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Honoring advocates and memorializing victims of child abuse

Training programs designed to empower

Tools to prevent
trauma & support child well-being

Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

We provide upstream interventions and strategies for reducing adverse childhood experiences and promoting resilience so children can have positive, supportive, and healthy relationships. Our mission is to equip professionals with innovative tools to create lasting change in communities.

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UP Programs

Training programs designed to empower professionals, caregivers, educators, and youth with tools to prevent trauma and support child well-being.

Discover How the UP Programs Can Help You
UP 4 Witnesses – Helping Champions Succeed in Court
UP 4 Teens – Teens, Sex, and the Law
UP 4 Parents – Empowering Champions to Make Parenting Painless
UP 4 Advocates – NCA Approved Victim Advocacy Curriculum
Learn More About the UP Non-Profit

UP FOR CHAMPIONS, in partnership with THE UP INSTITUTE, supports the professionals working to solve child abuse and neglect globally, through advocacy, public education, and family support programs. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that aims to create safe and healthy communities for children and their families. UP FOR CHAMPIONS works with community, state, and national organizations to expand and disseminate knowledge about child abuse and neglect.

Our Services

 We provide upstream interventions and strategies for reducing adverse childhood experiences and promoting resilience so children and families can have positive, supportive, and healthy relationships.

Coaching, Consulting, and Customized Training

Strategic support for youth-serving organizations, including policy, accreditation, DEI, and more.

Train the Trainer

Prevention-focused internships tied to academic programs.

Expert Witnessing

Professional review and testimony in child welfare and family violence cases.

Media Resources

Trauma-informed children’s books and resource development, including the Check Out series.

Internships

Scalable training programs with model fidelity for local delivery.

Find Out More

Upstream Solutions By the Numbers

7

Programs

33

Awards and Honors

45

Publications

705

Expert Testimonies

1132

Presentations

72258

Professionals and Teens Trained

Testimonials

  • We were delighted to have you as our guest speaker at the Justice Catherine D. Kimball Summer Institute. The teachers wanted to extend the time allotted - this is a great compliment to you!

  • Thank you so much for the opportunity to gain more knowledge as an advocate.

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • I enjoyed gaining insight from these extremely knowledgeable [trainers]. I appreciated the opportunity to share solutions to challenges and gaining a different perspective. This was a wonderful training and I definitely look forward to next year!

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • The UP Institute advanced victim advocacy training was well coordinated, informative and enjoyable. I appreciate the time and attention to detail that was provided by both Viola and Stacie. It was an honor to have been trained by such a powerhouse team!

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • The trainers and training content kept my attention for both days.

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • Stacy Leblanc is literally my favorite person ever! She is so passionate and positive and I love her way of teaching. You can really tell that she is an experienced presenter!

    Tulane CAST Student

  • This training was absolutely AMAZING! I learned so much. I finally feel like I and the field of advocacy was validated. That validation will push me so far into the future and help so many families. Biggest take away was "change the language, change the game".

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • All of the lecturers were good but LeBlanc somehow managed to turn some of the most horrific things a human can do into stories of hope and resilience and not everyone can do that.

    Tulane CAST Student

  • The facilitators were absolutely wonderful!

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • The information was very in-depth and specific and I have never been able to get that training before. I am very grateful for facilitators.

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • Professor LeBlanc's lectures are super engaging as she ties in many of her life experiences in working in the legal system.

    Tulane CAST Student

  • Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity. Throughout this internship, I've learned a lot about legislative advocacy and program development. I've also intensified my passion for law, especially in terms of advocating for children and other vulnerable populations. I hope we can keep in touch because I still have so much to learn from you!

    Vincie Wing Sum, Intern 2021

  • LeBlanc is now my favorite professor I have ever taken. She is truly an amazing professor and is genuine about teaching her content and makes it engaging and not boring for the class.

    Tulane CAST Student

  • Professor LeBlanc's lectures are super engaging as she ties in many of her life experiences in working in the legal system.

    Tulane CAST Student

  • Le Blanc’s lectures were always an absolute pleasure I love how she made this course feel interactive.

    Tulane CAST Student

  • This training exceeded my expectations. It was truly amazing, and it was so wonderful to be able to be challenged and have content that is on an appropriate level and skill set for advocates! The facilitators were a veritable font of knowledge.

    CAC Family and Victim Advocate

  • Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion with everyone at the conference.

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The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions
The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

Guiding the Upstream movement in Michigan. Thank you to Mott's Children's Hospital and The Children's Advocacy Centers of Michigan for all that you do to protect children and families. ... See MoreSee Less

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Guiding the Upstream movement in Michigan. Thank you to Motts Childrens Hospital and The Childrens Advocacy Centers of Michigan for all that you do to protect children and families.

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The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions
The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

Protect brains. Prevent childhood trauma.Recent brain scans have revealed that children living with unstable families where the child is exposed to constant arguing between the parents or themselves are abused/neglected, have brain changes similar to combat solders after returning from active duty. In some cases, the brains of abused children are in even worse shape than the combat soldiers.

Childhood trauma and the trauma experienced by combat soldiers can create similar, long-lasting changes in the brain’s structure and chemistry. The core reason is that the brain, whether developing or mature, adapts to a high-stress, unpredictable environment by entering a persistent state of hypervigilance, prioritizing survival over other functions.

The key difference lies in the context of the trauma. A child’s brain is still developing, making it highly susceptible to having its core structures and functions altered. A soldier’s brain, which is already mature, is changed by extreme stress but is less fundamentally altered than a child’s.

The shared neurobiological process: an over-activated internal alarm system.

Trauma forces the brain to initiate a “fight or flight or freeze” response for survival. When this state becomes chronic, it changes the brain’s baseline functioning, creating a state of constant, heightened alert. This process affects key brain regions involved in emotion, memory and rational thought.

I am running out of rom here but I will put a breakdown in the comments section of each brain region affected and altered by trauma.

If you have children, it is best to never argue in their presence and always treat your child with love, patience, respect and tender care, punish gently when necessary and use bad behavior as a teachable moment instead of harshly punishing your tiny creation.

If you experienced trauma as a child and never actively did intentional work to heal your brain or nervous system, you are likely experiencing chronic symptoms well into adulthood as a result. The good news is, any damage done is likely not permanent if you’re willing to do the work. Your trauma was never your fault, but healing has become your sole responsibility. See comments for exercises.

PMID: 26831814 ... See MoreSee Less

Protect brains. Prevent childhood trauma.

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The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions
The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

I was honored to present on Forensic Social Work to more than 100 amazing MSW students at Cal State Monterey Bay! 💙💛Their passion for justice is exactly what inspires me to continue teaching and sharing this work. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Karen Rotabi-Casares for the kind invitation, and to Dean Phil Post, the faculty, and students for such a warm welcome and truly inspiring conversation. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to connect with the next generation of social work leaders who will carry this important work forward. #nofsw #forensicsocialwork #fswalliance #nsuacademicaffairs #ChildAdvocacy #socialworkeducation #theupinstitute #csumb ... See MoreSee Less

I was honored to present on Forensic Social Work to more than 100 amazing MSW students at Cal State Monterey Bay! 💙💛Their passion for justice is exactly what inspires me to continue teaching and sharing this work. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Karen Rotabi-Casares for the kind invitation, and to Dean Phil Post, the faculty, and students for such a warm welcome and truly inspiring conversation. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to connect with the next generation of social work leaders who will carry this important work forward. #NOFSW #ForensicSocialWork #FSWAlliance #NSUAcademicAffairs #ChildAdvocacy #SocialWorkEducation #TheUPInstitute #csumbImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

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The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions
The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

Join UP in Ending Violence Against Children Everywhere! ... See MoreSee Less

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The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions
The Up Institute: Upstream Child Abuse Solutions

⏰There's still time! Join APSAC tomorrow, July 23rd, for a powerful webinar with Vincent J. Palusci, MD, MS, FAPSAC & Leigh Bishop, JD.

Register here: www.memberleap.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?evid=43636077&orgcode=APSA ... See MoreSee Less

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