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Our History, Partners, & Advancing our work

Partnering with over 60 agencies across the City of Boston, DCI developed many of our core training offerings and models for promoting trauma-informed and equitable systems.

Capacity Building and Training Initiative (CBTI) began as the Defending Childhood Initiative (DCI) funded under the Obama Administration. It aimed to prevent and address children’s exposure to violence. Partnering with over 60 agencies across the City of Boston, DCI developed many of our core training offerings and models for promoting trauma-informed and equitable systems.

Our history

Following the end of federal funding in 2018, DCI became the Capacity Building and Training Initiative (CBTI). Funded by Boston Children’s Hospital, the City of Boston, and the U.S. Department of Justice. CBTI has expanded its focus to include training dedicated to vicarious trauma and resilience, Spanish-language content, training with young people, and equity-focused organizational change.

We appreciate former DCI/CBTI staff and consultants for their contributions to the work since 2011:

  • Stephanie Doyle, DCI founding Director
  • Victor Jose Santana, DCI Senior Training Manager and Director
  • Yves Singletary, DCI Senior Training Manager and CBTI Interim Director
  • Sojourner Rivers, DCI Social-Emotional Learning Program Manager
  • Claudia Wilson, DCI Training Manager
  • Neena McConnico, Director, Child Witness to Violence, DCI Leadership Team
  • Diana Chaves, CBTI Training Manager and special project consultant

Our partners

Much of the work of DCI/CBTI is not possible without the time and expertise of our partners and special projects consultants.

BPHC and agency partners in Training Institute development:

  • Start Strong
  • Boston Healthy Start Systems
  • Boston Family Justice Center agency partners
  • Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement
  • Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
  • Stone House – Strong Where You Are Program – Page Clark and Ruth Rollins
  • We Are Better Together: the Warren Daniel Hairston Project

Key consultants:

  • Samantha Isabel Calero, Special Projects Consultant
  • Hythia Phifer, Clinical Consultant
  • Linda Sprague Martinez, Evaluation Consultant, BYRRC

Advancing our work

We are always interested in building our network and connecting with other agencies and individuals doing this work. 

Please feel welcome to reach out to Bronwen White at bwhite@bphc.org to discuss opportunities for collaboration.

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