting youth and their families across a variety of programs. Her proudest role is serving as a Family Peer Advocate, where she uses her own lived experience to inspire and empower others. A decade ago, one of Claire’s children entered Alternate Care Accommodation before being restored home to her and his siblings.

Through this journey, she endured profound challenges of disempowerment, shame, guilt, loss of hope, and questioning her identity as a parent. These experiences now fuel her passion, motivation, and unwavering commitment to walk alongside families navigating the child protection system.
 Claire ensures that hope, voice, culture, and connection remain at the heart of out-of-home care practice. 

Tammy started with Family Inclusion Strategies in the Hunter in 2014 as a founding member. Tammy is a parent with lived experience of intergenerational care, Tammy’s grandfather, and mother were also in care, with Tammy growing up in care and having her own children removed from her care. Tammy has had 50 plus years of lived experience of the child protection System. Tammy uses her experiences to advocate for family inclusion and systemic change. Tammy has the honour of serving as the President of Family Inclusion Hunter. 

Jacinta is a respected Lived Experience Expert and Peer Support Worker with the Reily Foundation in South Australia. Passionate about creating meaningful change, she brings a powerful voice and unique insight to improving the child protection system. Jacinta is a key co-designer of the Parent Inclusion Program, a pioneering initiative that empowers families impacted by mental health challenges and/or disabilities to navigate services with dignity and confidence. A certified Family Group Conference Facilitator, she also serves as Deputy Chair of the Direct Experience Group, working in direct partnership with the South Australian Minister for Child Protection to influence policy, elevate lived experience, and drive systemic reform.

Sav Sfyrios is a Lived Experience Peer Support Worker and Program Group Facilitator with the Reily Foundation in South Australia. With a strong commitment to improving outcomes for families, Sav has been a leading voice in advocating for the recognition and inclusion of fathers within child protection systems. He is dedicated to challenging negative perceptions and highlighting the vital role that fathers play in their children’s lives. Through his work, Sav supports fathers to strengthen their relationships, build accountability, and navigate the complexities of parenthood with empathy, responsibility, and confidence.

Emily is a passionate Lived Experience Peer Support Worker with the Family Inclusion Network in Western Australia. Drawing on her own journey, she works tirelessly to support families navigating the complexities of child protection and community service systems. Emily has co-designed and delivered impactful workshops for both parents and professionals, using her voice to foster understanding, build connection, and inspire change. She has shared her story on national platforms and contributed to research and policy initiatives that drive systemic reform and reshape the way families are seen, heard, and supported