Nicol Stolar-Peterson, LCSW
29970 Technology Drive, Suite 118
Murrieta, CA 92563
951-595-6864
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Child Custody Evaluator, Family Law.
Expertise in a clinical setting as it pertains to Family Law issues, mediation, therapy, expert testimony and interviewing.
Expert Witness and Consultant on high profile litigation cases. Review and assessment of documents, CPS procedure and law enforcement procedure.
Expert Witness for the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Extensive experience working in a team setting providing training and feedback on sensitive material such as abuse, neglect, child custody, special needs and grief and loss.
Expertise include forensic interviewing (CFIT), Court report development and testimony, case management, case presentation and critical incidents such as child deaths.
Experience in training new employees in the field and highly competent working with other agencies such as law enforcement, hospitals, schools, therapists, community agencies as well as the Courts (Criminal, Civil, Family & Juvenile).
Clinical skills in the area of hospice, childhood trauma, special needs, grief and loss, custody evaluations, and attachment and permanency.
Trainer of foster/adoption parenting classes with certifications in “Positive Parenting.” PRIDE Parenting & Trauma Informed Parenting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, NCTSN).
Training of foster/adoption parents: Juvenile Dependency Court System, Welfare & Institutions Code 300, Child Abuse and Neglect Identification, Mandated Reporting, Intimate Partner Violence, Placement, Permanency and Adoption, Safety & Risk, Discipline, Diversity (ICWA/MEPA/LGBTQ), Substance Abuse, Drug Exposure, and Mental Health. Adoption Level Home Studies, SAFE Model, completion.
Expertise in bio-psychosocial assessments, case planning, treatment planning and clients rights. Clinical experience includes diverse application of social services, both public and private.
Expertise in crisis management as it relates to hostile and volatile clientele with or without diagnosed emotional disorders.
Presenter & Trainer for The Public Child Welfare Training Academy on Child Abuse Investigations, Mandated Reporting, Forensic Interviewing, Testimony, Mental Health, Values & Ethics, Intimate Partner Violence.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCS #26051
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
02/14- Present – Director of Non-Profit, “Kids Court & Counseling Center”
- Developed, constructed, implemented the first “Kids Court” in Riverside County, CA
- Provide FREE curriculum based court preparation for children who are expected to testify in family law, criminal court, and juvenile dependency court
- Development of a “one-stop shop” counseling center for children and families exposed to trauma
- Oversee the Board of Directors, implement programs and major fundraising
11/09- Present - Private Practice
•Expert Witness as it relates to Child Protective Services, Child Abuse and Family Law
- Therapy, family, individual, couples and children
- Family Law - Child Custody Evaluations, Riverside County, California
- Forensic Interviewing, Mediation, Parenting Plans.
- “Co-Parenting Boot Camp,” an intensive 2-day session child abuse prevention model
- Threat management & domestic violence assessments
- Private Consultant on Court Matters
6/03- 2/15 - Riverside County DPSS - Riverside County, California
Job Title - CSSW V
•Providing crisis intervention and assessment with high risk families
•Grief & Loss interventions for foster children
•Child Abuse Investigator
•Forensic Interviewer
•Internship Field Instructor
•Training and implementation of forensic interviewing
•Comprehension of trauma and the effects of abuse and neglect
•Safety and Risk Assessments
•Effective Court report writing
•Policy implementation
•Clinical supervision participation towards LCSW, acquisition of LCSW 11/09
•Bio-Psychosocial Assessments
•Resource Family Training and Assessment
•Provide training to foster/adoptive families utilizing“Trauma Informed Parenting” and
Grief & Loss Model
•Recruitment
•Collaborate with school staff as it relates to the child’s needs, development and safety
•Adoption Home Study Assessment’s, both approvals and denials
•Participation in grievance reviews when it applies
•Criminal Background Checks, Initial and Continual Screening of Applicants
•Critical Incident Investigation, Assessment, Collaboration with Medical Experts and Law
Enforcement
•Team Decision Making Meetings, Family to Family Development Initiative
•In -home assessments
•Working conjointly with Community Care Licensing regarding Title 22 regulations
11/99-6/03 - Canyon Acres Children’s Services- Anaheim Hills, California
Job Title - Contract Day Treatment Therapist
•Facilitate group and individual therapy within a level 14 residential treatment center for children
with severebehavioral disorders and emotional disturbances
•Documentation of progress towards clients individual goals, case management, supervision of staff
•Crisis intervention, implement policies and procedures
EDUCATION
2003 - California State University San Bernardino - San Bernardino, California
Master of Social Work
•Area of concentration: Children, Youth and Families
•Micro and Macro
•Individual and Group Therapy
•Anger Management Facilitator
•Sand Tray Therapy Trained
•Thesis completed on Transracial Adoption and it’s implications
•Social Work in the hospitals, schools, and public and private settings
1998 - Maryville University- Saint Louis, Missouri
Bachelor of Science - Music Therapy
•Area of concentration: Children with special needs
•Practicums: School for the Deaf, MB Hospital Oncology, Lifeskills and American Red Cross/Heart House
LICENSURE & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
2009 - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, #26051
Board of Behavioral Sciences, State of California
2015- Board Certified Diplomat of Clinical Social Work
2015- Active member of Riverside County Bar Association, Associations of Family and Conciliation
Courts (AFCC), California Marriage and Family Therapists
RECENT CONFERENCES and CONTINUING EDUCATION
2011 Continuing Education
•Domestic Violence
•Aging and End of Life decisions
•Alzheimer’s versus Dementia
•On-line Predators
•Special Needs Children
•Brain Trauma
•Child Death Review
•Warrant Protocol
•Special Care Increments
•Substance Abuse
•Child Custody Implications
2011Chadwick Center International Child Abuse Conference (25hrs)
Classes in sexual abuse, reporting and identification of sexual predators with
access to children, medical trauma, discipline and child development, domestic violence, secondary trauma
2012California Association of Family Conciliation Courts Conference (24hrs)
Classes in child custody evaluations, children’s testimony in court, secondary
trauma, identification of “unstable clients” and potential for harm, domestic violence
2012Training- Mediation (20hrs) Family Law Mediation/Parenting Plans/Child CustodyInstructor: David Kuroda, LCSW
2012Training- Child Custody Evaluations (16hrs)
Instructor: Dr. Marc Ackerman
2013AFCC Child Custody Conference (24hrs)
Threat Management, Vicarious Trauma, Brief Focused Assessments, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Ethics, Special Medical Needs and Therapy, Domestic Violence, Child Custody Evaluations
2013CAMFT Law & Ethics (6hrs)
2013Diagnostic & Statistical Manual V, DSM V update and training (8hrs)
2014Chadwick Center Conference on Child Maltreatment (25 hrs)
2014CAMFT Law & Ethics (6hrs)
2014LACBA Child Custody Colloquium (6hrs)
2015AFCC Child Custody Conference (24hrs)
2015Public Child Welfare Training Academy on Safety of Organized Practice (18hrs)
2015PESI Yoga & Mindfulness (6.25hrs) sexual abuse victims
2015CAMFT Law & Ethics (6hrs)
2015PCTWA Child Maltreatment Identification (9hrs)
2015PCTWA Child Abuse Investigations & Crisis Intervention (6hrs)
PRO BONO
2012Settlement Week Van Nuys Court – Mediation
2012Consultation on multiple cases re: Child Interviewing
2013Consultation on Family Law Cases
2014Consultation on Family Law Cases
2014Settlement Week Van Nuys Court - Mediation
PRESENTATIONS
2014 Riverside County Bar Association on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
2014 California Marriage & Family Therapists on Child Protective Services, Child Abuse &
Reporting Laws
2015Association of Family Conciliations Courts on Domestic Violence & Working with CPS
2015SAFE, non-profit, on Domestic Violence, Working with CPS, Child Abuse & reporting
Laws
LANGUAGES
Conversational Spanish
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Available upon request.