Faculty & Staff
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Ginny Sprang, Ph.D, Executive Director
Ginny Sprang, Ph.D., is the Buckhorn Professor of Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health at the University of Kentucky. She is a Professor, with a joint appointment in the College of Social Work, and the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Sprang served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado, Irving Harris Program in Child Development and Infant Mental Health during her sabbatical. Dr. Sprang is a Principal Investigator and Executive Director of the Center on Trauma and Children, a center whose mission is dedicated to the enhancement of the health and well-being of children and their families through research, service and dissemination of information about child trauma. Dr. Sprang serves as Principal Investigator for many of CTAC’s state and federal grants and contracts. She served as a member of the National Steering Committee for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), is the current Co-Chair of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Committee for the NCTSN, and is the Chair of the Terrorism and Disaster Special Interest Group of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Her scholarship focuses on the clinical, forensic and empirical aspects of traumatic stress and the efficacy and effectiveness of treatments to address the biopsychosocial impact of violence against children. Dr. Sprang has published extensively in the leading journals focusing on trauma, maltreatment, and treatment efficacy in adults and children. |
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James Clark, Ph.D, LCSW, Associate Director
James J. Clark, LCSW, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky with appointments in the College of Medicine (Department of Psychiatry) and the College of Social Work, where he currently serves as Associate Dean for Research, as well as the Constance Wilson Professor of Mental Health. He has conducted funded empirical research and has published in the areas of ethics, forensic mental health, substance abuse treatment research, child welfare, and community mental health services. Since 1983, Dr. Clark has provided clinical services and organizational leadership in rural Appalachian and urban community settings. He has worked as a clinician, educator and researcher in adult and child forensic mental health, with special interest in the ongoing collaborations among law and mental health professionals and systems. Most of this work now takes place in his position as associate director of UK-CTAC, which develops and studies innovative child and family assessment programming, treatment/practice approaches, and policy advances in Kentucky, the United States, and globally. Jim serves as co-chair of the Justice Consortium for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which provides evidence-based consultation for the development of trauma-informed justice systems. |
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Otto Kaak, M.D., Associate Director Dr. Kaak is a Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Social Work at the University of Kentucky, where he has worked since 1972. He is currently an Associate Director of the University's Center on Trauma and Children, and primarily assists in evaluating families, referred by the Courts and Cabinet for Families and Children, with open, substantiated cases of abuse or neglect. Dr. Kaak conducts numerous workshops and trainings across the Commonwealth, related to the subjects of Attachment, Brain Development, and Treating Behavior Disordered Children. He is a member of the American Academy of Chilld and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the former Director of the University's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division. He instituted and directed the University's Triple Board Residency Training Program for fifteen years. |
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Carlton Craig, Ph.D., Faculty Associate
Carlton Craig, Ph.D., is a faculty associate of the Center on Trauma and Children. Dr. Craig is an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work. He has served as a Co-PI on a research project that, in collaboration with the Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Dr. Craig evaluated the mental health of Bosnian refugees five years after resettlement in the U.S. He was a data analyst on several research teams at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), including the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being study. Dr. Craig was a clinician at the Detroit Veterans Administration Medical Center (VMAC) where he authored a number of manualized protocols for the Advanced Directive Clinic, Incentive Therapy Program, and Day Treatment program. |
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Michelle Staton-Tindall, Ph.D., MSW, Faculty Associate
Michele Staton-Tindall, Ph.D., MSW, is a faculty associate of the Center on Trauma and Children. She is an Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work and also serves as a faculty associate with the UK Center on Drug and Alcohol Research. Dr. Staton-Tindall has collaborated with CTAC researchers on the Drug Endangered Child study, a pilot project to investigate the consequences of caregiver substance use and related criminal justice involvement on children and families. She is the chair of the CTAC Research Workgroup and is working with the team to develop new Center initiatives, grants and seminal publications. Dr. Staton-Tindall is currently the Principal Investigator for a SAMHSA funded CSAT TCE evaluation project focused on enhancing substance abuse services for women who are pregnant, parenting, or post-partum and their children. She is also the PI on the Criminal Justice Kentucky Substance Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (CJKTOS). Her research interests include substance use, criminal justice treatment, and the impact of substance abuse on children and families. |
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W. John Curtis, Ph.D., Faculty Associate
W. John Curtis, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology. Dr. Curtis is a Faculty Associate of the Center on Trauma and Children and an expert in developmental psychology. Dr. Curtis has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
His research program integrates neuroscience and developmental perspectives to address how social experiences manifest themselves in brain development and functioning in children at-risk. |
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Jessica G. Eslinger, MSW, LCSW Jessica G. Eslinger, MSW, LCSW is a Research Assistant and a doctoral student in the College of Social Work. Ms. Eslinger received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky in 1994, and has over 17 years of clinical experience working with children, families, and adults in both community mental health and private practice settings. Ms. Eslinger has been a research assistant at CTAC since June of 2008 with responsibilities including the organization, coordination and collection of data. |
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Jennifer Aldarondo, Ph.D.
Jennifer Aldarondo, Ph.D. earned a doctorate from Indiana University in 2000, a master's degree from Mississippi State University in 1994, and a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1992. She completed her internship in general psychology at Madison State Hospital in 2000, and her post-doctoral training at Cummins Mental Health Center in 2001. She has been licensed at the master's and doctoral level in Indiana, and as a Licensed Psychologist in Kentucky since 2002. Her current position is a Psychologist/Clinician/Team leader, with duties that include: assessment of families and children who have an open case with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services which include identifying strengths and weaknesses, how the family interacts with each other, and psychological and developmental examinations. In addition, she generates reports for the Cabinet to aid in making decisions or treatment plans, the supervision of doctoral level clinicians, and conducting school-based/community trainings on skills to use with traumatized children. |
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Bettye Cheves, BSN, MSN
Bettye Cheves, BSN, MSN, is a psychiatric nurse and a key member of the treatment team at the CATS clinic. Ms. Cheves is a highly skilled play therapist with over 30 years of experience working with maltreated children and their families, and an expert on attachment spectrum disorders and relational interventions. |
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Angela Combs, M.S., LPA, LPCC
Angela Combs, M.S., LPA, LPCC, Therapist and Trainer, completed her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky. Ms. Combs has over eight years of clinical experience working with children who have been impacted by traumatic events and their families in the capacities of an individual and group therapist, in-home therapist and in assessment. As a Clinical Team Leader for the Comprehensive Assessment and Training Services (CATS) Project, Ms. Combs coordinates a multidisciplinary team of clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses to conduct multidimensional assessments of maltreated children and their families. Ms. Combs is also the Educator Coordinator for the CATS Project and oversees the development and activities of students of various levels and disciplines and provides clinical supervision. As a Therapist and Trainer for the Child and Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training Institute, Ms. Combs provides empirically-based interventions to children and families who have experienced maltreatment and training/mentoring to Regional Clinical Associates involved with this project. |
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Kelly Eversole, Administrative Assistant and Receptionist
Kelly Eversole is an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist. Kelly is the initial point of contact for all callers and visitors to the center, and provides important administrative support functions for many of the centers programs and initiatives. |
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Kathy Howe Kathy Howe is a Project Assistant for CATTTI. Kathy coordinates the collection of data across study sites and provides data management support for the CATTTI project. |
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Jaliah C. Day-Klaiber, MSW,LCSW Jaliah C. Day-Klaiber, MSW,LCSW is a CATS Assessment Team Member and a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Master's Degree in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker. Jaliah has a history of working with private foster care, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. |
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Candice M. Jackson, MSW, CSW
Candice M. Jackson, MSW, CSW, received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky in 2007 and has experience working with traumatized children and persistently mentally ill adults. She currently serves as a research assistant on a Department of Homeland Security, National Institute for Hometown Security-funded project that is investigating the physical, mental and social effects of health-related disasters on children and families in pandemic events. |
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Kay A. Hubbard, LCSW
Kay A. Hubbard is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Assessment Coordinator for the CATS Project. Having worked with children and families through the mental health and justice systems for eight years, she has experience conducting forensic interviews and evaluations of family functioning, with an emphasis on interfamilial attachment. She has worked on a variety of multi-disciplinary assessment teams including: social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, nurses, child protective services workers, law enforcement and attorneys. She has trained and advised child protection service workers regarding the best practices of clinical decision making. Specific areas of expertise/interest include child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, parent-child attachment and child trauma. |
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Maxine L. Keller, M.A.
Maxine L. Keller, M.A. is the Administrative Coordinator for the Comprehensive Assessment and Training Services Project (CATS). Ms. Keller acts as a liaison to the Cabinet for Health & Family Services to facilitate the referral and evaluation of families at CATS. She received a Masters degree in Community Counseling and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. She has over a decade of experience working in foster care, children’s advocacy, family therapy, and crisis intervention in community settings. |
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Phyllis Leigh, MSW
Phyllis Leigh, MSW serves as Project Director for the Behavioral Health Disaster Response project. Ms. Leigh has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work and is a Certified Social Worker. |
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Aimee Mau, MSW, LCSW
Aimee Mau, MSW, LCSW, Treatment and Training Specialist. Ms. Mau completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. Prior to graduate school, Ms. Mau gained approximately six years of field experience working with children and adults whose lives were impacted by domestic violence. During graduate school, Ms. Mau was a research assistant and team member with the Comprehensive Assessment and Training Services (CATS) Project. Following graduation, Ms. Mau’s role at the CATS Project was expanded into a position as a clinical team leader where she continues to lead a multidisciplinary group of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurses in the assessment of maltreated children and their families. As Treatment and Training Specialist for the Child and Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training Institute (CATTTI), Ms. Mau provides empirically-based interventions to children and families who have experienced maltreatment and training/mentoring on empirically-based interventions to Regional Clinical Associates involved with this project. |
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Miriam Silman, LCSW
Miriam Silman, LCSW, is a Research Assistant with the Center and an Adjunct Faculty member in the College of Social Work. She has worked in the field of interpersonal violence as a clinician for most of the last 24 years, including work at Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, the UK Department of Outpatient Psychiatry and the CATS project. |
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Heather Risk, Psy.D.
Heather Risk, Psy.D., Project Director. Dr. Risk completed her Master of Science at Eastern Kentucky University and her doctoral studies at Xavier University. Dr. Risk completed an APA accredited internship at the UC Davis Children’s Hospital, CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Sacramento, California and has years of clinical experience with child and adult victims of trauma. As Project Director for the Child and Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training Institute (CATTTI), Dr. Risk provides empirically-based treatments with victims of child maltreatment and trains other mental health professionals. Dr. Risk’s clinical interests include providing empirically supported treatments to children and families who have experienced maltreatment. |
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Lynn M. Squicciarini, MSW, LCSW Lynn M. Squicciarini, MSW, LCSW is a Doctoral Fellow with CTAC and a doctoral student in the College of Social Work. Ms. Squicciarini received her Masters of Social Work degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in 2002 with a specialization in Infant Mental Health. She has over13 years experience working with children, adolescents, families and adults in the community as well as in agency settings. She was previously a clinical director of an adult crisis psychiatric clinic and works with children with behavioral difficulties including Autism. |
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Melissa Wilkinson Melissa Wilkinson is a masters student in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and is interning as a research assistant at CTAC. She received her Bachelors degree in psychology from Indiana University. |
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Adrienne Whitt-Woosley, MSW, LCSW
Adrienne Whitt-Woosley, MSW, LCSW is the Clinical Coordinator for the CATS Project and a clinical social worker. Ms. Whitt-Woosley has worked with the children and families of Kentucky for 10 years, and has focused her clinical and research efforts on understanding the importance of attachment relationships and the impact of traumatic events. Ms. Whitt-Woosley has specifically worked to assist the courts and child protection systems to prevent and treat child maltreatment. She was also the director of the UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Project, which provided research and training for healthcare professionals statewide and nationally regarding disaster response, and she has served as an adjunct professor for the UK College of Social Work. |