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About Us
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About Us Staff
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Victoria Gwiasda, Executive Director
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Vicky joined CALICO in December 2005. In her last position, she served as senior manager of a national violence prevention organization in Washington D.C, helping communities across the country build coalitions and mobilize residents to address local violence problems. Prior to that, she served as deputy director of the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, the only state-government agency in the country focused exclusively on violence prevention.

 
Briggitte Lowe, Deputy District Attorney
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Briggitte has been with the District Attorney’s Office since 1998 and joined the Sexual Assault Prosecution Team in 2009. She was assigned to serve as the Deputy District Attorney Liaison to CALICO in July 2011. At CALICO, she facilitates interactions between law enforcement and social workers, chairs the monthly Case Review meetings, and supports collaborative efforts of professionals engaged in child abuse investigations.

 
Child Interview Specialists
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CALICO’s forensic interviewing services are provided by a team of five part-time Child Interview Specialists, three of whom serve in other part-time positions described below. Two interviewers are bilingual (Spanish-English); when services are required in a language other than Spanish or English, CALICO uses court-certified interpreter services, including for American Sign Language.

 
Family Resource Specialists
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CALICO’s family support services are led by two full-time Family Resource Specialists. One FRS is bilingual/bicultural in Spanish and both are fully skilled at assisting caregivers of children of all ages. The FRS provide crisis intervention, information and referrals to counseling and other community-based services, psycho-education about abuse and victimization, and assistance completing California Victim Compensation applications.

 
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator
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The MDT Coordinator develops and maintains relationships with CALICO’s partner agencies in order to ensure high compliance with and utilization of the county’s multi-disciplinary protocol for responding to child abuse allegations. In doing so, the coordinator promotes CALICO’s services. This person also analyzes county-wide data regarding child abuse cases.

 
Training Coordinator
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CALICO’s part-time Training Coordinator conducts trainings on child abuse reporting, child abuse investigations, multidisciplinary team protocol, CSEC (commercial sexual exploitation of children) issues, drug endangered children, resiliency and other topics. These trainings are offered free-of-charge to partner agencies and other community organizations. The Training Coordinator has nearly two decades of experience working with children and victims of trauma.

 
Program Manager
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CALICO’s part-time Program Manager oversees interviewing schedules, coordination of interviews, CALICO’s after-hours paging system and other issues related to the daily operation of CALICO’s forensic interviewing services. She also coordinates ongoing professional training at both the local and national level for CALICO staff. In addition, the Program Manager attends community events and speaks to local organizations and businesses interested in learning more about child abuse in Alameda County.

 
Development Coordinator
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CALICO's full-time Development Coordinator holds primary responsibility for developing, managing and implementing CALICO’s fund development and marketing plan related to individual and community donors. She produces communications materials and manages other outreach, such as social media, to raise awareness of CALICO’s services. The Development Coordinator also serves as the staff liaison to the Board Fund Development Committee.

 
Administrative Staff
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CALICO is supported by a full-time Office Manager and part-time Bookkeeper. The Office Manager is responsible for maintaining a smooth operating environment for CALICO, providing administrative and program assistance, database/donor management, and ensuring an organized and inviting office. The Bookkeeper is responsible for maintaining an accurate and efficient bookkeeping system for CALICO.

 
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