Announcements

Just because a child looks okay doesn’t mean they are okay. Or maybe they look definitely not ok, but have amazing resilience. Maybe they're ok now, but could that change? Take the guessing out of the situation.

One of the most important tools we have at a Children’s Advocacy Center is the ability to identify when a child may need mental health services — and we shouldn't do that by observation, or their child's story, alone.

Trauma screeners give us a quick, practical way to ask an important question: Does this child need further evaluation or support? And, do they need is sooner than later.

Screening isn’t about diagnosing a child or assuming every child needs therapy. It’s about making sure we don’t miss the kids who are struggling quietly. A standardized screening process can help CACs identify needs earlier, guide referrals, strengthen MDT communication, and connect children and families with the right services.

As Libby Ralston, Ph.D. explains in this great NCA blog, screeners can serve as a roadmap — helping us move from assumptions to a clearer understanding of what a child may need.

Read the blog: Why Trauma Screeners and Standardized Assessments Matter

And if you’ve been thinking, “Okay, but how do we actually implement screening at our CAC?” Don't worry, we’ve got you. 

This September, we’ll be offering a NO-COST Care Process Model (CPM) screening training designed to help CAC professionals understand the screening process and how it can support better identification, referrals, and care for children and families. You do not need to be a license clinician to screen children.

Reach out with any questions! 

P.S. The title was NOT created by AI--I like to think I'm clever on my own.

Join Dr. David Kolko, Senior Developer of Alternatives for Families–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT), for an opportunity to learn more about this evidence-based approach and how it can support children and families experiencing trauma, child abuse, and family conflict.

Dr. Kolko has been instrumental in the dissemination, evaluation, and refinement of AF-CBT across the U.S. and internationally, making this a great opportunity to hear directly from an expert in the field--and he'll have some exciting news to share!

Learn more and register: AF-CBT Informational Call

Hello Members!

I wanted to share a grant opportunity for those located in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, and Chicago. The LOI is open now: Help For Children | Advancing Child Protection

They seem like a great fit for these communities!

Early bird pricing for the 5th Annual Seamless Conference flies away on July 31! 🐦

Why on earth would you pay full price for the exact same conference when you can get the exact same conference at a discount? 

Same incredible speakers.
Same practical sessions.
Same networking.
Same laughs.
Just... less money.

Don't let your future self ask, "Why didn't I register sooner?" Grab the early bird rate before it disappears on July 31! 

Who's there?

Who?

Who who?

Whoa, are you an owl?

No, but I am very wise in sharing that our August TF-CBT registration is now open! Come train with Melissa Runyon, an exceptional TF-CBT trainer who has trained on behalf of NCA, and currently serves as one of our amazing consultants for consultation calls! The cost is $599 for members, and includes consultation calls.

Questions? More knock knock jokes? Please reach out to Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org

*please note that the cleverness of this post was in fact NOT produced by AI.

Attention victim advocates! 

Join us this fall for AIMWell: Advocates Impacting Mental Well-Being! This training is designed to help victim advocates enhance their skills in supporting caregivers as they engage in mental health services for children and families. Participants will learn about the Care Process Model Screener, the basics of motivational interviewing, the importance of making a warm referral, and how to better understand different types of evidence-based treatments.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your conversations with caregivers or build confidence in connecting families to services, this training offers practical tools and strategies you can use right away.

The cost is $350/advocate, and Senior Leaders can attend at no cost!

For any questions, please reach out to Jami Bolton, jbolton@nca-online.org

Long waitlists? Not enough clinicians in your community? You’re not alone—and there is a way to bridge the gap.

CFTSI training is designed to help CACs respond faster, support families sooner, and make the most of the resources they do have. By focusing on a brief, evidence-based early intervention, CFTSI helps reduce symptoms before they escalate—meaning kids and caregivers can get meaningful support without waiting months for traditional therapy.

It’s a practical, high-impact approach that fits into real-world capacity challenges:
✔ Short-term model that increases access to care
✔ Can be delivered by a range of trained providers
✔ Helps stabilize families while they’re waiting for longer-term services (if needed)

Curious if it’s the right fit for your team? Join our upcoming info call to learn more and get your questions answered:
https://learn.nationalchildrensalliance.org/products/cftsi-informational-call-for-july-training

Ready to dive in? You can register for the July training here:
https://nca.inreachce.com/details/Information/8810073a-0a12-4c6e-9194-fd9639dec774

Let’s make long waitlists a little less overwhelming—for you and the families you serve.

The National Children’s Alliance proudly recognizes outstanding individuals and groups that have demonstrated their commitment and dedication to children and their families by promoting the Children’s Advocacy Center model and mission. 

Each submission requires a written narrative with a 500-word maximum and at least one letter of support.

NCA members in all membership categories (Accredited CACs and Chapters, Satellite CACs, Associate/Developing CACs, and Affiliate members) are eligible to make one nomination per award category.

Nominations are open until March 25, 2026.

For one week only, we’re offering free access to the training Advanced TF-CBT: Vicarious Trauma on MHub!

This webinar explores the difference between vicarious trauma and burnout, how vicarious trauma can affect clinicians across multiple areas of their work and life, and practical strategies to reduce empathy fatigue. Grounded in the TF-CBT model, the training emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-care so clinicians can sustain their energy, maintain fidelity to the model, and continue providing high-quality trauma treatment.

Through reflection and guided practice, participants will consider how their work may impact them personally and learn ways to build self-care and safety into their clinical practice.

Free access is available from March 10th-March 17th, 2026, and comes with 1 NASW CE
Code: LearnMHub26

Don’t miss this opportunity to complete an advanced TF-CBT training at no cost — and to focus on skills that support both clinician well-being and effective trauma treatment.

Kick off 2026 by diving into all the great learning opportunities waiting for you in MHub! Whether you’re brushing up on skills or jumping into something new, there’s something for everyone.

✨ Here’s what’s coming up:

• TF‑CBT Training – February 5, 10, & 12
• CFTSI Training – April 8–10
  Registration deadline: March 6
• AIMWell Training – launching in March
  💬 Join the AIMWell Informational Call on February 4, NCA Engage: AIMWell Informational Call

🔗 Explore the full catalog and register today:
Catalog Home - National Children's Alliance

Let’s make 2026 a year of growth, connection, and impact—starting now!

Hello colleagues! 

MHI is pleased to announce that the NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes is offering scholarships for its upcoming Mental Health Evidence Based Mental Health Training - Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  

Hello NCA members and NCAtrak users! I wanted to make sure you had a heads-up in the Weekly Update and more detail here on NCA Engage: Your 2025 annual stats are due January 15, 2026. You'll get all this information formally and there will be lots of opportunity to get help soon, but I wanted to make sure you got advance notice as early as possible. As you know, annually, Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) are required to submit their statistics on children served and services provided, now just once a year. This is an National Children’s Alliance (NCA) membership requirement for nearly all membership categories.

Coming up next month, your statistics for 2025 are due. This time around, however, you’ll notice some changes to the questions we’re asking. Here's a summary of the changes. 

• The original “Total Children Served” question will return as Question 1, capturing all referrals made to the CAC—whether or not services were ultimately provided. A separate “Total Children Served” question will remain to track only those who received direct services.
• We’re also updating demographic reporting: “Intersex” will be removed as a response option, and any sex designation other than male or female should now be recorded as “Unknown.” All demographic totals (age, sex, race) should match the number reported in Question 1.
• The former “Special Populations” question has been replaced with a single item counting Military Dependents.
• Case Management/Coordination totals under “Other Services Provided” are now clarified to include all new and recurring cases, not just new clients.
  
  Next week, we’ll send you an email with more details for your submission. Then, on January 2, 2026, submissions will be open to input your July to December 2025 statistics. The deadline to submit your statistics will be due Friday, January 16, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.
  
  If you have any questions or need help with your login credentials, contact ncatraksupport@nca-online.org.

Catalog Home - National Children's Alliance

NCA’s Mental Health Institute trainings are officially moving to our brand-new platform—MHub! Enjoy super-easy registration, instant CE certificates, and plenty of new perks along the way.

More trainings are on the way, so stay tuned—and as always, we’re here if you have any questions!

Many of you have been asking about our 2026 training dates and registration links—and we’ve got some exciting news to share! We’ve been working behind the scenes to make your registration process smoother, your training experience even better, and your CE certificates instantly downloadable.

✨ Stay tuned for a big announcement coming soon—including the reveal of our full 2026 training calendar!

Visit NCA's Playbook
password: AllNCAMembers!1

To get your link and password to the Playbook containing your Accredited CAC or Accredited Chapter badge, you can contact membership@nca-online.org.

🚨 Don’t miss out—this is your last chance to grab a spot at our 4th Annual Seamless Conference on September 17–18!

Join colleagues from across the country for two days of learning, connection, and inspiration. We’ll dive into:
✨ Working with engaging caregivers
✨ Your role as a clinician on the MDT
✨ Knocking out your ethics training

It’s going to be a conference you won’t want to miss—we can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

Executive Directors—it’s time to head back to school! Join us this fall for the Executive Director Mental Health Academy, a six-session training designed to help you strengthen and expand mental health services at your CAC. Pack your (virtual) backpack, sharpen your pencils, and get ready for interactive learning, practical tools, and connections with peers across the country. Class starts September 11—don’t be late! 👉 Register here