The horror of a child maltreatment case being mishandled or overlooked compelled this week’s guest on “History. Culture. Trauma.” to create a national, education-based solution.
Dr. Tyler Counsil is the director of Child Advocacy Studies (CAST), part of the Zero Abuse Project. He uses his passion for prevention, healing, education, and justice to the benefit of students at almost every level of education after high school.
“Today’s students in community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges are eager to help prevent and heal child abuse and to bring justice for victims and survivors,” says Counsil. “Whether they are studying for a degree or certification in programs ranging from criminal justice to social work, they need to have a multidisciplinary understanding of how to respond to child maltreatment.”
According to Counsil, CAST courses are offered at 86 colleges, community colleges and universities across 29 states in the U.S. CAST learning focuses on developing students’ understanding of the factors that lead to child maltreatment as well as how various professionals, from law enforcement, social work, forensics and healthcare respond to abuse and neglect, so they can work more effectively.
On Thursday’s podcast with hosts Ingrid Cockhren, CEO of PACEs Connection, and Mathew Portell, director of communities, Counsil will share insights to advance listeners’ understanding of our country’s history and culture of child abuse.
“Work on a single child abuse case may involve multiple systems and institutions,” says Counsil. “With CAST programs being shared at education centers across the country, students learn about the various professional responses to child maltreatment and develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the most effective responses.”
Those who complete the CAST courses are will be better equipped to carry out the work of different agencies and systems (healthcare, criminal justice, social services) as they advocate on behalf of the needs of children as victims and survivors of child abuse.
According to the CAST website, “Universities seldom prepare students for the reality of child protection. Successful professional training will produce child maltreatment professionals who will be knowledgeable enough to competently manage child maltreatment cases.”
“Beginning in college, we must produce an army of frontline workers well equipped to organize all the players in their local communities for the benefit of children,” he says. “Each member of the CAST front line has experience recognizing abuse typologies, speaking with survivors and non-offending caregivers, conducting agency-appropriate investigations and testifying in court. While these experiences increase professional competency, the most compelling reason to provide this training is that it may prevent a child maltreatment case from being mishandled or overlooked.”
Learn more about where CAST programs are offered at the website. https://www.zeroabuseproject.o...ld-advocacy-studies/
Counsil has worked over six years in the public and private laboratory sector, having been employed as a microbiologist, DNA specialist, quality assurance/quality control manager, and forensic scientist throughout the span of his laboratory career. His most recent venture involved working as a forensic scientist with the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division. He is a deputy coroner and death investigator for his county. Counsil has also been appointed as president-elect for the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan.
Counsil also has extensive experience working in post-secondary education. With over seven years of professional work experience at institutions of higher education, he has served as an associate professor for traditional and online learning platforms, with a combined five years of program development and directorial leadership experience for Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) criminal justice and forensic science programs.
Counsil has a B.A. in biology from Hanover College (Hanover, IN), a B.S. in criminal justice from Oakland City University (Oakland City, IN), and a M.S. and Ed.D. in biology from Ball State University (Muncie, IN).
Professional memberships:
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences
- Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence
- National Science Teachers Association
- Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences
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