This training initiative is designed for a diverse array of professionals, including Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Members, representatives from non-profit agencies, law enforcement officials, court administrators, school social workers, counselors, therapists, students pursuing related fields, and all individuals dedicated to providing support to survivors of sexual assault.
This event is free and open to all -- including staff, partner agencies, law enforcement, community representatives, survivors, board members, students, and others working in the victim services field.
Free continental breakfast, hot lunch and vegan/vegetarian options will be provided.
Address:
20 Johnston Street
Savannah, GA 31405
Phone:
912-721-3700
Cost:
$119 per night
Address:
5711 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31405
Phone:
912-652-9300
Cost:
$126 per night
Mr. Neal currently serves as the Executive Director for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. He was appointed to this position by Governor Nathan Deal in November of 2016. Director Neal formally served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2004 until 2013, when he was appointed by Governor Deal to be the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support, and Reentry.
Director Neal previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Lookout Mountain Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the SAGE Resource Center, and the YOBEL House. He and his wife Gretchen have two children and seven grandchildren, and they currently reside in Chickamauga, Georgia.
Andrea Elam is a current member of the Education and Training Team of the Amerigroup Georgia Families 360 program. Her position as a clinical trainer and engagement specialist provides the opportunity to connect with the communities, schools and families all over Georgia. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor for the State of Georgia and a Certified Professional Clinical Supervisor. She received her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of arts in Psychology. Andrea completed her master’s degree in science in Rehabilitation Counseling with a Specialization in the Rehabilitation of Ethnic Minorities at Southern University and A&M College.
Andrea’s understanding of psychology as a profession has allowed her an opportunity to fulfill a longtime career goal of becoming a clinical trainer, supporting interns and students working toward licensure, teaching in college and university settings, and becoming a consultant/advocate for CSEC (commercial sexual exploitation of children) victims.
For the past eighteen years, she has actively pursued a career in the field of psychology. Her passion has always been working with at-risk children, adolescents and their families from various ethnic backgrounds. Andrea has served in the community as a therapist, community support individual and a behavioral health assessor. Conversations with people about their life and hearing “their story” has always been one of the most enjoyable pieces of the puzzle for me.
Andrea’s motto is:
“Your success rate increases by 100% when you have a positive attitude!”
Amy Hutsell is the Program Director for the Sexual Assault, Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Units with Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. She and her team have competitively secured over $15,000,000 in federal and private foundation assistance for the state of Georgia’s criminal justice initiatives. She oversees the Georgia Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Project that provides technical assistance and best practices training to Georgia’s 50 judicial circuits and 159 counties. She chairs the State Expert Committee, which provides guidance in the development of resources, such as sexual assault guidelines and model protocols. One such resource, The Georgia SART Guide, has been distributed across Georgia to law enforcement, SANEs, victim advocates, prosecutors, and judges.
Ms. Hutsell provides training to Sexual Assault Response Teams and local colleges on best practices in victim-centered and trauma-informed response and sexual assault protocol development. She also oversees the state Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Project which has successfully addressed Georgia’s sexual assault kit backlog and developed the statewide SAK tracking system. In addition, Ms. Hutsell developed and oversees the Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Task Force, which has provided answers to victims and families of cold sexual assault cases and sexually motivated homicides. She developed and currently oversees the Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking project, and Agricultural Labor Trafficking Task Force. She is responsible for the management of all state and federal grants providing direct service funding to sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking victim serving agencies in Georgia.
Ms. Hutsell has over 16 years’ experience in sexual assault and child sexual abuse services. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of the Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center. She serves as a member of the Macon Girls’ Coordinating Council and was previously a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
Sarah Pederson currently serves as the Statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator for the Criminal Justice Coordinator Council (CJCC). In this role Sarah coordinates and supports existing and developing SANE programs throughout the state of Georgia. With Ms. Pederson’s support, the CJCC promotes consistent, professional and patient-centered medical and forensic response and treatment of sexual assault victims across the state. She also coordinates training to create opportunities for continuing education for SANE nurses and other disciplines within the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
Ms. Pederson has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kennesaw State University. In addition to holding credentials as a registered nurse and certified SANE-A, SANE-P, and AFN-C. Ms. Pederson is currently pursuing a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree from Georgia State University.
Jay Eisner is the coordinator of the Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Task Force (Ga. S.A.K.I.) for the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Previously, Jay served for 30 years in the DeKalb County Police Department and retired in 2021 as a Major and Support Services Division commander. Other assignments included Special Victims Section commander, Training Section assistant commander, Central Records commander, Domestic Violence Unit commander, full-time academy instructor, domestic violence investigator in the prosecutor’s office, and the Uniform Patrol Division as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain.
Jay is a certified General, Firearms, and E.V.O.C. Instructor who has provided training to thousands of officers across Georgia. He has frequently presented at conferences conducted by the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the National Organization of Victim Advocates. Jay served on many non-profit boards for two decades, including terms as Chairperson for the DeKalb Domestic Violence Task Force, the DeKalb Police Athletic League, and the International Women’s House shelter for battered refugee and immigrant women. At I.W.H. he helped lead the initiative to raise over a million dollars and build a new shelter. Jay assisted in numerous statewide efforts to improve legislation and criminal justice response, most recently serving on the C.J.C.C. state expert committee for the Sexual Assault Response Team project.
Jay was most recently honored as a “Champion for Change” by the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence. Other award highlights include the Georgia C.J.C.C.’s “Eagle Award for Law Enforcement” for service to victims of crime, the “Deborah McDorman” award for combating domestic violence, and the Georgia “Star of Life” award.
Jay grew up in DeKalb County and attended Georgia State University and the University of Louisville, where he completed the Southern Police Institute course with honors. Jay has been married since 1994 to Tina Dillard, a DeKalb Police Sergeant who retired after serving 30 years and receiving two Medals of Honor. Tina now enjoys driving 80,000-pound tractor-trailers across the southeast. Jay and Tina resolve to get serious about retirement in a few years when child # three moves out.
