MEET THE JEFFERSON CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER STAFF

Erika Dupépé, LPC, NCC
Executive Directorerika@jeffersoncac.comErika is the Executive Director and former full-time Forensic Interviewer of the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center. She has worked with children and families since 2001 and in the field of child abuse since 2006. In addition to non-profit management and fundraising, her areas of expertise include working with child abuse survivors and their families, forensic interviewing, child development, victim advocacy and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. She has testified in dozens of child abuse cases, provides forensic interviewer supervision and serves as an MDT and community educator.
A founding member of the Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers, she currently serves on their Executive Board, is a community representative for the Jefferson Parish Children & Youth Planning Board, a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and the former Vice-Chair of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana Program Advisory Council. She earned both her Master’s in Counseling and Bachelor’s in Psychology from Loyola University New Orleans. She is a Nationally Certified, Licensed Professional Counselor, a state qualified Forensic Interviewer and Darkness to Light Stewards of Children Facilitator. When not working, all of her free time is spent with her husband, two children and French bulldog.

Aubrey Ziegler, LMSW
Forensic Interviewer/MDT Coordinatoraubrey@jeffersoncac.comAubrey is one of the Jefferson CAC’s Forensic Interviewers and Jefferson Parish Multidisciplinary Team Coordinators. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Spanish from Tulane University. Proficient in Spanish, Aubrey completed her internships and practicums, with a focus on domestic violence and trauma, while at Project Safe, Hall County Division of Family & Children Services and Metro Centers for Community Advocacy. A former Assistant Director and Counselor in Training Director of Camp Juliette Low, she has worked with children and families since 2011. Aubrey is trained in the National CAC’s Forensic Interviewing Protocol and RADAR, is a qualified Forensic Interviewer in the state of Louisiana, a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) and a Darkness to Light (D2L) Stewards of Children Authorized Facilitator. When not working, her time is spent with her husband and their two pups.

Jamie Abernathy
Forensic Interviewer/MDT Coordinatorjamie@jeffersoncac.comJamie is one of the Jefferson CAC’s Forensic Interviewers and Jefferson Parish Multidisciplinary Team Coordinators. The former Captain of her swim team, she received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with a minor in Women’s Studies from Loyola University and is currently working on her Master’s in Criminal Justice. She brings over 5 years of experience working with children and, when not working, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her cat.

Haile Powenski
Community Care Coordinatorhaile@jeffersoncac.comHaile is one of the Community Care Coordinators at the CAC. A native New Orleanian and employed by the Kenner Police Department, she received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. While in college, she interned at a CAC, and after working with the Family Advocate there, she knew this work was what she was called to do. Haile has extensive knowledge in child abuse, domestic violence as well as human trafficking when she worked with the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force. She is currently working on her Masters in Counseling at Liberty University and in her free time enjoys spending time with her godchildren, as well as hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Kelli Guise, LPC, NCC
Therapistkguise@childrensbureaunola.orgKelli is a licensed professional, nationally certified and trauma-focus certified counselor employed by Children’s Bureau of New Orleans. She serves as one of the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center’s on-site trauma therapists, through a partnership with Children’s Bureau of New Orleans. Kelli received her Master of Education from the University of New Orleans Counselor Education Program with a focus on Clinical Mental Health. She completed her practicum and internships at the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services by providing individual, family, and group counseling to detained youth, as well as those on probation. Formerly with Milestones Mental Health Agency for over 6 years, Kelli has extensive experience providing individual and family counseling in the community, schools and homes. She specializes and is trained in clinical assessments (CALOCUS), and Grief and Trauma Interventions, as well as certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She is a Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children Certified Facilitator and clinical consultant of the Jefferson Parish Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), who has presented on topics including: LGBTQ+ youth; the treatment of child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and problematic sexualized behaviors. When not working, she loves her New Orleans Saints, Jazzercise, festivals and traveling.

Johanna Mitchell, LPC-S
Therapistjmitchell@childrensbureaunola.orgJohanna is a licensed professional counselor, with supervisory and appraisal privileges, employed by Children’s Bureau of New Orleans. She serves as the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center’s on-site bi-lingual trauma and grief therapist, through a partnership with Children’s Bureau of New Orleans. Johanna attended Tulane for undergrad and completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology in 2005. As part of a Clinical Psychology PsyD program, she did her internship as a psychological forensic evaluator with Dr. Susan Cave in Santa Fe and completed her dissertation on bullying in the schools. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she was initially licensed in New Mexico in 2009 and started practicing in Louisiana in 2011. She specializes in psychological assessments, trauma, neurodivergence, LGBTQIA issues, and is trained in TF-CBT, EMDR, EFT and psych testing. Having worked in EMS throughout the duration of grad school, she is also a certified American Red Cross CPR/First Aid/BLS Instructor and Instructor Trainer. In her spare time, she plays the “eternal foil and chauffeur” to her college daughter, while collecting and selling rocks and gemstones.