TONI BANKSTON, LCSW, BACS

Executive Director

Toni Bankston, LCSW, BACS currently serves as the Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center. She is a Louisiana Master ACES trainer and serves on the Governor’s Advisory Board for Human Trafficking and the LA. Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board.

A native of Baton Rouge, she has been a child and family psychotherapist for 30 years in the area of trauma and resiliency. She is a co-author of professional journal articles focusing on work with children impacted by trauma and disaster. Toni serves as needed with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, D.C. as a member of the U.S. Faculty and Global Trauma Relief Team in Haiti, Israel and Gaza, Sonoma(wildfire disaster), Houston(Gustav), and Broward County(Stoneman Douglas school shooting). In this capacity she has worked to develop programs and train other healthcare professionals in trauma recovery, with an emphasis on programs for youth and secondary stress in their caregivers and providers. Locally, her work in Louisiana has included bringing wellness programs to disadvantaged populations, including the street homeless in Baton Rouge, children in urban school-based settings, and working with Coastal residents in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Isaac and the Horizon BP Oil Spill. She has also served as Adjunct Faculty at the LSU School of Social Work. Toni is a wife and mother of four adult children.

KALIKO HARRIS

Family Advocate & Forensic Interviewer

Kaliko Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from University of Phoenix and is currently working towards her master’s degree and licensure in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University. Kaliko joined the team initially after obtaining training and certification as a Forensic Interview Specialist through the National Children’s Advocacy Center. She has since received training through the National Organization for Victim Assistance for her current position as Child and Family Advocate. Kaliko also works as the children’s sexual assault group facilitator at the Center. Kaliko, who is an Army veteran, hails from Hawai’i and brings more than ten years of experience working with children, families and military veterans who have experienced trauma. She is dedicated to providing coordinated services to best support children and families and is passionate about empowering people to find and use their voice.

JADA WOODS, LMSW

Child and Family Therapist

Jada received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Louisiana State University. During her time in the master’s program at LSU, she became specialized in child and youth with a focus on at-risk youth. Jada is trained in crisis intervention and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Jada has joined the BRCAC team as a trauma-focused therapist providing individual, group and family therapy at the Center and offsite.

Jessica Castillo, MS

Child and Family Therapist

Jessica is from Puerto Rico and has been living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for almost 5 years. She started working at the CAC in April of 2019. She is an experienced mental health clinician with a background in Clinical Psychology. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Louisiana State University in 2009, later pursued her graduate degree in Puerto Rico where she completed her master’s and doctorate (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from an APA accredited program, Carlos Albizu University. Jessica has worked with children, teens and families with a diverse range of mental health problems, mostly stemming from traumatic experiences. She has a passion for promoting and valuing diversity. Jessica has a strong interest in improving the welfare of the Hispanic/Latino community in the United States and helping them overcome the multiple traumas they experience using evidence-based practices.

JENNIFER LEIGH, MS

Education Specialist and Consultant

Jennifer currently serves as a Education Specialist and Consultant for the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center.  She earned her Master of Science Degree from Louisiana State University, and is a Veteran of the United States Air Force.

A native of Baton Rouge and a survivor of child abuse, Jennifer has a vested interest in the well-being and mental health of the Baton Rouge community, with a special devotion to protecting and educating its children.

She is a certified middle and high school educator with five years of teaching experience in local private and public schools.  She also served as a public and private lands and wildlife management consultant, advocating for threatened and endangered wildlife and resources in Louisiana.

She is a certified facilitator of Child Help’s “Speak Up Be Safe” child abuse prevention education curriculum where she currently teaches children in local private and public how to recognize unsafe situations, to build resistance skills, and to build a responsive safety network with safe peers and adults.

Jennifer is a dedicated christian, wife, and mother of two beautifiul children.

GINO J. BERTUCCI, LCSW-BACS

Contract Therapist

Gino graduated from Tulane University in 1994 with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. He also earned a MHA from the University of St. Francis. Presently, he is employed as the Program Director at The Secured Forensic Facility for the State of Louisiana. He also has maintained a private practice for the last 15 years and has been a contracted employee with the BRCAC for the past 5 years. He has extensive experience over the past 25 years working in the area of sexual trauma with both children and adults, including working with minors with problematic sexual behaviors.

ALLYSON PARDUE, LCSW-BACS

Contract Therapist

Allyson is a licensed clinical social worker at a local hospital where she provides psychotherapy to employees and conducts trainings and workshops for healthcare workers. Her background includes 3 years of social work experience in a psychiatric emergency room at another local hospital; as well as extensive experience in crisis intervention, including suicidal crises and traumatic loss and grief. Allyson has more than 14 years of experience training adults in effective interpersonal communication skills, including active listening and crisis assessment, intervention, and resolution

TIMEKA SENSLEY

Human Trafficking Coordinator

Timeka Sensley is a native of from Baton Rouge, LA and a graduate of Southern University A&M College. She is our newly staff member of the Children Advocacy appointed by the Governor office for the project of Human Trafficking in our region. This position holds a special place in Governor Edwards and first lady heart. I started working at the CAC on January 6, 2020.. I have a background in severe mental health with co- occurring disorders. Timeka has completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and later pursued her graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling at Southern University A&M Counseling Ed. Center. Timeka has worked with children, teens and adults with a range of mental health problems and addiction. She has a passion for healing and helping others work through life difficulties. Timeka has a strong interest in improving the livelihood of our communities who suffer from past experience of severe depression and trauma by using evidence-based practices and case management of resources provided by our community.

JANET DAIGLE

Forensic Interviewer

Janet Daigle, BA, JD began work in November, 2019 as a full-time Forensic Interviewer at the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in Rhode Island and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University in New Orleans.  Janet is licensed to practice law in the state of Louisiana and has a particular interest in the area of juvenile justice. She has recently completed the Forensic Interviewing of Children Training conducted by the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Prior to coming to the BRCAC, Janet worked as a staff attorney for the Mental Health Advocacy Center, served as the Assumption Parish Federal Programs Director and spent several years in private practice. She has also served many years as the head and/or assistant Cross Country and Track and Field coach for Ascension Catholic Middle School and High School programs. Janet is married and is the mother of four children ranging in age from 13 to 24.

EMERALD RONEY

Program Coordinator

Emerald Roney, BA, began work in November 2019 as the Program Coordinator at the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 2018.  A native of Baton Rouge and a survivor of child abuse, Emerald has a true passion for the children in the Baton Rouge community. She is a certified facilitator of Child Help’s “Speak Up Be Safe” child abuse prevention education curriculum where she teaches children in schools how to recognize unsafe situations, to build resistance skills, and to build a responsive safety network with safe peers and adults. Emerald is engaged to be married the fall of 2020.

AKEISHA WILLIAMS

Family Advocate, Human Trafficking Coordinator

On June 4, 2017, I met with the Jennifer Madden the program coordinator of the CAC to inquire about becoming a volunteer to gain a feel of the social work field experience. I was granted an opportunity of honor on the spot to tour the non-profit facility and be introduced to its staff and administration. There were such warmth and adventure about this place that left me with a lasting impression. I must say I was extremely filled with gratitude when I received an email asking when I will like to start providing my services. Immediately, I contacted my husband and dad to let them know how awesome this opportunity I was granted.
Within the last two years, I decided to return to school with a career change and further my education in human services. I am currently a first-year student attending Walden University pursuing my Bachelor of Social Work degree. Being a blessing and nurturing individual to the surrounding communities for adult and youth services, is my main priority along with instilling them with knowledge. I am a proud volunteer of the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center also for this organization to allow me to utilize my education and skills to the test. I am thrilled to become an employee of this great organization!

Lawana Mabry

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Lawana Jackson Mabry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Louisiana State University in 2008 and has been practicing in many social work arenas since then.  Mrs. Mabry is the clinical director of an outpatient behavioral health agency located in multiple cities throughout the state of Louisiana. Her extensive work history also includes inpatient psychiatric social work, school social work, trauma-focused therapy, medical social work as well as child protection.

Mrs. Mabry has been grateful to receive invitations and requests to present to different audiences, including undergraduate social work students at Southern University, graduate level social work students at LSU, volunteers with Big Buddy, small church groups and schools throughout the parish. She takes pride in engaging in volunteer work that is centered around hands-on activities within the mental health/social work communities and looks forward to helping to strengthen and encourage upcoming mental health professionals in order to help members of the community normalize the talk about mental illness, mend the wounds of sexual abuse and secure needed resources.

Perhaps one of Mrs. Mabry’s most treasured role was as a contract therapist with the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center. Prior to her recent return to this agency, Mrs. Mabry served as a counselor for trauma-exposed children for approximately 3 years. She has since returned to this position to help fulfill her passion for direct service and while helping abused children heal.