By: Janine Fortney, MSW, LSW
Janine Fortney has been practicing for 23 years as a Licensed Social Worker. Her work experience spans a multitude of social sector arenas.
Janine worked as an Outpatient Trauma Therapist and subsequently the Program Manager of the Outpatient Trauma Program at Friendship House in Scranton PA for eight years. She supervised therapists and student interns both undergraduate and graduate from local colleges and universities. She collaborated and coordinated efforts with other mental and behavioral health providers to ensure the most beneficial services would be available to those who needed them in the community. Janine has been trained in evidenced based therapy models Parent Child Interaction Therapy PCIT, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy TF-CBT, and Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, EAGALA. She also holds certification in the TF-CBT model.
During the time Janine worked at Friendship House, she had the privilege to provide trauma counseling services with Marley’s Mission and the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA in Scranton PA.
Janine was hired by Family Service Association of NEPA in May 2015 to develop the practices, policies and procedures of the Children’s Center of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties. The Children’s Center is a Child Advocacy Center located in Montrose PA. The purpose is to work collaboratively with other disciplines such as law enforcement, Children and Youth Service Agencies, District Attorneys, Victim Advocate Organizations, Medical providers, and Mental Health Providers to enhance the CAC model and utilize the multi-disciplinary approach developed through the CAC model. The Center provides comprehensive services to children who have alleged some type of abuse or traumatic event. The Children’s Center is a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of CAC’s and MDITS as well as an Associate member of the National Children’s Alliance. Janine has been trained and currently conducts the Forensic Interviews at the center for children who have alleged some type of abuse. Janine participates in collaborative programming with community organizations in both counties and sits on the Child Abuse Coalition committee for Susquehanna County.
Janine and her staff continue to promote outreach and educational programming to promote awareness about the Children’s Center as well as informing people in these communities about child abuse signs, symptoms and prevention. We work with the local school districts to present educational materials to their staff and students K-9 grades annually.
Janine has presented materials on Human Trafficking; Trauma Informed Systems; Childhood Trauma over the past four years for Family Service Association’s National Family Week Conference, PA Family Support Alliance, the Luzerne/Wyoming Systems of Care and the PA Chapter of CACs/MDITs.
Janine has been an expert witness in Lackawanna County Court on several occasions over the past 5 years. This testimony is meant as an educational forum for the court and jurors to have a better understanding of childhood trauma, delayed exposure, the grooming process, etc. to make more informed decisions about the cases being tried.
