EMERGING PRACTICES IN POLICE SOCIAL WORK
Conference Schedule
DAY 1 | TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025
313AB BALLROOM
11:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. Registration & Networking Luncheon
12:30 P.M. – 12:45 P.M. Welcome Address
12:45 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. Opening Keynote Speaker: Jared Buchanan
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Police Suicide and the Role of Police Social Workers
1:45 P.M. – 2:45 P.M. Afternoon Session: Beyond Survival: How to Thrive in High Pressure Professions (1 CEC)
3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
o Mezzo Matters: Bias, Bridges, and Building Better Narratives ROOM 311
o LEAD with a SMILE (LEAD- Law Enforcement Assisted Deflection; SMILE Social Workers, Motivational Interviewing, and Law Enforcement) (1.5 CEC) ROOM 306
o There’s Been an Active Shooter – Now What? (1.5 CEC) ROOM 308
o Impact on Decreasing Cumulative Stress on Both First Responder and Care Team Partners: Through Peer Support and Other Self-Care Strategies (1.5 CEC) ROOM 301AB
o Trauma-Informed Policing ROOM 309
4:45 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Conference Info & Updates 313AB BALLROOM
DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
8:00 A.M. – 8:45 A.M. Continental Breakfast & Welcome 313AB BALLROOM
9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
o Front Lines and Autism – Linked Up with LINKED ROOM 306
o Navigating Microaggressions, Mental Health, and Community Trust (1 CEC- Meets Cultural Requirement) ROOM 301AB
o PSW- Led Quick Response Team: Addressing Homelessness, Substance Use, and Mental Health through Prevention and Partner Collaboration (1 CEC) ROOM 311
o Peer Support: An Evidence Based Practice ROOM 309
o Using the Opioid Settlement Funds to Support Your Work ROOM 308
313AB BALLROOM
10:15 A.M – 12:00 P.M. Morning Session: Encounters: A Dialogue on Race and Community
12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Lunch (On-site, included)
1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.
Afternoon Session: Sustainable Futures for Police Social Work: Using Data and Practical Multi-Level Skills for Success and Growth (1 CEC)
Conference Schedule
DAY 2 | CONTINUED
2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
o Police and Peers: Best Practices to Embed Community Members with Lived Experience Into Your Law Enforcement Agency ROOM 308
o Unified Front: Applying the Co-Responder Model to Integrate Social Work and Law Enforcement (1 CEC) ROOM 301AB
o Data-Driven Care: Program Evaluation and Measuring Success In Police-Social Work Collaborations (1 CEC) ROOM 306
o Prioritizing Wellness and Maintaining Balance with Stress Reduction Techniques ROOM 309
o Zen Den with K-9 Jules and Sgt. Cynthia Torres ROOM 311
3:45 P.M. – 4:45 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
o Affirming and Effectively Working with Transgender, Nonbinary, and Other LGBTQ + People (1 CEC- Meets Cultural Requirement) ROOM 311
o How Am I Doing? Self-Reflection and Self-Care (1 CEC) ROOM 309
o From Crisis to Connection: How to CLEAR initiative Works to Destigmatize SUD and Increase Access to Support (1 CEC) ROOM 308
o Delivering Compassionate Death Notifications ROOM 306
o Situational Awareness ROOM 301AB
DAY 3 | THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
313AB BALLROOM
8:00 A.M. – 8:45 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:45 A.M. – 9:45 A.M. Morning Session: Stronger Together: A Bipartisan Approach to Standardization (1 CEC)
10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
o Boots on the Ground Capstone ASC P24 (1st Floor Theater Room)
o Bridging Social Work and Law Enforcement: Practical Strategies for Effective Collaboration (1 CEC) ROOM 301AB
o Strengthening Community Ties Through Police Department Partnerships with School Districts ROOM 308
o Ethical Issues In Police Social Work - 2025 Updates (1 CEC) ROOM 309
o Zen Den with K-9 Jules and Sgt. Cynthia Torres ROOM 311
313AB BALLROOM
11:15 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Practical Applications for Police Service Dogs
12:00 P.M. – 12:20 P.M. Closing Keynote: NASW-CT Executive Director Dawn Brown, MSW
12:20 P.M. – 12:30 P.M. Closing Remarks
12:30 P.M. Safe Travels
Workshop Abstracts
DAY 1 | TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025
12:45 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.
Breaking the Silence: Addressing Police Suicide and the Role of Police Social Workers
Presenter: Jared Buchanan
1:45 P.M. – 2:45 P.M.
Beyond Survival: How to Thrive in High Pressure Professions (1 CEC)
Presenters: Tabatha Maiorano, PhD, LCSW, LADC, BCD, LaSaundra Mccoy, MSW, Daymary Lopez, MSW, Captain Michael Fumiatti, Jeanette Borunda
Police social workers and police officers are often called upon when crises or traumatic events occur with individuals, family members, or within the community. These professionals usually care for the safety and well-being of others while their own mental health and well-being suffer. Stigma, stereotypes, and employment demands and policies, as well as lack of self-care, can prevent police and social workers from getting the help that they need, resulting in unaddressed countertransference and vicarious trauma, ultimately lowering work performance, strained relationships, and at times suicide. The panelists discuss the pressures in law enforcement and the steps to balancing wellness, self-care, and resilience in law enforcement settings.
3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Mezzo Matters: Bias, Bridges, and Building Better Narratives
Presenter: Lt. Nicholas R Rankin
This presentation explores the psychological and narrative-driven factors that contribute to divisions between police, social workers, and the communities they serve. The first half delves into cognitive biases and psychological mechanisms that drive societal fragmentation, offering insight into why these divisions arise.
The second half focuses on practical strategies for communicating effectively with individuals and groups holding opposing views, emphasizing empathy and constructive dialogue. The presentation concludes by demonstrating how uniting narratives can foster long-term community cohesion. By identifying stakeholder archetypes and engaging with them thoughtfully, attendees will learn how to shape narratives that build trust and resilience. This interdisciplinary approach equips police officers and social workers with tools to navigate complex social dynamics and foster stronger, more unified communities.
LEAD with a SMILE (LEAD – Law Enforcement Assisted Deflection, SMILE –Social Workers, Motivational Interviewing, and Law Enforcement) (1.5 CECs)
Presenters: Sophie Sumpter, LMSW, Rhonda DiNovo, LISW-CP
In 2016, the West Columbia Police Department in South Carolina began an Outreach program in which master-level social work students follow up on officer referrals to provide resource connections for individuals whose interactions with officers are rooted in unaddressed substance use, mental health, poverty, or other social service-related needs. In May 2024, WCPD was one of six departments across South Carolina to be awarded a sub-grant through a Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program (COSSUP) grant. In partnering with the SC Department of Mental Health, Clemson University, and SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Outreach program expanded to include pre-arrest deflection, crisis intervention, and long-term case management services. This expansion aims to increase our ability to serve our community through immediate response, hands-on individualized care, and increased engagement within the mezzo and macro levels of social work practice. Throughout our presentation, we will discuss the evolution of our program, the essential role of motivational interviewing, and how the intervention of pre-arrest deflection through social work services facilitates individuals’ connection to critical resources, reduces the burden on the criminal justice system, and fosters a more supportive, community-centered approach to addressing complex social issues.
Workshop Abstracts
There’s Been An Active Shooter - Now What? (1.5 CECs)
Presenter: Lynne Schmidt, LMSW
On October 25, 2023, Lewiston/Auburn, Maine survived a mass casualty event, which has now been listed as one of the top ten deadliest mass shootings in the United States, and a 48-hour man hunt for the person responsible. Then on Monday, life resumed as normal. Lynne Schmidt, LMSW-cc will share their personal experiences during the mass shooter event and areas where their agencies supported and failed their staff in the following days. This presentation will offer Trauma-Informed Practices in the hopes to encourage and help other agencies implement crisis policies to be better prepared.
Impact on Decreasing Cumulative Stress on Both First Responder and Care Team Partners: Through Peer Support and Other Self-Care Strategies (1.5 CEC)
Presenter: Tabatha Maiorano, PhD, LCSW, LADC, BCD
This presentation will take a look at cumulative stress in the workplace and how to minimize the impacts on oneself: Specifically for First Responders and the care team partners who care for these First Responders. Strategies used on a micro and macro level will be discussed. Including, but not limited to, the utilization of internal and external resources. This will include peer support teams and one’s own self-care strategies.
Trauma-Informed Policing
Presenters: Dr. John Watts, Lorenzo M. Boyd, Ph.D, Dr. James T Scott
As we try to re-imagine American policing, we must address issues inside of policing such as officer wellness. Suicide is the #1 killer of police officers. The trauma officers face put them in danger of self-harm, and greater harm to the community. Following the lead of Pillar six of the final report of 21st Century policing, officer wellness is paramount for the police to effectively do their jobs. As we teach officers about vicarious and community trauma, we must also address individual officer trauma. This presentation is an overview of an 8-hour trauma training for police and how to normalize asking for help as well as officer responses to the training.
DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Front Lines and Autism- Linked Up with LINKED
Presenter: Ashley McClain
LINKED- Autism Safety Project is committed to building strong partnerships between the first responder and special needs communities, ensuring that everyone has access to the support and resources they need to stay safe in emergency situations. This workshop discusses why building relationships between first responders and the special needs community is crucial for fostering trust and understanding. We will actively engage in discussions and shared experiences that can help bridge the gap. We will discuss why education and resources should be used to create opportunities for interaction with first responders is essential. LINKED programming provides a mutual understanding and collaboration. Our initiatives not only improve response strategies but also empower the special needs of the community, ensuring they feel supported and included.
Navigating Microaggressions, Mental Health, and Community Trust (1 CEC- Meets Cultural Requirement)
Presenter: Isabel Logan Ed.D., LCSW
Bias and microaggression awareness is at the forefront for law enforcement in the 21st century, and there is a vital need for law enforcement officers and police social workers to learn to recognize and mitigate their own biases through effective action and language, as well as to be increasingly aware of the expectations that communities have for police departments to be culturally cognizant and aware of the diversity that surrounds police officers constantly. Drawing from Sue’s taxonomy on Microaggression the challenges encountered by law enforcement and police social workers are highlighted and the impact of those challenges professionally and personally are discussed at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro level. Particular attention will be paid to language barriers. Policy and practice implications are also discussed. This workshop will offer actionable takeaways on how to discover and workaround our own biases, and how to navigate microaggressions, particularly in legal and law enforcement settings. Participants
Workshop Abstracts
DAY 2 | CONTINUED
will (1) learn the history of police social work within the context of discrimination, social policies, mental health, and community trust, (2) examine professional and personal identity and the role your identity plays in your interactions with coworkers and clients, and (3) identify the impact of microaggressions experienced by police social workers personally and professionally at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and how to navigate them in law enforcement and the court system.
PSW-Led Quick Response Team: Addressing Homelessness, Substance Use and Mental Health through Prevention and Partner Collaboration (1 CEC)
Presenters: Jennifer Holm, LMSW, Brad Neuder, LPC, Officer Krista Fryczynski Police Social Worker (PSW) roles, while unstandardized, generally provide resources and referrals to individuals following law enforcement contact. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) provide immediate response and linkage to care to individuals following an overdose. Multidisciplinary collaboration across police and social service sectors has traditionally been lacking. Recognizing the intersectionality between substance use, mental health and homelessness, a northern Michigan community, led by the Traverse City Police Department (TCPD), sought to augment traditional PSW and QRT models by developing a PSW-led, city-wide, collaborative, multidisciplinary team of over 50 treatment providers offering comprehensive linkage to care for individuals postoverdose and those identified as at-risk. Individuals who participated in the voluntary program received wrap-around care including substance use treatment, harm reduction, mental health, housing, disability, employment services, and support from numerous other community agencies within the justice, health and community systems. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn about the development, successes and barriers of the TCPD QRT program. Participants will then use this model to describe successes and shortcomings (“potholes”) of their own PSW role, and seek actionable ways to fill gaps related to capacity, follow up, agency partnerships, bridging the gap between law enforcement and community, and supporting vulnerable people.
Peer Support: An Evidence Based Practice
Presenter: Rodney Valdes, M.Div.
This course will provide individuals with an overview of how to establish a PEER Support Team at one’s own police department. Including how to structure the team, who to include, what legal implications are there (if any), and how to sustain a viable positive PEER Support Team. This presentation explores the critical role of peer support programs in fostering resilience and wellbeing among law enforcement professionals.
Using the Opioid Settlement Funds to Support Your Work
Presenters: Zoe Grover, Travis Rapoza
Nationally, more than $50 billion dollars are being distributed to states and territories through the Opioid Settlement Funds in the next decade. Funds are allocated to 52 states and territories, and thousands of local governments based on agreements, with the majority being required to be used for opioid remediation. Much of this money, especially at the local level, remains unspent and available to police/social worker teams. This presentation will familiarize participants with the major sections of the master opioid settlement agreement, provide examples of how money can be spent, and provide advocacy and research tools to find the money in their community.
10:15 A.M – 12:00 P.M.
Encounters: A Dialogue on Race and Community
Presenters: Brendan Kane, Nana Amos, Saah Agyemang-Badu
Dialogue on policing, social work, and race is essential as it fosters understanding of how race influences interactions within these fields and helps address systemic biases affecting marginalized communities. Such conversations build trust between law enforcement, social workers, and the communities they serve. These conversations also enable effective collaboration on challenges such as mental health, community safety, and can lead to opportunities for advocacy and policy change. Overall, these discussions raise awareness of cultural sensitivities and encourage respectful, inclusive practices, ultimately contributing to a more
Workshop Abstracts
DAY 2 | CONTINUED
just, and integrated community where everyone’s needs are recognized and addressed. Through listening and reflection, this structured dialogue invites attendees into small group guided conversations to explore how race and community are understood and experienced across policing and social work practices. Together, we will consider how it shapes our work, the challenges we encounter, and the barriers and actionable steps to fostering the kind of community we hope to cultivate.
1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.
Sustainable Futures for Police Social Work: Using Data and Practical Multi-Level Skills for Success and Growth (1 CEC)
Presenter: Caroline Ban, MSW
Public safety social work has grown significantly in the 21st century in large and small cities across the country. As embedded police social work positions are established, agencies are faced with figuring out how to sustain and grow such positions. Quantifying outcomes from police social work using realistic data collection can lead to the development of new community resources and provide a political rationale for keeping and growing such positions. Specialized skills training for social workers focused on group facilitation, training, advocacy, and community engagement will provide new value to communities, enhance public safety efforts, and make a compelling case for growth. Public safety social work programs that emphasize and use realistic data collection and engage in group (mezzo) and community, organization, and policy (macro) skills may be well-positioned to help agencies justify programs to navigate 21st-century public safety challenges. This presentation will provide 1) a brief overview of emerging trends and research on public safety social work, 2) explain the practical value of data collection and share a free model with participants, and 3) a model of practical tips and mezzo and macro skills coaching designed to sustain a strong multi-tiered police social work program.
2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Police and Peers: Best Practices to Embed Community Members with Lived
Experience into Your Law Enforcement Agency
Presenters: Chief Joshua Bernegger, Lauren Pristo, MPH, Zoe Grover
This panel explores the importance of embedding individuals with lived experience in law enforcement agencies to bridge the gap between police and the communities they serve. By highlighting best practices and actionable strategies, it will showcase how peer integration can enhance prevention, treatment, and support for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). The presentation features insights from law enforcement, behavioral health, and nonprofit leaders. It will focus on the innovative efforts of the Connecticut Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) team and their work at the Watertown Police Department. The CLEAR program is a deflection model that fosters a collaborative response to addiction, strengthening connections to care and support for those with SUD. Attendees gain valuable knowledge on embedding peers within their agencies, learning from real-world examples and expert guidance. The session will also introduce the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI)’s new guide on embedding peers, offering a step-by-step framework to assist agencies in implementing these strategies. Participants will leave prepared to address the unique needs of their community members affected by substance use.
Unified Front: Applying the Co-responder Model to Integrate Social Work and Law Enforcement (1 CEC)
Presenters: Christine Quill, MSW, LSW, Officer Christopher Allbee, Sgt. Mallory Baker
This presentation examines the co-responder model as a framework for integrating social work practices within law enforcement operations. Attendees will gain insights into the roles of each profession, the challenges of collaboration, and strategies for effective joint interventions. We will discuss confidentiality, diversion from the criminal justice system, strategies for building rapport with those presently in crisis, the great importance of strong community partnerships, the value of conducting home visits, victim advocacy, and basic navigation of mental health statutes. Examination of how each profession must adopt a basic understanding and practices of the other. Through compassion, and a problem-solving method we aim to advance the lives of those in crisis and improve outcomes for the community and police department.
Workshop Abstracts
DAY 2 | CONTINUED
Data-Driven Care: Program Evaluation and Measuring Success in Police-Social Work Collaborations (1 CEC)
Presenters: Katy Allen, MSW; Cyndy Caravelis, Ph.D
Funders and community stakeholders alike need data to know that police social work programs are working. However, there are challenges inherent in tracking outcomes for work that involves collaboration among multiple systems with different data collection practices and different definitions of success. In this session, we will discuss how to define success, and offer examples of what to measure, how to measure it, and how to report those results. We’ll share our experiences working with seven police departments, including the data needed for various funding partners, town and county Boards, and the public.
Prioritizing Wellness and Maintaining Balance with Stress Reduction Techniques
Presenters: Tamia Tucker, Katharine Coney
This comprehensive presentation aims to address the issue of the lack of wellness or the importance of maintaining balance within the dimensions of wellness and support a better work-life balance. The primary objective of the presentation is to enhance the understanding of the 8 dimensions of wellness, identify the individual’s current work life balance and implement the newly learned stress reduction techniques to create a more balanced lifestyle. Individuals will learn different techniques or methods to incorporate for day-to-day stress reduction. Those techniques will include but are not limited to the following: mindful meditation, yoga, journaling, therapy, physical fitness regimes and maintaining social bonds. This presentation will also include interactive demonstrations of breathing exercises as well as yoga poses. The presentation aims to empower individuals by fostering ways to maintain balance and prioritize wellness with variations of techniques to cope with stressful professions and conditions. This presentation will overall promote long-term healthy habits. 3:45 P.M. –
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Affirming and Effectively Working with Transgender, Nonbinary, and Other LGBTQ+ People (1 CEC-Meets Cultural Requirement)
Presenters: Gina R. Rosich, PhD, MSW, Jillian Celentano
Learn key concepts relevant to working with transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ people. We will provide a brief history of police interaction, contemporary community concerns, and the roles implicit bias and minority stress theory play when police, social workers, and other community providers interact with members of the LGBTQ+ community. Come with your questions. We will provide opportunities for you to reflect on and learn from prior interactions as well as engage in role plays to hone your skills.
How Am I Doing? Self-Reflection and Self-Care (1 CEC)
Presenters: Dr. Joanne León, PhD, LCSW, Patricia McIntosh, LCSW, MPH, Officer Theresa L. Velez, MA
The “How am I doing?” bumper sticker serves as a simple yet profound reminder for self-reflection. For professional helpers –police officers and social workers - it can serve as an analogy for self-care by prompting regular check-ins on emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Just as a driver may glance at their vehicle’s dashboard to assess how things are running, professional helpers can use this concept to gauge how they are handling the stressors and demands of their work. This presentation will review the stressors of being professional helpers and will explore the essential strategies for checking in and managing self-care through difficult work.
From Crisis to Connection: How the CLEAR Initiative Works to Destigmatize SUD and Increase Access to Support (1 CEC)
Presenters: Joanne Montgomery, LCSW, LADC, Liz Evans
The CLEAR (Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery) Initiative, is a Statewide Initiative, funded through the Bureau of Justice Federally, and in collaboration with DMHAS at the State Level. In Fairfield County, the program is led by Liberation Programs, and it is a community-based collaboration that addresses the needs of individuals impacted by substance use disorders (SUD). This initiative, while led by behavioral health organizations, brings together law enforcement (and their BHU’s), hospital, corrections, and local agencies (including three Departments of Health and Human Services) to identify areas of need and offer
Workshop Abstracts
DAY 2 | CONTINUED
proactive outreach and support to at-risk individuals and families following substance-related incidents, such as overdoses. The goal is to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and connect them to recovery supports and services, with an emphasis on low-barrier engagement and harm reduction.
Liberation has established, at its program’s core, a team consisting of outreach specialists, who prioritize connection with high-risk individuals and communities, by offering harm reduction education and supplies, drug checking, case management, overdose prevention education and training alongside a homeless outreach team, and an HIV prevention team. The outreach specialists attend overdose response calls alongside trained law enforcement officers, when they conduct home visits within 24-36 hours of an overdose or SUD-related incident, providing warm hand-offs to a wide variety of services such as harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. The team also offers guidance to family members impacted by a loved one’s substance use.
Focused on a non-punitive, compassionate approach, the CLEAR Initiative ensures that outreach efforts prioritize care over enforcement. By partnering with local and statewide agencies, the initiative helps develop best practices for supporting individuals with SUD while impacting work cultures both within law enforcement and behavioral health organizations. Data tracking and ongoing communication between partners ensure continuous program improvement and a more effective, collaborative response to the most pressing needs in the communities.
Delivering Compassionate Death Notifications
Presenter: Chaplain Charles (Chuck) Tyree
This session offers law enforcement officers and social workers essential strategies for conducting death notifications with professionalism, dignity, and compassion. Participants will explore effective communication techniques, and practices to support both the notifier and the bereaved during these challenging interactions.
Situational Awareness
Presenter: Lt. Nicholas R Rankin
Situational awareness involves the perception of elements in the environment, comprehension and analysis of what these elements mean and how they relate to one another, and mitigation of any potential risks or dangerous events. This presentation will explore basic safety concepts, verbal and nonverbal indicators of potential danger, and the importance of perception and planning. Additionally, this presentation will highlight ways to maintain safety before, during, and after interactions with clients/subjects to ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of their workday.
DAY 3 | THURSDAY,
MAY 29, 2025
8:45 A.M. – 9:45 A.M.
Stronger Together: A Bipartisan Approach to Standardization (1 CEC)
Presenters: Isabel Logan Ed.D., LCSW, State Representative Jillian Gilchrest, State Representative Greg Howard Across the nation, police departments are charged with reimagining policing to include social workers. This call to action addresses mental health and noncriminal community needs. However, standardizing police social work practices has challenged social work professionals and law enforcement agencies forging partnerships. This panel discussion will give insight into strategically using legislative action from opposing sides to standardize police social work practice through bipartisan support.
Workshop Abstracts
10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Boots on the Ground Capstone Celebration
Presenters: SWLE Project
Every year the “Boots on the Ground” Capstone Celebration aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the police social work interns (PSWIs) embedded in police departments as a response to Connecticut Public Act 20-1, concerning police accountability. Since accountability and transparency are founding principles of the SWLE Project, each year, we host our capstone celebration, to showcase the important work of students in their internships and in acknowledgement of the contributions that the next generation of police officers and social workers will make in the future. In this workshop, PSWI students showcase their work over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year. Students highlight their work with clients using the nine core competencies in practice, as articulated in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS, 2022), and law enforcement best practices. The Capstone Celebration also showcases statistical evidence collected by the PSWI students from their internships. Through the Boots on the Ground Capstone works and celebration, the SWLE Project seeks to bridge communities and build trust through transparency, education, research, and service over time.
Bridging Social Work and Law Enforcement: Practical Strategies for Effective Collaboration (1 CEC)
Presenter: Olivia Raley, MSW
The Bardstown Police Department has emerged as a leader in integrating social work into law enforcement, enhancing officer wellbeing and strengthening community trust. This 1.5-hour interactive workshop, Bridging Social Work and Law Enforcement: Practical Strategies for Effective Collaboration, equips social work and law enforcement professionals with evidence-based tools and best practices to optimize service delivery. Designed for practitioners at all levels, the workshop focuses on actionable strategies for crisis intervention, utilizing therapy animals like Maverick for support, and implementing trauma-informed care for diverse populations. Participants will engage in role-play scenarios, group discussions, and hands-on activities to build practical skills, foster collaboration, and develop tailored intervention plans. By emphasizing “how-to” approaches, the workshop offers participants clear, actionable insights to address real-world challenges in law enforcement and social work contexts. Learning outcomes include mastery of crisis deescalation techniques, integration of therapy animals, application of evidence-based interventions, and peer collaboration for enhanced service delivery. This workshop reaffirms Bardstown’s commitment to advancing police social work, empowering professionals to deliver culturally competent, impactful services that promote resilience, justice, and community well-being.
Strengthening Community Ties Through Police Department Partnerships with School Districts
Presenters: Nikki Urbanski, Sgt. Mark Stead, Cpl. Robert Heim
This presentation explores the collaborative efforts between police departments and school districts aimed at enhancing safety and fostering a supportive environment for students. In our small suburban community, we’ve developed a collaborative model to strengthen ties between our police department and schools. A crucial aspect of these initiatives is the focus on fostering positive relationships between police officers and young people through various programs. By sharing these strategies, we hope to inspire other communities to develop tailored approaches that promote safety, engagement, and mutual respect between law enforcement and youth.
Ethical Issues In Police Social Work - 2025 Updates (1 CEC)
Presenter: Robert Madden, LCSW, JD
This presentation reports the findings of a follow-up study of ethical challenges for police social workers and police social work interns embedded in police departments throughout the U.S. The aim of this study was to explore the ethical challenges and to understand the ethical climate faced by social workers in police departments. The questionnaire was informed by the NASW Code of Ethics. The data are from an online survey of social workers and interns currently practicing within law enforcement agencies. Results suggest that police social workers need clear practice standards, guidelines, and policies, but overall, most felt positive about their acceptance and ability to practice safely and within ethical standards. The findings support the development of a set of best practices for police social work with respect to standards of client confidentiality, boundaries, social work roles, safety policies, and strategies, boundary issues, dual relationships, role clarity, scope of practice issues; impaired colleagues; & self-care. The identification of ethical challenges will support social workers and law enforcement professionals to enhance interdisciplinary practice.
Opening Keynote Speaker
JARED BUCHANAN
Jared Buchanan is a relentless motivational speaker and passionate advocate for suicide prevention, dedicating his efforts in honor of his father, Officer Paul S. Buchanan. A Marine infantry veteran, he discovered a transformative path to healing by conquering grueling ultramarathons spanning 100 and even 200+ miles—all in memory of his beloved father.
Currently pursuing graduate studies at Sacred Heart University, Buchanan is on a journey to become an unconscious-based psychotherapist. His professional ethos centers on the profound synergy between Frankl›s existentialism, which posits that meaning can be found in suffering, and Jungian psychology, which guides individuals in confronting and embracing their own shadows and darkness. Buchanan also champions Adlerian principles of social interest and human connection.
Buchanan is a staunch advocate for post-traumatic growth, embracing discomfort, and continuously strives to spread positivity to those around him. Beyond his work, he is an expert in pizza eating, a passionate international traveler, and the proud owner of two hybrid Bengal Leopard Cats, Maya and Kuja. Face your shadow!
Conference Presenters
Officer Christopher Allbee has been a patrolman with the Waukegan Police Department for the last 24 years. While there, he has worked as a Community Service Officer, Liaison Officer to the Public Housing Authority for 7 years and served in the patrol division. For the last year he has been assigned to the Community Outreach Group, a police-social worker co-responder unit. He enjoys problem solving and the new challenges of his current assignment. Chris has completed the 40-hour CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) certification, and the advanced CIT class. He has also completed 40-hour basic certifications in crisis negotiations, narcotics investigation, investigation skills, and gang enforcement. Allbee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin, and an associate of arts degree from the College of Lake County.
Katy Allen, MSW is an associate instructor and the Director of Field Education for the Department of Social Work at Western Carolina University. As Director of Field Education, she manages partnerships with more than 200 social work and human services agencies across Western North Carolina. Allen’s applied research interests include social work practice in non-traditional settings, including the criminal justice system. Her most recent publication, in 2023, focused on the development of the Community Care program and was published in “The Field Educator,” a national journal of social work education.
Nana Amos has more than two decades of experience in human rights programming and higher education administration. She currently co-directs the University’s Democracy and Dialogues Initiative (DDI) with Professor Brendan Kane, as well as directs Community Outreach and Engagement initiatives for Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs, Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute. The Democracy and Dialogues Initiative works to increase democratic and civic capacity and fosters community dialogues on critical issues. Prior to her work with Dodd Human Rights Impact, Amos worked with the UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights managing UConn’s ANC Partnership project, and programs in Oral History, Archives, and Comparative Human Rights. In this capacity she was a founding member of CHRONE (the Coalition of Human Rights Organizations in New England, now the Connecticut Human Rights Partnership) – a diverse array of stakeholders from the educational, governmental, and civil society sectors committed to advancing a culture of human rights. She also serves as president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and chairs the Connecticut Collaborative on Poverty, Criminal Justice, and Race. Amos received her bachelor’s and her master’s in public administration from UConn’s School of Public Policy along with a certificate in Nonprofit Management.
Saah Agyemang Badu is an international student and researcher dedicated to fostering equity and dialogue across global education systems. She holds advanced degrees in Public Administration, Non Profit Management, and Human Rights and has worked on education-focused projects in Ghana, Pakistan, and Rwanda. Badu’s work emphasizes the development of culturally responsive education frameworks that empower marginalized communities and address systemic inequities. Drawing on her international and interdisciplinary experiences, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives and voices are elevated to promote meaningful change.
Sergeant Mallory Baker is the first line supervisor for the Waukegan Police Department’s Community Outreach Group, a co-responder model which integrates law enforcement and social work. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science/Physical Education and Health from Carthage College, and an MBA in Public Safety Administration and Leadership from Herzing University. Sergeant Baker is a 23-year veteran of the Waukegan Police Department. Before being promoted to sergeant in 2022, his past assignments included the Waukegan Police Department’s K-9 Unit, Gang Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigations, and Major Crime Scene Unit. Sergeant Baker also serves as a supervisor for the Major Crime Scene Unit.
Conference Presenters
Caroline Ban, MSW is the BSW Program Director and Assistant Professor in Social Work at Valparaiso University. Previously, she served as a consultant and the manager of government affairs for Beyond Housing, a nationally recognized community development non-profit in St. Louis, where she worked with local police departments on best practices and collaboration. She was the lead writer for a successful $749,000 multi-city COPS grant.
Ban is engaged in the community. She was selected as an Indiana Humanities Action Fellow in 2019. She helped create the first police social work position for Sam Burgett in the City of Valparaiso with then-Chief Jeff Balon in 2021. Most recently, she was the driving force behind the development of Valpo’s new MSW program which started in Fall 2024. She also is launching a Public Safety Social Work Certificate Program in Spring 2026. In the classroom, Ban’s areas of interest include social welfare policy, advocacy, local and state government, police and community relations, organizations, and communities. She leads two annual overnight student trips to the Indiana Statehouse to engage students in experiential learning about public testimony and lobbying. She was instrumental in creating new Social Work capstone community projects, resulting in activities like the Valparaiso University students’ police academy with the Valparaiso Police Department, and provided research for the 2021 Valparaiso Mayor’s Youth Council. She received the 2024 Valparaiso University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
Ban received her BA in Psychology from Carleton College in 2005 and her MSW from Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. She is currently completing her DSW at the University of St. Thomas, focusing on police social work research. Ban’s work has been published in Building Trust, Effective Communication, and Transparency Between Police and Community Members and The Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, among other places.
Chief Joshua Bernegger a 27-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as the Chief of Police for the Watertown (Conn.) Police Department. Chief Bernegger holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Business Administration from Post University. Chief Bernegger is a proud graduate of Session #255 of the FBI National Academy, and holds Municipal Legal Traffic Authority certification through the Connecticut Transportation Institute.
Chief Bernegger has focused his decision-making around three areas of emphasis: 1) The wellness of his officers and staff, 2) the wellness of the community he serves, and 3) traffic safety. Under his leadership, the Watertown (Conn.) Police Department earned consecutive “Serve-well, Be well” awards from the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, as well as Connecticut’s top tier of professional law enforcement accreditation. Chief Bernegger currently serves as a vice president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and chairs their Traffic Safety Committee. Chief Bernegger is an appointed member of Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, a member of PAARI’s Public Safety Council and an active participant in the Litchfield County Opioid Taskforce. Chief Bernegger is proud to have Watertown selected as a pilot community for the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) program in Connecticut.
Lorenzo M. Boyd, Ph.D. is the Stewart Professor of Community Policing at the University of New Haven. He is a nationally-recognized scholar in police-community relations, urban policing, and diversity issues in criminal justice. Dr. Boyd served as director of the University’s Center for Advanced Policing, and the university’s vice president for diversity and inclusion. Previously he served for 14 years as a sheriff’s deputy in Suffolk County (MA). Boyd is the former president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Science and a life member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He has appeared on local, regional, national, and international media outlets to discuss policing in the aftermath of high-profile cases. He has taught at the university level for 25 years.
Conference Presenters
Widely published, most recently he co-authored the book “Police in the US: Past Present, and Future” (Cengage Publishing). He co-authored the article “Policing in the aftermath of the 2020 protests: Lessons learned and evolving strategies for reform.” He also authored the book, “The Massachusetts’s Criminal Justice System.” His book chapters include “Black Lives Matter: The Watchdog for the Criminal Justice System” in Appearance Bias and Crime, and “Does Police Discretion Help or Harm Our Criminal Justice System?” in Crime and Criminal Justice: Concepts and Controversies.
Boyd received his Ph.D. in sociology from Northeastern University, his M.A. in applied sociology from and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts.
Cyndy Caravelis is a professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University. Her current research interests include interpersonal violence, social justice, and community policing. Her research on sentencing inequality has been published in journals such as Justice Quarterly and the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. She co-authored Social Justice, Criminal Justice (Routledge Press), which examined how the law has historically been used as both a tool for oppression and a vehicle for social change.
Jillian Celentano, MSW (she/her), is a transgender woman who began her transition in 2016 at the age of 55. She is a licensed psychotherapist, social worker, advocate, and has organized support groups for transgender/gender diverse children and young adults. Jillian was a research assistant in the LGBTQ+ relationship studies lab, GSA instructor, and has also co-authored two published transgender studies at Yale University. She is a published author of her book, “Transitioning Later in Life: A Personal Guide.” Celentano is a medical educator/ standardized patient at Yale University, and is now working at a private practice as a licensed therapist and educator for the transgender/gender expansive community.
Katharine Coney has approximately 16 years of law enforcement experience between the Connecticut State Police and Probation. She holds a Master of Public Policy from UCONN. She is a 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher. Coney has vast experience yet not limited to the following: community policing, public speaking, bilingual communications, juvenile law, social media outreach, internet safety and law enforcement instruction.
Rhonda DiNovo is a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) with a wealth of experience in the field. She holds many titles including Clinical Assistant Professor, MSW Program Director, and Drug and Addictions Certificate Coordinator at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. Rhonda is also a South Carolina certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, as well as the founder and field practicum supervisor for the West Columbia Police Department Outreach program. DiNovo is well known for lecturing on topics such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and drug and addictions.
Conference Presenters
Liz Evans has dedicated her career to working on behalf of marginalized individuals living in poverty and struggling with drug use and has had more than 30 years of frontline experience. Her educational background includes a nursing degree and a Masters in Adult Education.
As a former Open Society Foundation Fellow, and founder of the PHS Community Services Society, Evans has been instrumental in introducing housing first and harm reduction policies in Canada and was part of the visionary team that established North America’s first legally sanctioned injection site in 2003.
More recently in New York, her tenure as Executive Director saw two renowned harm reduction organizations pioneer a drug users health hub, expand mobile outreach services, significantly expand overdose prevention services while forming OnPoint NYC. Presently, Evans is working as the Senior Director of Harm Reduction at Liberation Programs to advance harm reduction approaches and services for individuals at risk of overdose in Connecticut, in addition to working as a consultant.
Officer Krista Fryczynski serves the Traverse City Police Department as the North Boardman (NoBo) Community Police Officer and LGBTQIA+ Liaison, as well as being a Field Training Officer and a member of the Peer Support Team and Recruitment Team. In her role as the NoBo Officer, she works closely with the police social workers and quick response team in supporting vulnerable people by building rapport with a population who historically distrusts police. The goal of her position is to reduce arrests and calls for service through proactive and interactive community relations.
Captain Michael Fumiatti currently serves the City of New Haven as the Commander of Professional Standards and Administration for the New Haven Police Department. Throughout his career, he has held several key leadership roles, including serving as the department’s first Officer in Charge of Officer Mental Health and Wellness, District Manager for both the Fair Haven and East Shore neighborhoods, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator, and Officer in Charge of the Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Team (HCNT).
Captain Fumiatti began his career as a walking beat patrol officer, later working in plainclothes narcotics investigations and serving as a Field Training Officer. He advanced to the role of patrol supervisor before being promoted to District Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in Policing and Public Administration from the University of New Haven. Captain Fumiatti lectures regularly throughout New England on topics including mental health, officer wellness, community policing, crime prevention strategies and crisis intervention. He also serves as Co-Director of the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE), where he continues to support collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals and advocate for those living with mental illness.
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest was elected to represent the 18th District of West Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) in 2018. She serves as House Chair of the Human Services Committee and member of the Appropriations, Public Health, and Judiciary Committees. Gilchrest chairs MAPOC, the Trafficking in Persons Council, and the Endometriosis Working Group.
Prior to becoming a state representative, Gilchrest served as the Director of Health Professional Outreach for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, and Director of Policy and Communications for the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She has extensive experience advocating for women’s health and safety, in particular influencing public policy at the CGA.
Gilchrest was elected to the West Hartford Board of Education in 2013. She holds a master’s degree in social work with a focus in policy practice from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, where she has taught political advocacy. Gilchrest currently teaches for the University of Saint Joseph and University of Hartford.
Conference Presenters
Zoe Grover is the Executive Director of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative. Prior to serving in that role, she worked in the nonprofit public health sector for nearly a decade. She has a successful track record in policy advocacy, serving as a lead advocate for Massachusetts’ bipartisan comprehensive gun legislation of 2014, 2017 and 2018. She has extensive experience in organizing, public awareness and communications. She served as a principal organizer for the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, a nationwide event which included over 350 events and 5000 performers in its first year.
She was a founding board member of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative and currently serves on the board of the States United to Prevent Gun Violence. She attended law school at Lewis And Clark Law School and received her bachelor’s from the University of Oregon. Most recently she received a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard.
Corporal Rob Heim has more than 26 years of experience in law enforcement, and has built a solid career characterized by progressive responsibility and specialized skills. Having served in various roles including Patrol Officer and Patrol Supervisor, he has demonstrated a commitment to public safety and community engagement. Since 2003, he has been an integral member of the SWAT team, currently holding the position of SWAT Commander after previously serving as both Team Leader and Element Leader. His leadership experience is further enhanced by his military background, which includes four years of active duty and four years in the reserves with the United States Marine Corps. Currently, Heim serves as an Administrative Corporal in the Community Policing Unit, where he focuses on fostering positive relationships within the community. In addition to his community outreach efforts with the Social Services Liaison, he also acts as the department’s training coordinator and lead firearms instructor, emphasizing the importance of both skill development and community trust in law enforcement.
Jennifer Holm, LMSW is the Police Social Worker Coordinator (PSW) for the Traverse City Police Department. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with additional credentials in sign language interpreting and teaching. Her previous experience with both macro and clinical social work impacts her systemic and individual approaches to social work services. She developed and now facilitates the TCPD Quick Response Team program. The goal of her position is to reduce law enforcement calls on vulnerable populations by interrupting the cycle of arrest and addiction through coordinating care for QRT program participants and reducing provider barriers.
State Rep. Greg Howard proudly represents the 43rd Assembly District, covering Stonington, North Stonington, and Ledyard. He began his third term on January 8, 2025; Howard serves on Judiciary, and Education and is the lead House Republican on the Public Safety and Security Committee. Greg Howard began his career in public service in 1995 with the Westerly Ambulance Corps. Throughout his career in EMS, Howard became an emergency dispatcher in 1998, an EMT in 1999, an EMT-Cardiac in 2004, and an EMS Instructor where he taught new EMT’s at American Professional Services in Norwich, CT. After 26 years of paid and volunteer service in EMS, Howard retired from all aspects of that field in 2021.
He has been employed by the Stonington Police Department since 2002. He became a field training officer in 2007, assigned to K-9 from 2008-2014, became a detective in 2015 and is currently a detective with the SPD. In addition to his concurrent careers in EMS and Law Enforcement, Howard found time to volunteer in his community. From 2017 through 2023, he was the president and coach at Stonington youth football, a play-forfree tackle football and cheer organization that is fully funded through fundraising. He also spent three years serving on the Board of Directors at the Westerly Yacht Club, overseeing club operations, member accountability, and general club business.
Howard was born and raised in Westerly, R.I. (the oldest of three children), where he spent most weekends at his grandparents’ Pawcatuck home. He has been living in Pawcatuck, Conn. since 2003. Howard and his wife, Shana, are raising their two sons in their Pawcatuck home.
Conference Presenters
Brendan Kane is professor of History at the University of Connecticut. He also holds a courtesy appointment in UConn’s Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages where he oversees the teaching of Celtic Languages. His scholarly research focuses on colonialism, empire, and state formation with particular attention to Irish-English relations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Interested to increase public access to sources from that period, he conceived and co-founded “Léamh.org: Learn Early Modern Irish”, a collaborative, open-access, web-based project to assist people interested to read Gaelic texts written c. 12001650. An interest in how people navigate divisive issues led him to train in various dialogue methods and, in time, founded UConn’s “Democracy and Dialogues Initiative,” which he currently co-directs with Nana Amos. Kane lead the creation of “Encounters,” a dialogue model created specifically for higher education.
Dr. Joanne León, PhD, LCSW is an associate professor and Department Chair of Social Work at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), where she has been a pivotal figure in social work education and practice since joining in 1998. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from CCSU, a master’s in social work from the University of Connecticut and obtained her PhD from Smith College.
León’s expertise and research interests encompass a wide range of topics within behavioral health and social work education. Her scholarly pursuits focus on providing culturally sensitive mental health services to Latinx children and families, examining the impacts of parental incarceration on children, studying micro aggressions, addressing mental health in school settings, and supporting first-generation college students.
Beyond academia, León maintains a private practice where she applies various therapeutic modalities including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic approaches to support adolescents and adults. Her clinical experience enriches her teaching and research, contributing to her holistic understanding of mental health practices.
León also brings extensive experience in accreditation and program development, further enhancing her contributions to the field of social work education and practice.
Isabel Logan Ed.D., LCSW is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Social Work & Law Enforcement Project. She earned a BSW from Saint Joseph College (presently the University of Saint Joseph), an MSW from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Hartford. Logan is an associate professor of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. She maintains a small consulting and clinical practice. Logan began her career in academia in 2016 as a professor of social work at Eastern Connecticut State University. Before working in academia, she worked 20 years as a social worker for the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services in New Haven Superior Court and Superior Court for Juvenile Matters at Hartford. In 2001, she was selected by American University to assist with developing the Cultural Proficiency in Drug Court Practice: Training of Trainers Manual for Drug Court Professionals.
Her research interests include bilingual professionals, microaggressions, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic issues impacting human service delivery, and police social work. In 2013, Dr. Logan received The Mary Rosa McDonough Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Saint Joseph, and in 2019, she received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award from Eastern Connecticut State University. Additionally, in 2021, she was awarded a Letter of Appreciation by the Willimantic Police Department. In June 2023, Logan received the Humanitarian Award from the NAACP Windham/Willimantic Branch in Connecticut, and in October 2023 the NASW-CT Chapter Social Worker of the Year Award for her work in Police Social Work. Logan is a CIT Crisis Coordinator and a certified instructor for the Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Conference Presenters
Daymary Lopez, MSW is a recent graduate from Southern Connecticut State University, where she earned her MSW. She also holds a B.S. in Sociology from Southern. She was a part of the workforce development program with the SWLE Project and was a Police Social Work Intern with the Southern Police Department, and the Bridgeport Police Department, where she interned with the Crisis Intervention Team. The time she spent with officers helped shape her interest in helping the helpers, which is why she focused her MSW Capstone Project on officer wellness. She also presented her project, “Police Culture Analysis: A Values-focused Approach to Officer Mental Wellness”, at the 2025 Graduate Student Research & Creativity Conference. Over the last academic year, she’s worked with Isabel Logan to support the SWLE Project and the 4th Annual National Conference on Police Social Work as a graduate assistant.
Robert Madden, LCSW, JD is the Director of Practice Standards and Ethics for the SWLE Project. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Work and has been on the faculty at USJ since 1986 serving in various capacities including Department Chair (2013-17) and Special Assistant to the President (2009-2012) and MSW Program Director (2022-23). Professor Madden holds a BSW from Providence College, a MSSW from Columbia University and a law degree (JD) from the University of Connecticut. He has extensive clinical social work experience and currently provides supervision, consultation and training to the social work community. Professor Madden is licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker and maintains a small practice focused on trauma.
Madden is the co-editor of Relationship Centered Lawyering: Social Science Theory to Transform Legal Practice (Carolina Academic Press, 2010); and the author of Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling and Mental Health: Guidelines for Clinical Practice in Psychotherapy (Sage, 1998) and Essential Law for Social Workers (Columbia University Press, 2003) as well as many journal articles related to law in social work practice. He is a frequent trainer and consultant on legal/ethical issues and standards of care in clinical mental health practice.
In 2008, Madden received the Educator of the Year Award from the NASW Connecticut Chapter, in 2014 he was honored with the Stack Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Saint Joseph, and in 2022, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW/CT.
Tabatha Maiorano, PhD, LCSW, LADC, BCD holds various licenses and certifications in her field. Maiorano has worked at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for 18+ years and left in 2021 to expand her private practice working solely with first responders. However, while working for DMHAS, she worked entirely in the Mobile Outreach/Crisis Team(s), specifically, as the SE Region Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) clinician for 15 years of those years and then supervising Mobile Crisis. While there, she co-ran the SE Region (DMHAS Region 3) CISM Team and Disaster Behavioral Health Response Network (DBHRN) teams: Trained and responding in CIT/CISM/CISD/CID responses for national / local incidents and disasters.
Maiorano is licensed as Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC); Board Certified Diplomat (BCD) in Social Work; certification for the practice as a Connecticut School Social Worker (CSSW); certification for the practice as a Connecticut School Social Worker (CSSW); certification for the practice as a Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Professional (CCDP-D); certification as a Traumatic Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS); certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (working as a certified clinician, consultant, and facilitator); certified as a National Emergency Responder, and Public Safety Clinician.
Maiorano possesses a certificate of Knowledge in Forensic Social Work: Socio – Legal Practice by UCONN, School of Social Work and completed her PhD in Public Safety Leadership, with a specialization in Criminal Justice and Human Behavior from Capella University. Additionally, she is recognized by the Fraternal Order of Police, STAR Behavioral Health Civilian Professionals for the Military, and the National Volunteer Fire Council as being a vetted provider. Within this she is also recognized by LEXIPOL and the National Emergency Responder and Public Safety Center (NERPSC) as a National Emergency Responder and Public Safety Certified Clinician.
Maiorano is also certified with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) as a trainer for Connecticut in various 400 level areas: Training various Connecticut Police Academy’s in Connecticut, including the newer Law Enforcement Council (LEC) Eastern Regional Police Academy (ERPA) in Norwich, Conn.
Conference Presenters
Ashley McClain is originally from New Haven and graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. Following graduation, McClain worked as a community resource advocate alongside the Office of Adult Probation as well as a social worker with the Department of Children & Families. After becoming mom, she shifted her career and began working in higher education. She continued her professional career for more than 10 years working in both collegiate admissions and financial aid.
In 2020, McClain’s journey as a parent changed when her family learned that their son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. At that time, she stepped away from full time work to focused on supporting the needs of her family. Since then, McClain has fully immersed herself in understanding, advocating and developing resources for the special needs community. She has connected with various special needs parents/caregivers from around the country to provide support throughout their journey. She has been sought out as a parent resource and advocate for educational programming, clinical providers and various nonprofits.
In June of 2023, McClain created LINKED- Autism Safety Project after realizing there was a lack of knowledge and understanding of the neurodiverse community within emergency management services. She has partnered with various police and fire municipalities, both within the public and private sectors, on a local, state and national level to provide resources, support, training and consultation to better assist the special needs community. In September of 2023, McClain launched Beyond the Horizon, Inc, a nonprofit organization that provides sensory friendly and adaptive programming throughout Connecticut for families and individuals within the special needs community. Due to her involvement and development of programming, McClain has been appointed as a council member CT Council for Developmental Disabilities and has been certified as a Police Officer Standards Training (POST) and Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services Instructor for first responders in the State Connecticut.
She resides in North Branford with her husband Josh and their two children, Leigha and Colton.
LaSaundra McCoy, MSW is a social worker for the School Resources Officers in the Monroe County School Corporation in Bloomington, Indiana. Prior to that, she was a social worker in Bloomington Police Department. She has worked for Campus Life Youth for Christ, Banneker Center, and the Monroe County School Corporation for almost 30 years in Early Childhood Education and helping to run the summer Edventure Camp. LaSaundra is the mother of three grown children, a daughter and two sons. She is the grandmother of five grandchildren, one granddaughter and four grandsons. She loves helping others and empowering them in being the best version of themselves. Quotes she likes are “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” by Mahatma Gandhi, and “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase,” by Martin Luther King Jr.
Patricia McIntosh, LCSW, MPH is the Deputy Director of Social Services for the City of Hartford. She she oversees programming for maternal child health, senior services, and community services. In a previous role with the Mayor’s Office, as Director of Community Safety and Wellness for the City, she was responsible for leading innovative and collaborative programming to address issues of mental health, justice involvement, community violence, housing insecurity, education access, and quality of life. Launched in 2022, the Hartford Emergency Assistance Response Team (HEARTeam) continues to thrive and advance as an alternative response to mental health calls received by 911.
With more than 30 years of working in healthcare settings, McIntosh is committed to caregiver wellness and strives to share her knowledge and tangible tools with individuals working as professional helpers to facilitate self-care and wellness. Ms. McIntosh’s expansive professional career in major metropolitan U.S. cities, combined with her diverse cultural heritage and life experiences, accentuate her commitment to a career in service where compassion reigns, disparities are dismantled, and communities are better positioned to thrive.
Conference Presenters
Joanne Montgomery, LCSW, LADC is an accomplished healthcare leader with 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field. As the Chief Clinical Officer at Liberation Programs, she brings extensive expertise in substance misuse, mental health, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and trauma, along with a passion for improving access to care and fostering innovative solutions. Joanne has been a driving force behind groundbreaking initiatives that expand treatment availability and improve service delivery, earning recognition from SAMHSA and DMHAS for her work.
She originally joined Liberation Programs in 1995, and after a successful tenure at other agencies, she rejoined the Liberation in 2019. She currently oversees the Outpatient Programs and Men’s Inpatient Program, where she leads efforts to enhance outreach, create strategic partnerships, and increase revenue. Her work has also included leading special initiatives such as Women’s Reach, Intimate Partner Violence, and gambling recovery programs. Additionally, Joanne manages the agency’s internship program and several research studies across the agency. Her innovative contributions are exemplified by her creation of a pioneering “treatment on demand” model, which reduced the waiting period for medication-assisted treatment from several weeks to just 90 minutes—a transformative change that greatly improved access to care.
Montgomery is highly engaged in the local community, with extensive experience in program development and building partnerships across Fairfield County. She serves as the board president of Mid Fairfield AIDS Project (MFAP), Co-Chair on the Strategic Planning and Assessment Committee for the Ryan White Planning Council and is a founding board member of the Connecticut Alliance of Recovery Residences (CTAR).
Brad Neuder is the Police Social Worker (PSW) for the Traverse City Police Department. He holds a master’s degree as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). His previous experience providing crisis intervention to the vulnerable population in Traverse City and surrounding communities serves as a benefit to the Department to de-escalate and promote overall well-being of individuals in crisis. The goal of his position is to reduce law enforcement calls for vulnerable populations by providing increased on-site QRT response, immediate assistance and resources, and officer response to help individuals navigate acute distress and promote their overall well-being.
Lauren Pristo, MPH is the Director of Community Engagement at McCall Behavioral Health Network. She manages several key initiatives, including the Community and Law Enforcement for Addiction Recovery (CLEAR) project, the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Implementation, and coordinates the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force. Lauren leads the region’s first harm reduction program, an overdose spike alert response, and a multi-agency rural outreach network. Lauren earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases from the Yale School of Public Health, focusing on the needs of people living with HIV and barriers to care, and holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Northern Arizona University.
Christine Quill, MSW, LSW is a Police Social Worker (PSW) at Waukegan (Illinois) Police Department. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work from Illinois State University, and a master’s degree in social work with a focus on Leadership and Social Change from the University of Illinois. Christine has always been drawn to understanding the complexities of human experiences and the social issues that affect people’s well-being. Christine has 35 years of experience in the field of social services and brings an extensive background working in child welfare spanning both micro and macro practice, including program evaluation, policy, and procedures. Her professional journey includes a wealth of experience. As a social worker, Christine strives to embody the values of compassion and justice with those she serves and works tirelessly to create a more inclusive and supportive society for all. For Christine, social work is the ultimate expression of empathy in action. It allows Christine to advocate for individuals facing adversity, give a voice to those who may not have one and empower people to overcome life’s challenges.
Conference Presenters
Olivia Raley, MSW has worked in social services for seven years. Raley obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky, master’s degree in forensic psychology from North Central University, and will graduate with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kentucky in May 2025. She started her social work journey in 2018 by accepting a job in child protective services protection and permanency unit and remained in that position for two years. Raley then transitioned to working at Maryhurst which is a residential facility for adolescent girls who score S+ on the foster youth state scale regarding trauma and success of placement. After 1.5 years at Maryhurst, Olivia accepted a management position at St. Vincent DePaul where she managed overnight men’s, veteran’s affairs unhoused programs, and domestic violence transitional housing unit with therapy dog, Maverick, for three years. Raley then accepted the role of Bardstown’s police social worker alongside her K9 sidekick. She has received recognitions such as being appointed as a commissioner for the human relations committee of Louisville, Ky., being named Louisville’s 40 under 40 recipient, a Kentucky Colonel, Rotarian member, and serves on 8 non-profit boards in Bardstown ranging from child welfare, animal rights, unhoused, and community clinic operations.
Lieutenant Nicholas Rankin is the Director of Police Social Work Integration for the SWLE Project and a 16-year veteran of the Norwich, Conn. Police Department. With a background as a CIT Officer, Field Training Officer, and K-9 Handler, he is a course creator and regional instructor in De-Escalation and Police & Public Relations, focusing on fostering productive, trust-based partnerships between law enforcement and the community. He also teaches situational awareness and safety courses designed specifically for social workers and professionals who conduct home visits, with certifications in arrest and control, OC spray, baton, handcuffing, and use of force.
Lieutenant Rankin has been recognized multiple times by the NAACP and the NAACP Youth Council for his community work. His initiative, Rose City United, a partnership between Norwich Police and Black Lives Matter activists, has been acknowledged by the Connecticut General Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor’s office for its role in community empowerment and cooperation. While leading Norwich’s Community Policing Unit, they won the 2021 New England Area Chiefs of Police (NEACOP) Community Policing Award. In the same year, the Norwich Police Department’s Recovery Coach Program, which Lieutenant Rankin co-founded, received the Chamber of Commerce Collaboration of the Year Award. He remains committed to supporting at risk populations through positive law enforcement and social service collaboration.
Travis Rapoza completed a triple major from Brandeis University in Politics, International and Global Studies, and French. He subsequently spent several years as a professional violinist before pivoting to a career in public service. He served as an AmeriCorps VISTA through the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), where he was embedded in the New Bedford Police Department, served on PAARI’s Outreach Team, and helped plan and organize their 2022 National Law Enforcement Summit. In November 2022, he was hired as a staff member at PAARI, the first AmeriCorps VISTA to be offered a full-time position, where he served as a Program Manager. Among his projects, he focused on the emerging threat of xylazine and provided technical assistance for the Opioid Settlement Funds. He is currently enrolled in the Harvard Kennedy School pursuing a master’s in public policy.
Gina Rosich, PhD, LMSW (she/her/Dr) is Chair and Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Saint Joseph. A member of the queer community, Dr. Rosich’s pedagogy focuses on social work education and LGBTQ+ rights. She is a leading co-organizer of the CT Trans ID Clinic and a CGA-appointed member of the CT CWCSEO LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network. She received her MSW from UPenn and PhD from Fordham University.
Conference Presenters
Lynne Schmidt, LMSW-CC is the queer, neurodivergent grandchild of a Holocaust survivor, and a therapist with a focus in trauma and healing. They obtained their Master of Social Work in 2020 from the University of New England with Trauma Informed and EFT-1 Certificates. They are a 2025 Maine Arts Fellow, and author of The Unaccounted for Circles of Hell, SexyTime, which was a winner of the 2021 The Poetry Question Chapbook Contest, Dead Dog Poems which was the 2020 New Women’s Voices Contest, and Gravity, which has been listed as One of the Best Breakup Books of All Time by Book Authority. When given the choice, Lynne prefers her pack of dogs and one cat to humans.
Dr. James T. Scott began his law enforcement career as a New York City (NYC) Correction Officer. After working in NYC for two years, Scott moved to Connecticut, where he continued to serve as a State Trooper. During his tenure with the State Police, he has worked as Patrol Trooper, Academy Instructor, Patrol Sergeant, and ultimately the Commanding Officer for the Recruiting & Background Investigations Units. He simultaneously served in the Army National Guard, specializing in Military Police Operations. James is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After 20 years of military service, he retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. Scott has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in administration, and a Doctorate in Criminal Justice. After 21 years of service with the State Police, he retired and assumed a full-time faculty position at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven.
Sergeant Mark Stead has served Lower Providence Township for more than 20 years, focusing on community safety and engagement. As the supervisor of the Community Policing/Traffic Safety Unit, he promotes public safety initiatives and traffic management strategies. His previous role as a School Resource Officer allowed him to build strong relationships with students and address youth challenges, while creating a safe school environment. Sgt. Stead holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Temple University and is pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Criminology from Pennsylvania Western University. He also participates in advanced training at Northwestern University. His commitment to continuous learning enhances his leadership in policing.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for his dedication to public service, including recognition from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, as well as accolades from the Lower Providence Optimist Club, highlighting his commitment to fostering a positive future for the community’s young residents.
Sophie Sumpter, LMSW graduated from the University of South Carolina Master of Social Work program in May 2024. Sophie additionally holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Political Science. Sophie serves as the Case Coordinator for the West Columbia Police Department (WCPD) Law Enforcement Assisted Deflection (LEAD) program and was previously a social work intern with the WCPD Outreach program. Additionally, Sophie holds a graduate certificate in Drug and Addictions and is passionate about using motivational interviewing and harm reduction principles to meet her clients where they are.
Tamia Tucker has just under 15 years of experience as a Patrol Trooper with the Connecticut State Police. She is currently an evening shift Supervisor. Tamia is a graduate of the SCSU Master of Public Health program. As well as a 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher and a Licensed Practical Nurse. She has experience in the following to include but not limited to community policing, holistic wellness and health promotion, mindfulness, peer support and critical incident stress management.
Conference Presenters
Chaplain Charles (Chuck) Tyree is a volunteer police chaplain at the Norwich Police Department (Conn.) and at the Waterford Police Department, a Certified Law Enforcement Council instructor, member of the CT Critical Incident Stress Management response team, and the pastor of the Norwich Alliance Church.
Nikki Urbanski is a Social Services Liaison for the Lower Providence Township Police Department. She connects individuals and families with vital resources, addressing mental health, addiction, homelessness, and more. Urbanski is also the Officer Wellness Coordinator for the department, implementing programs focused on physical, mental, and emotional health, ensuring officers have access to resources such as counseling and stress management workshops. With her MS in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and extensive experience across different environments, Urbanski works to enhance lives through compassionate care and education.
TFC Rodney Valdes is a 19-year Veteran with the CT State Police. He is currently the Peer Support Coordinator, Chaplaincy Program Coordinator, and a Comfort K9 Handler. Valdes is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, vetting, training, and coordinating peer support specialists and peer support response throughout the entire state. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Management minor in Philosophy (Post University), Master of Divinity (Liberty University), and is currently in pursuit of his Master of Social Work-looking to build an emphasis in helping individuals recover from religious causes of trauma, and moral injury (first responders).
Theresa L. Velez, M.A. has been a sworn police officer with the Hartford Police Department since December 2004. Prior to accepting the EAP / Wellness / CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Coordinator position in 2016, she was a Community Service Officer in the north end of Hartford for 11 years. She holds undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Administration. In 1995, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC. While there, she was also a member of the National Honor Society of Psychology, Psi Chi Chapter.
The EAP/ Wellness Coordinator position is tasked with an array of duties that include officer wellness programs (financial, mental, and physical); the retire well program; close work with trauma-trained, mobile crisis clinicians who have a history of working with law enforcement; support to officers involved in shootings; any personal or work related issues; oversight of the CIT training program and its officers; and working closely with the newly formed CRT team (a HEARTeam partner).
In 2009, Officer Velez received her Police Instructor Certification from the Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Since then, she has actively instructed on numerous topics including Stress Management, Suicide Recognition, Intervention & Management, Substance Abuse Issues as well as Human Behavior / Interpersonal Communications. She received her instructor certification in Recognition, Prevention, and Management of Excited Delirium and Sudden, In-Custody Deaths from the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths Inc (IPICD) in 2011 and also from Blue Courage Instructor (Sept. 2021).
Conference Presenters
Officer Velez held seats as a Board of Trustee for the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE); Inter-Community Health and Addiction Services Inc.; President of Hartford’s Policeman’s & Fireman’s Association; board president of Honor Wellness; Chaplain for the Fraternal Order of Police Hartford Lodge #30; and a past board member for the Greater Hartford Police Credit Union.
Dr. John Watts is an assistant professor and program director of the Criminal Justice and Restorative Justice Program at the University of Saint Joseph. He is also an adjunct professor at the Russell Sage College in the Criminal Justice and Community Corrections Program. Watts is a retired Chief Probation Officer with 20 years of experience working at the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Court Support Service Division (CSSD).
Watts is a national trainer and consultant with Policy Research Associates and the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP) and holds certifications as a Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) and in Forensic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (F-CBT). Dr. Watts earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Charter Oak State College, a master’s degree in management and organizational leadership from Albertus Magnus College, and a doctorate in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.
SWLE Project Team
Isabel Logan, Ed.D., LCSW is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Social Work & Law Enforcement Project. She earned a BSW from Saint Joseph College (Presently the University of Saint Joseph), an MSW from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Hartford. Dr. Logan is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. She maintains a small consulting and clinical practice. Dr. Logan began her career in academia as a professor of social work at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2016. Before working in academia, she worked 20 years as a social worker for the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services in New Haven Superior Court and Superior Court for Juvenile Matters at Hartford. In 2001, Dr. Logan was selected by American University to assist with developing the Cultural Proficiency in Drug Court Practice: Training of Trainers Manual for Drug Court Professionals. Her research interests include bilingual professionals, microaggressions, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic issues impacting human service delivery, and police social work. In 2013, Dr. Logan received The Mary Rosa McDonough Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Saint Joseph, and in 2019, she received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award from Eastern Connecticut State University. Additionally, in 2021, she was awarded a Letter of Appreciation by the Willimantic Police Department. In June 2023, Dr. Logan received the Humanitarian Award from the NAACP Windham/Willimantic Branch in Connecticut and in October 2023 the NASW-CT Chapter Social Worker of the Year Award for her work in Police Social Work. Dr. Logan is also a CIT Crisis Coordinator and a certified instructor for the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST).
Robert Madden, LCSW, JD is the Director of Practice Standards and Ethics for the SWLE Project. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Work and has been on the faculty at USJ since 1986 serving in various capacities including Department Chair (2013-17) and Special Assistant to the President (2009-2012) and MSW Program Director (2022-23). Professor Madden holds a BSW from Providence College, a MSSW from Columbia University and a law degree (JD) from the University of Connecticut. He has extensive clinical social work experience and currently provides supervision, consultation and training to the social work community. Professor Madden is licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker and maintains a small practice focused on trauma.
Professor Madden is the co-editor of Relationship Centered Lawyering: Social Science Theory to Transform Legal Practice (Carolina Academic Press, 2010); and the author of Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling and Mental Health: Guidelines for Clinical Practice in Psychotherapy (Sage, 1998) and Essential Law for Social Workers (Columbia University Press, 2003) as well as many journal articles related to law in social work practice. He is a frequent trainer and consultant on legal/ethical issues and standards of care in clinical mental health practice.
In 2008, Professor Madden received the Educator of the Year Award from the NASW Connecticut Chapter, in 2014 he was honored with the Stack Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Saint Joseph, and in 2022, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from NASW/CT.
SWLE Project Team
Jeanette Borunda, LCSW is the Co-Chair of the Social Work & Law Enforcement Network. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the mental health field with people from birth to death through non-profit agencies, hospitals, and the police department. She specializes in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, healing trauma work, intersections of identities, first responders, and military veterans. As the Director of Clinical Services of Behavioral Medicine at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, Jeanette established a Mental Health Court and Partial Hospitalization Program. In 2020, Jeanette began working at the Alamogordo Police Department as the CIT Clinical Director and co-created the Mobile Crisis Response Team. Additionally, Jeanette provides individual therapy through her private practice, Pawsitively Transformational Health and Wellness.
Jeanette serves as the Vice President for the Otero County Community Health Council and on several community-based organizations that focus on behavioral health and crisis intervention. She was previously the Vice President for the NAMI-Southern New Mexico Board of Directors. Jeanette is a team member representing Otero County for the New Mexico Education Judicial Committee for the Summit on Improving the Court & Community Response to Those with Mental Illness Summit and sits on a Familiar Faces Subcommittee for the Counsel of State Governments Justice Center. Throughout her career, she has facilitated trainings and workshops in multiple capacities throughout New Mexico and Washington on topics including Cultural Awareness, Race, Class and Gender, LGBTQ+, and Microaggressions. As a Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Intervention Training Facilitator, Jeanette has trained over 300 professionals and community members in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) in Otero County.
Lieutenant Nicholas Rankin is the Director of Police Social Work Integration for the SWLE Project and a 16-year veteran of the Norwich, CT Police Department. With a background as a CIT Officer, Field Training Officer, and K-9 Handler, he is a course creator and regional instructor in De-Escalation and Police & Public Relations, focusing on fostering productive, trust-based partnerships between law enforcement and the community. He also teaches situational awareness and safety courses designed specifically for social workers and professionals who conduct home visits, with certifications in arrest and control, OC spray, baton, handcuffing, and use of force.
Lieutenant Rankin has been recognized multiple times by the NAACP and the NAACP Youth Council for his community work. His initiative, Rose City United, a partnership between Norwich Police and Black Lives Matter activists, has been acknowledged by the Connecticut General Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor’s office for its role in community empowerment and cooperation. While leading Norwich’s Community Policing Unit, they won the 2021 New England Area Chiefs of Police (NEACOP) Community Policing Award. In the same year, the Norwich Police Department’s Recovery Coach Program, which Lieutenant Rankin co-founded, received the Chamber of Commerce Collaboration of the Year Award. He remains committed to supporting at risk populations through positive law enforcement and social service collaboration.
SWLE Project Team
Lieutenant Matthew Solak is the Law Enforcement Director and Co-Founder of the SWLE Project. He is a 19-year veteran of the Willimantic (Connecticut) Police Department, presently serving in the Administration Division. Some of Lieutenant Solak’s prior assignments have included Midnight Shift Sergeant, Community Policing, and Bike Patrol Officer, and he served on the Willimantic Police Department SWAT Team for 9 years. In 2018, Lieutenant Solak created the Willimantic Police Department’s Police-Assisted Recovery HOPE Program, and Lieutenant Solak serves as the Department’s liaison to the Willimantic Community Care Team and the Windham Opioid Task Force. As a Connecticut POSTC-certified Police Instructor, Lieutenant Solak teaches a variety of disciplines, including Instructor Development, Officer Wellness and Police Stress, and Active Threat Response. In 2021, he testified before the Connecticut General Assembly on topics pertaining to Police and Social Work Partnerships and was a panel presenter at the first annual National Conference on Police Social Work in Bloomington, Indiana. Lieutenant Solak holds a Master’s Degree from Trinity College and is presently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Connecticut.
Captain Garon DelMonte is the Director of Policy and Training for the SWLE Project. He graduated from the University of New Haven in 2008 and has been a member of the Milford Police Department for more than 14 years. In such time he has served as a field training officer, DARE officer, school resource officer, and special investigation unit detective. Captain DelMonte is a Blue Courage and Police Officer Standards and Training Council Instructor in Juvenile Law and Missing Persons. He is also the current Administrative Captain, which oversees internal affairs, recruitment, records, and the police social workers.
Melissa Stone, MSW, LCSW is the Indiana Police Social Work Liaison for the SWLE Project. She is the Senior Police Social Worker (PSW) at Bloomington (IN) Police Department (BPD). She began the PSW program in March 2019. Stone received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Indiana in 2014 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Indiana. Prior to joining BPD, Stone worked in higher education with students who experienced sexual violence. She also has extensive history working with clients with serious mental illness in home-based, group home, and correctional settings. Stone assisted with developing the National Conference on Police Social Work, has spoken at numerous conferences on the field of police social work, and continues to regularly consult with law enforcement agencies looking to start their own PSW programs. She is passionate about developing community partnerships, increasing first responder wellness, and increasing access to mental health services in her community.
SWLE Project Team
Samantha Inniss, LCSW is the Integrated Police Social Work Specialist for Municipalities for the SWLE Project. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from the University of Connecticut, and an MSW from Springfield College. She has experience working with young adult services and was a treatment worker for the State of Connecticut Department of Children & Families. Ms. Inniss has facilitated groups for intensive outpatient programs and relapse prevention at Intercommunity, formerly Alcohol Drug and Recovery Center. She also worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services for ten years. Currently, Ms. Inniss is a Social Work Police Liaison for the Town of West Hartford. In the summer of 2022, she participated in the 2nd Police Social Work Academy hosted by the Social Work & Law Enforcement Project to strengthen her knowledge and skillset when working with the West Hartford Police Department and Town Social Services to integrate her role as a Police Social Worker.
Francelis Gonzalez, LMSW is the Practicum Specialist and Executive Project Administrator for the SWLE Project. Additionally, she was a police social work intern with the Norwich Police Department under the SWLE Project during the 2021-2022 academic year. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. For three years, Francelis worked as a school social worker at an elementary school and an assistant social worker at an alternative high school program for students with behavioral challenges. Francelis has a wide variety of experience working with clients with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, self-harm/suicidal ideation, substance/alcohol use, bipolar disorder, developmental disabilities, and more. She is passionate about working with at-risk youth. Francelis is currently employed as a Social Worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she assists Veterans, their families, and their caregivers in resolving Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) challenges to health and well-being.
Jennifer Hippie, LCSW, LCAC is Research Assistant for the SWLE Project. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Field Instruction for the Indiana University School of Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Indiana. Her primary role is that of Field Coordinator for the MSW Direct On-line program out of the Indiana University Schol of Social Work. Her practice experience includes work in a wide variety of clinical settings and with diverse populations. Her research interest focuses on mental health support within community and college campus settings, utilizing social work interprofessional partnerships.
MISSION
The Social Work & Law Enforcement (SWLE) Project is dedicated to advancing the ethical and effective integration of social work services into law enforcement agencies by preparing social workers, social work students, and law enforcement professional to collaborate in the developing field of police social work.
GOALS
• Educate and train the social work and law enforcement workforce to work together using the Police Social Work Integrative Model
• Increase community wellness through training, research, and policy advocacy
• Strengthen social work, law enforcement, and community engagement
• Offer a place for dialogue on different perspectives and voices between community, social workers, & law enforcement regarding issues of diversity to address disparities and systemic racism from law enforcement to criminal and juvenile justice settings
Thank You
The SWLE Project would like to extend our heart felt gratitude to everyone who made this event possible.
Southern Connecticut State University College of Health & Human Services
Social Work Department
SCSU Police Department Honor Guard
SCSU Integrated Marketing and Communications
SCSU Institutional Advancement
4th Annual National Conference on Police Social Work /Planning Committee
Jeanette Borunda, LCSW - Alamogordo Police Department (New Mexico)
Captain Garon Delmonte - Milford Police Department (Connecticut)
Officer Jennifer DeWitt - Waterbury Police Department (Connecticut)
Amanda Mittan, LMSW - State College Police Department (Pennsylvania)
Melissa Stone, LCSW - Bloomington Police Department (Indiana)
Lieutenant Nicholas Rankin - Norwich Police Department (Connecticut)
Veronica Torres, LCSW- Alamogordo Police Department (New Mexico)
National Anthem - Officer Sandra Quiñones - Bridgeport Police Department (Connecticut)
Sponsors
Fourth Annual National Conference on Police Social Work Sponsors:
As we try to re-imagine American policing, we must address issues inside of policing such as officer wellness. Suicide is the #1 killer of police officers. The trauma officers face put them in danger of self-harm, and greater harm to the community. Following the lead of Pillar six of the final report of 21st Century policing, officer wellness is paramount for the police to effectively do their jobs. As we teach officers about vicarious and community trauma, we must also address individual officer trauma. This presentation is an overview of an 8-hour trauma training for police and how to normalize asking for help as well as officer responses to the training.
