Steve Bewsey

Steve Bewsey, BA, CYC
Academy President, Trainer and Consultant
Corpus Christi, TX

Steve Bewsey Steve Bewsey is a Certified Child & Youth Care Practitioner who has completed 45 years of service with foster and homeless youth in residential treatment, street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional living, and supportive housing programs. Steve has provided consultation and training to over a hundred youth serving agencies and has trained thousands of…

Frank Eckles, BA, CYC-P
Executive Director, Academy for Competent Youth Work
College Station, TX

Frank is the Academy’s Executive Director, author of the Child and Youth Care: Foundations Course, co-author of the Youth Thrive™: Protective and Promotive Factors for Healthy Development and Well-Being training, and a contributing editor of the Families Thrive: Protective and Promotive Factors to Enhance Thriving for All Children, Youth, & Families training.

Cindy Carraway-Wilson, MA, CYC-P
Senior Instructor
Brunswick, ME

Cindy has a master’s degree in psychology from Duquesne University and is a certified Child and Youth Care practitioner at the professional level through the Child and Youth Care Certification Board (CYCCB). Cindy is currently the Vice President of CYCCB’s Board of Directors and is co-editor of the Families Thrive: Protective and Promotive Factors to Enhance Thriving for All Children, Youth, & Families training.

Jeananne Reich, BA, CYC-P
Senior Instructor
Noblesville, IN

Jeananne is a CYC Practitioner at the Professional Level and has a passion for professional development. With over 20 years in the field, her background includes work in residential facilities, substance abuse centers, and various after school settings.  She has direct service and administrative experience. She is an instructor for the American Heart Association, Safe…

James Freeman

James Freeman, MA, CYC-P
Senior Trainer
Camarillo, CA

James Freeman, MA, CYC-P is the director of training at Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families in southern California. He has over two decades of direct experience in out-of-school, education, family camping, residential, and community based programs and has served as an international child and youth care consultant with a background in organizational development…

Deborah A. Michelle Hurley, BS, CYC-P
Louisville, Kentucky

Michelle Hurley, CSW, CYC-P, has passionately advocated for youth since 2011 and currently serves as the Program Advocate for National Safe Place Network (NSPN), providing training, technical assistance, and program support for youth organizations across the United States. Michelle is deeply committed to striving toward NSPN’s vision of a world where all youth are safe…

Opeyemi Olajide Olowookere
Tulsa, OK

Opeyemi is the Executive Director of the Global Support for Kids Initiative (GSK Initiative), a community-based non-profit and non-governmental organization with headquarter in Nigeria. He is a current Board member and International Advisor to the Association for Child and Youth Care Practice (ACYCP), also the Principal Partner/CEO of Hope Diamond Int’l Resources Ltd, a professional…

Christen Peterson, MS, CYC-P
Brownsburg, IN

Christen is a proud Youth Worker who has spent the last 15 years of her career in Out-of-School-Time Programming. Her time in afterschool has been spent in community-based outreach programs, leading international service learning trips, managing traditional center-based afterschool programs, and releasing her inner child during summer camp! She truly believes that the greatest gift…

Pamela A. Clark, MSW, CYC-P
Columbus, IN

Mrs. Clark is an independent consultant and trainer specializing in youth development and leadership. She previously served as Director of the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center, and as Executive Director of the Foundation for Youth of Bartholomew County, Inc., and the Bartholomew County Youth Advocacy Commission. Mrs. Clark served four years as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, and was a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

Henrietta Komras, MEd
Los Angeles, CA

Henrietta is the Training and Organizational Specialist at Aviva Family and Children’s Center in Los Angeles, California.  She bring 20+ years of experience as a consultant and learning facilitator. She has extensive experience in designing and facilitating soft skills training programs in: leadership and management skills, communication, coaching, conflict management, and performance appraisal.

Tone Reyes, AS, CYC-P
Camarillo, CA

Tone Reyes is a Training Specialist at Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice and is a licensed group home administrator by the California Department of Social Services.  He is a co-author of the Safe Environments for Learning and GrowthTM curriculum and chief designer of Seaville, Casa Pacifica’s multi-sensory de-escalation room.…

Elizabeth Ann Brown, MS, CYC-A
Baton Rouge, LA

Elizabeth has developed and implemented curricula and programs for children, youth, and youth care providers which focus on personal growth, self-discipline, and character development.  She emphasizes the use of the arts, athletics, life skills, mentoring, team building, and the service learning.  She has taught youth and youth care providers for 32 years. Elizabeth is an approved trainer…