Christina Allen
Lakewood Ranch,USA
Summary
Experienced professional specializing in human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, online predation, child protection and welfare, with a strong background in conducting forensic interviews and assessments related to sexual abuse, trafficking, and other crimes against children. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with law enforcement and social services, facilitating multi-agency staffing to ensure comprehensive support for at-risk families. Proven track record in providing crisis intervention and trauma-informed care, alongside courtroom testimony that supports legal proceedings. Skilled in training facilitation and community outreach, enhancing interagency communication and problem-solving capabilities.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Co-Chair
Circuit 12 Human Trafficking Coalition/Task Force
01.2025 - Current
CPT Case Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer
Child Protection Center, Inc.
08.2021 - 12.2025
- Conduct forensic interviews of children in cases of physical and/or sexual abuse, other maltreatments, as well as specialized interviews of parents/caregivers.
- Act as a liaison between Law Enforcement and the Department of Children and Families.
- Conduct assessments and make recommendations to assist in ensuring the safety and well-being of children at risk of abuse and neglect.
- Facilitate Multi-Agency Staffing (MAS) with agencies that are involved with at-risk families.
- Complete psychosocial assessments of families to assess concerns for abuse, identify risks, and provide recommendations.
- Provide on-call services within Sarasota and DeSoto County as requested by the Department of Children and Families and/or Law Enforcement.
- Testify in courtroom proceedings such as depositions, Child Hearsay hearings, Dependency and Criminal Trials.
- Assisting new team members.
- Child Protection Team - Sarasota and DeSoto County
CPT Case Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer
Manatee Children's Services
11.2019 - 08.2021
- Conduct forensic interviews of children in cases of physical and/or sexual abuse, other maltreatments, as well as specialized interviews of parents/caregivers.
- Act as a liaison between Law Enforcement and the Department of Children and Families.
- Conduct assessments and make recommendations to assist in ensuring the safety and well-being of children at risk of abuse and neglect.
- Facilitate Multi-Disciplinary Team Staffing (MDT) with agencies that are involved with at-risk families.
- Complete psychosocial assessments of families to assess concerns for abuse, identify risks, and provide recommendations.
- Provide on-call services within Manatee County as requested by the Department of Children and Families and/or Law Enforcement.
- Testify in courtroom proceedings such as depositions, Child Hearsay hearings, Dependency and Criminal Trials.
- Assist new team members.
- Child Protection Team - Manatee County
Social Worker, BA, LSWA
Department of Children and Families
Springfield, USA
04.1999 - 05.2017
- Conducted child abuse, neglect and abandonment investigations.
- Co-created and facilitated trainings to staff on Human Trafficking/CSEC.
- Facilitated mandated reporter trainings to community partners.
- Conducted long term case management and assessed family functioning.
- Conducted Intake/Screening for Child Abuse/Neglect reports.
- Assessed risks to children who were reportedly abuse victims and implemented appropriate safety measures.
- Implemented services for families with abuse concerns present and monitored compliance.
- Acted as a representative of the agency in Probate and Family Court, Juvenile Court, and Criminal Court which included providing testimony on high profile media cases.
- Coordinate with various law enforcement agencies, District Attorney's Office, Family Advocacy Center, medical staff, and other community professionals to gather crucial evidence for building criminal and juvenile care and protection court cases of child abuse and neglect.
- First responder to families after an emergency report of child abuse/neglect has been reported.
- Write court reports/affidavits.
- Identify victims of Domestic Violence.
- Identify signs of Substance Abuse.
- Follow protocol in accordance with Mass General Laws.
- Trauma focused intervention/ Crisis Intervention.
- Springfield, Massachusetts
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Education
Western New England University
Springfield, MassachusettsSkills
- Multi-agency collaboration
- Forensic interviewing
- Risk Assessment
- Public Speaking
- Courtroom testimony
- Psychosocial evaluation
- Crisis intervention
- Trauma-informed care
- Training facilitation
- Emergency response
- Community outreach
- Interagency communication
- Problem-solving
- Crisis management
- Effective communication
- Consulting
- Teamwork
Certification
- Certified Human Trafficking Investigator (CHTI), The McAfee Institute
- Licensed Social Work Associate, current, Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers, 413735
Training
- Certified Human Trafficking Investigator (CHTI), 02/01/26, The McAfee Institute
- Victim Services Practitioner Re-designation (Update), 01/07/25 - 01/09/25, The Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute (FCPTI)
- Krimes Against Kids Annual Conference, 07/24/24 - 07/26/24, The Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers
- Investigating Human Trafficking, Adult Sexual Exploitation, 04/05/24, Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCSAV)
- Research Updates in Forensic Interviewing, 12/11/23, Dyneshia Sparks, Bureau of Child Protection & Special Technologies Division of Children Medical Services Florida Department of Health
- Voices of Lived Experience: The Importance of Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care for Youth Impacted by Trafficking, 09/27/23, National Center on Child Trafficking
- National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) Advanced Forensic Interview Training, 09/26/22 - 09/29/22, Andra Chamberlin, MA and Kim Madden, M.Ed., LPC
- Human Trafficking 101 Training, 05/23/22, The Polaris Project
- Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training - 40 hours, 02/21/22 - 02/25/22, The Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute (FCPTI)
- Krimes Against Kids Annual Conference - 10.5 hours, 07/21/21 - 07/23/21, The Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers
- Strategies for Gathering Details When Children Experience Repeated Abuse, 09/21/21, Andrea K. Chamberlin, MA
- Exploring the Intersections of Historical Trauma and Race in Child Welfare, Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Systems, 01/22/21, Kyaien O. Conner, PhD LSW MPH
- Understanding Secondary Trauma and Strategies for Self-Care, 01/22/21, Janine M. D'Anniballe, PhD
- Child Protection Services Methodology, 12/15/20, Beth Hassen, Child Protection Services Supervisor and Jill Grivas, Managing Attorney Children's Legal Services (Manatee)
- Sexual Abuse Examinations for CPT, 10/26/20, Jessica Pritchard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
- Child Protection Team (CPT) - Understanding the Process, 08/14/20, Jackie Sandefer-Gondsen
- Child Abuse Indicators, 06/26/20, Dr. Victoria Riley, MD, CPT Medical Director
- DOH Basic Forensic Interview Training - 40 hours, 02/24/20 - 02/28/20
- Building Resiliency in Youth and Communities - 5 hours, 04/07/17, Rebecca Blanchard, PhD
- Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children - 4 hours, 04/14/16, Hampden County DA's office- District Attorney Anthony Gulluni
- Preventing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Adolescent Girls: A Training for Facilitators on Using the My Life My Choice Curriculum - 5.5 hours, 12/15/15, Nikki Valila, Audrey Morrissey, and Lisa Goldblatt Grace, LICSW, MSW, MPH
- The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Understanding and Responding to Victims - 6 hours, 11/06/15, Lisa Goldblatt-Grace, LICSW, MSW, MPH
- Anger, Rage and Trauma: Talking to Kids About Difficult Things - 6 hours, 10/09/15, The Bridge Training Institute/Stephen Murphy
- Meeting the Challenges Facing Child Abuse Investigators, 05/15/08, Family Advocacy Center at Baystate Children's Hospital and Hampden County District Attorney's Office
- Investigation Training Series - 3 weeks, 11/06/01, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
- Department of Children and Families CORE Training - 1 month, 04/01/99 - 04/30/99
Timeline
Co-Chair
Circuit 12 Human Trafficking Coalition/Task Force
01.2025 - Current
CPT Case Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer
Child Protection Center, Inc.
08.2021 - 12.2025
CPT Case Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer
Manatee Children's Services
11.2019 - 08.2021
Social Worker, BA, LSWA
Department of Children and Families
04.1999 - 05.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Education
Western New England University