Our Team

Chris Newlin is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Driven by the hope for a better future for all children, Chris has served for more than 25 years in CACs as a Forensic Interviewer, Victim Advocate, Therapist, Clinical Director, and Executive Director. He has provided diverse training related to the Children’s Advocacy Center model, the multidisciplinary response to child abuse, the international development of Children’s Advocacy Centers, forensic interviewing, and best practices in child abuse intervention and response in more than 30 countries throughout the world. Chris brings vision, passion, and humor to the team. Fueled by a desire to nurture the growth and development of child abuse professionals, Chris leads NCAC by cultivating a healthy work culture and building deep relationships with child abuse professionals across the world. But Chris’s love of building extends beyond the professional setting where he finds joy in his workshop utilizing his creativity with no need for a strategic plan.

Karen Hangartner is the Director of Professional Services at the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Karen is an experienced trainer, director, and leader. Driven by passion and loyalty, Karen has served in the CAC movement for 20 years. She has delivered hundreds of trainings across the nation, presented at conferences both nationally and internationally, and is a founding member of the STS Consortium making groundbreaking advances in the area of secondary traumatic stress in the CAC movement. Karen deeply believes that the CAC model is not only vital to a healthy community but has the power to fundamentally change our country and our world. She brings innovation, authenticity, and joy to the team. Karen leads the Professional Services Department by casting strategic vision and ideation that improves services and effectiveness at NCAC. She keeps up to date with the ever-evolving CAC model to ensure all the services delivered are firmly grounded in research and data. Karen’s devotion to healthy childhoods extends to her personal life, where she enjoys spending time with her granddaughters, playing games, and hosting many shared family meals.

Emily Chittenden-Laird is the Director of SRCAC. Emily is an experienced strategist and leader. Driven by a deep belief in the people and mission of the CAC movement, she takes pride in establishing vision and programming that ensures the success of Chapters and CACs. After more than a decade of service at the CAC and State Chapter level, followed by a few years as a consultant and Chief Operating Officer at 84 Agency, she returned to the CAC field as the Chapter Specialist at SRCAC, then became Director in 2022. Fueled by a desire to develop leaders and cast an inspiring vision for growth, Emily leads the SRCAC team by providing oversight and direction to ensure transformational change within the CAC movement. Emily’s leadership extends to her own community where she can be found singing in the choir, attending community meetings, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two sons.

Greg Flett is the Senior Program Manager for MDT and CAC Development at SRCAC. Greg is an experienced facilitator, and trainer. Greg enjoys building and delivering team facilitator training and works to further the field’s understanding of MDTs. Greg’s time working at CACs and other regionals drive his interest in building and delivering team facilitator training and furthering the field’s understanding of MDTs. In October 2017, Greg joined the SRCAC team. Fueled by a genuine curiosity to explore how teams work and a desire to enhance team functioning, Greg applies research to practice and provides training to CACs and MDTs across the southern region. However, his favorite type of exploring is outside hiking and mountain biking with his wife and two children.

Kori Stephens is the Senior Program Manager for Chapter Development at SRCAC. Kori is a visionary leader, coach, and facilitator. Fueled by growth and deep relationships, she takes pride in cultivating community and connections that offer self-development and belonging. During her time at the Midwest Regional CAC, she was recognized for her culture-building and advocacy work for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Driven by the belief we do not have to sacrifice ourselves and our own well-being to do important work in the world, Kori started her own business to provide energetic and spiritual support for the world’s nurturers. In July 2022, she joined the Southern Regional team light and intuitive energy keeps our team grounded. And to keep herself grounded, Kori teaches kickboxing, explores nature, visits coffee shops, dances, and spends time with her husband, two boys, and dog, Luna.

Lydia Johnson Grady is the Program Manager for Multidisciplinary Team Development at SRCAC. With over a decade of experience in the CAC movement, Lydia has had many roles, including advocate, forensic interviewer, multidisciplinary team facilitator, CAC Executive Director, and consultant. In partnership with the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network, she facilitated peer review for forensic interviewers across the state. Lydia is passionate about listening to children and advocating for survivors, and she believes deeply in the power of the CAC-MDT model. She loves research, learning, and supporting other professionals engaged in this challenging and purpose-driven work. Lydia has experience with teams across multiple levels of leadership. Lydia holds a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis in community and management practice from The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. In March 2023, she joined the SRCAC team. Driven by a strong work ethic and a desire to serve, Lydia works collaboratively with Regionals, Chapters, and CACs to elevate the functioning of multidisciplinary teams. When she’s not daydreaming about the potential of MDTs to change the world, she’s playing make-believe with her children or exploring the great outdoors.

Christina Rouse is the Program Manager for CAC Development at SRCAC. Christina is an experienced forensic interviewer, program developer, and leader. Driven by service to others and eagerness to raise the bar, she takes pride in troubleshooting solutions that elevate people and programs. During her time as a forensic interviewer, she interviewed over 2,500 children, helped coordinate and facilitate 11 MDT jurisdictions, and oversaw the daily operations of the three CAC office locations in the program. Christina’s passion for collaboration and cognitive flexibility enables her to be the ultimate team player by elevating people and programs beyond their current operative levels. Outside of the CAC movement, she is the ultimate board game player, whether at a convention, on her podcast, or at home with her husband and daughter.

Cara Vock is the Program Manager for Chapter Development at SRCAC. Cara is an experienced leader, advocate, and facilitator. Driven by a love for connection and innovation, Cara helps to grow, strengthen, and enhance Chapter programs across the South. During her time at CACs of Illinois, Cara implemented numerous state-wide systems to improve services to its members and their clients through data collection and analysis. She shifted efforts across the state to focus on various topics in a collaborative and cohort-style, continuous professional development framework. In July of 2023, Cara expanded her work from supporting one State Chapter to supporting 16, bringing a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our SRCAC team. With a deep commitment to making a difference and building connections, Cara provides crucial support to programs across the Region. When Cara is not being caught reading and referencing “Upstream” by Dan Heath, she can be caught kayaking downstream across Illinois.

Danielle Quat is the Program Manager for Training and Evaluation at Southern Regional CAC. Danielle has extensive experience in national and international social-impact work, including a decade of experience in child advocacy. Danielle served as the program supervisor at a county human services department in South Carolina where she facilitated a 13-agency multi-disciplinary team and was a member of four MDTs, including one facilitated by a local CAC. She also served on an MDT advisory board. During her time in the social services sector, she was recognized for mobilizing volunteers, advocating widely, and displaying unmatched team spirit. She thrives on real-world problem solving, collaboration, and systems improvement. In January 2024, she joined the SRCAC team to design and implement data tracking and evaluation efforts and training. Fueled by a lifetime commitment to service and sustainable impact, she improves SRCAC’s programmatic efforts, resource development, and training coordination to maximize impact. But Danielle’s favorite type of coordination involves a passport, plane ticket, and curated itinerary.

Caroline Rossi is the Administrative Program Manager at SRCAC. Caroline is an experienced editor and manager. Her attention to detail and collaborative workstyle helps her ensure all products are of the highest quality, provide effective support, and are delivered on time. During her career in publishing, she oversaw the submission and review processes for over 14,400 course materials, managed editorial services, provided training to researchers and faculty assistants, and supervised staff. Inspired by a desire to feel closer to the mission of an organization, Caroline brought her impressive array of experience to SRCAC in 2017. As someone who didn’t come from the CAC world, Caroline seeks to learn as much as she can about child maltreatment prevention and intervention, often reading articles and publications to spark new ideas about how to better provide support to the field. But her favorite reads are autobiographies, books and articles on politics and current events, or even a new cookbook recipe.

Lauren Tanner is the Program Manager for Communications and Instructional Design at SRCAC. Lauren is an experienced educator, innovator, and leader. Driven by a love for service and spreadsheets, she takes pride in creating content and systems that improve equity and efficiency. During her time as a Teach For America corps member, she was recognized for her measurable success, curriculum design, program innovation, and team facilitation. She pivoted her commitment from serving children in the classroom to serving children with SRCAC in 2022. Fueled by a desire for excellence, she dives deep daily into systems and content development. But Lauren’s favorite type of diving involves a wetsuit, mask, and oxygen tank in the wide-open ocean.