Erin Harper, Executive Director
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Ms. Harper has been with CALICO for over 8 years. She has held roles including Forensic Interview Specialist, Outreach Coordinator and Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator. Most recently, Ms. Harper was the director of CALICO’s state-wide program, Children’s Advocacy Centers of California, promoting the growth of children’s advocacy centers, providing assistance to centers throughout the state, and developing legislative policies promoting issues related to child abuse. Prior to joining CALICO, Ms. Harper was an Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Since March 2017, she has served as CALICO’s Executive Director where she directs the overall agency operation, policies, and services.
Forensic Interviewing Team
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CALICO’s dedicated team of five child interview specialists possess over 60 years of experience at CALICO and have conducted a total of over 10,000 forensic interviews. Each interviewer is trained on a ten-step investigative interview model adapted from a research-based protocol developed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Two of the child interview specialists are bilingual/bicultural Latinas who provide services in Spanish as needed. The team is managed by Bertha Nevarez, who has conducted over 3,000 interviews (in English and Spanish) since joining CALICO’s staff in 1999.
The staff at CALICO work hard and deal with horrific stories, but they still remain generous, warm, and welcoming people.
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—Calvin C. James, Assistant County Counsel (retired)
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Office of the County Counsel, Alameda County
Forensic Interviewing Team
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Kristy Brodeur Dermody, Child Interview Specialist/State Training Coordinator
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Holly Fleming, Child Interview Specialist/CACC Program Coordinator
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Catherine Jamison, Child Interview Specialist
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Bertha Nevárez, Child Interview Specialist/Program Manager
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Amparo Ozuna, Child Interview Specialist
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Family Support Team
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Jennifer Co, Family Resource Specialist
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Shelley Hamilton, LCSW, Manager, Center for Child Protection, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland
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Jessica Jacobson, Family Resource Specialist
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CALICO’s full-time family resource specialist (FRS) is a masters-level clinicians with specialized training in trauma-focused interventions for child abuse victims. The success of CALICO’s family support services result from a strong partnership between CALICO and the Center for Child Protection (CCP) at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, the main referral agency for mental health services. Each FRS works one day per week at CCP, and CCP Manager Shelley Hamilton, LCSW, provides weekly clinical supervision to the team.
Local & State Coordination
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Erin Harper, Multi-Disciplinary Team & State Director
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Ms. Harper is a former Child Interview Specialist who interviewed over 600 children. She is experienced in forensic interviewing models, child abuse dynamics and multi-disciplinary team-building. She holds a J.D. and is an active member of the California Bar Association.
Professional Training
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Kristy Brodeur Dermody, Child Interview Specialist/State Training Director
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Ms. Brodeur has served as CALICO’s only training coordinator since the position was first added in January 2009, and has trained thousands of professionals locally and statewide. In 2012, Ms. Brodeur was awarded the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s Outstanding Service Award in the Multidisciplinary Team category.
Administrative Staff
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Cory Blasi, Office Manager
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Valerie Mayweather, Bookkeeper
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CALICO’s services are supported by a part-time bookkeeper and full-time office manager who ensure efficient fiscal operations and office management.