Director of Translational Science The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Dr. Erika Lawrence is a clinical psychologist and research professor of psychology at Northwestern University. She has spent the last 15+ years partnering with community corrections and community mental health agencies infusing Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) skills into their individual and group work with domestic abuse clients. Ten years ago, Dr. Lawrence and her students developed an ACT-based program to successfully treat domestic violence (ACTV). She and her team were able to implement their program in two states and still maintain its effectiveness at reducing domestic abuse when working in partnership with a variety of corrections and community agencies. Three studies have been conducted demonstrating that that ACTV reduces recidivism by one-third to one-half compared to the standard programs used across the U.S. The Pew Institute recognized ACTV for being a domestic abuse program that is both empirically effective and cost-effective, and it was featured on NPR Marketplace as an example of a program that is both effective at reducing target behavior and cost-effective.

Clinical Psychologist & Research Faculty Member The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Dr. Kate Collison is a clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University who has worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds and presenting problems, including substance use, anxiety, mood disorders, and trauma-related disorders. For nearly three years, she has worked closely with Dr. Lawrence and the DA unit in Ramsey County Community Corrections to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based interventions in that setting, and to assess what factors impact the implementation and sustainability of these interventions in community corrections. Dr. Collison also serves as a coach for the Achieving Change Through Value-Based Behavior (ACTV) curriculum, observing groups live and providing real-time feedback to probation officers serving as group facilitators to DA clients.

Educational Coach; Trainer & Facilitator Iowa City, IA 52246

Andy Winkelman has worked his life as a teacher, advisor, facilitator, coach and mentor. He began his career as an elementary teacher and a high school football coach for 9. After attending graduate school, Andy began working at The University of Iowa in Athletics Student Services advising and counseling student-athletes in service of their academic, career and personal development. He worked there for 33 years and retired in 2023. In conjunction with his career dedicated to student development, Andy has been a long-time advocate for violence prevention. He has served as a group facilitator, trainer and coach for domestic violence offenders since the mid-2000’s. Starting in 2011, he began partnering with Erika Lawrence to implement the ACTV curriculum within Iowa judicial districts, jails and prisons. Since 2017, he has collaborated with the Family Institute at Northwestern University installing the ACTV curriculum across counties in the state of Minnesota. Since full-time retirement, Andy volunteers at the Inside Out Reentry Community supporting incarcerated men who are transitioning back into the Iowa City community.

Probation Officer - Domestic Abuse Unit Ramsey County Community Corrections (RCCC)

Dana Guzman has been in the probation field for nearly 20 years and has been a Probation Officer in the Domestic Abuse Unit of Ramsey County Community Corrections (RCCC) since 2015. In this role, she provides direct services to domestic violence offenders and helps connect court mandated individuals to appropriate programming. Dana has served as an ACTV group facilitator and coach to new ACTV facilitators since 2016 and has been a consultant and trainer since 2019. Dana has championed the implementation of the ACTV program within Ramsey County and continues to find the daily impact with the clients rewarding. Dana is a graduate of Hamline University where she dual-majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Field Services Manager Scott Community Corrections

Deric Jackson, MSW, LICSW is the Scott County Community Corrections Field Services Manager. He served as a Community Corrections Supervisor for Ramsey County from 2011-2023 as a probation officer and supervisor of Supervised Release and Interstate Parole Agents. He has over 25 years’ experience in probation in Illinois and Minnesota.  Deric has served as an ACTV group facilitator and coach since 2015. He has also served as a consultant and trainer for ACTV since 2019. Deric is a graduate of Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois where he majored in Psychology. He earned his Master of Social Work in 2008 from the University of St. Thomas and is currently a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.  He is also a practicing psychotherapist in Minnesota and utilizes aspects of ACTV in his practice.