SOTP Presenters


Vicki-lynn Anderson
Vicki-lynn Anderson joined IowaCASA in July 2013 to help with training needs of the Coalition across the state. Having worked in the Violence Against Women field for over 20 years in both the Midwest and her native Canada, she brings with her a unique perspective and a passion for social justice. Vicki-lynn’s experience includes working in the fields of both domestic violence and sexual assault as a volunteer coordinator, SART responder/coordinator and trainer. Before coming to IowaCASA, Vicki-lynn worked as a prevention educator in a dual domestic/sexual assault program in western Iowa.

Chris Arenas
Chris Arenas is a JCO III in the 6th Judicial District graduated from Mount Mercy College in 1994 with a degree in Criminal Justice.  He began work with Juvenile Court Services in 1998, working initially in Tama and Linn Counties and currently assigned to Johnson County.  He is one of the 6th District Specialized Sex Offender Officers. 
Chris Baker, M.A.
Chris Baker is an executive officer and the victim-offender services coordinator for the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services. In addition to working closely with the district's sex offender treatment program, he is a trainer, facilitator, and mediator with 20 years of experience.

Randy E. Cole, B.A.
Mr. Cole is a Certified Master Trainer for the Static ’99 (99-R), Stable and Acute 2007 risk assessment instruments.  He also is a national consultant for the Center for Sex Offender Management (CSOM), providing training on a national basis since 2004. Mr. Cole’s past work included:  Supervisor of the Sex Offender Unit and Polygraph Examiner with the 6th Judicial District DCS, State of Iowa.  Mr. Cole has an A.A. Degree in Human Services.  He has a B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice.  Mr. Cole has direct work experience in field supervision, residential services, and special services.  Mr. Cole is a current member of various professional organizations, to include the American Polygraph Association, Iowa Board for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (IBTSA), Iowa Corrections Association (ICA), American Correctional Association (ACA), and the American Probation/Parole Association (APPA).

Diana Danielson, B.A. 
Diana Danielson is a Probation and Parole Officer with the 7th Judicial District, Department of Correctional Services. Her Bachelor’s degree is in Psychology from the University of Iowa. She began her work in corrections as a work release counselor, and then moved into the field of sexual offender management as the Department of Correctional Services began to develop specialized caseloads in the late 1980’s.  She co-facilitated the 7th District’s sexual offender treatment groups in tandem with a contracted therapist.  She recently completed polygraph training and while no longer facilitating treatment groups, now works to provide those who do, with information gained thru polygraph examination.  In addition to carrying a caseload and conducting polygraphs, she also completes Presentence Investigations on persons with a sex offense, completes reports regarding the sexual offender registry modification process and serves as a resource for the new staff who now facilitate the treatment groups.  Diana is a current member of IBTSA, ATSA and the APA.

Nate Desy
Nate is a Juvenile Court Placement Officer in Pottawattamie County positioned in the 4th Judicial of Iowa.  He received a Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Iowa State University in December of 2006.  He has worked with the Southern and Northern District Federal Probation Offices and has worked with “Hope House Residential”, a work release correctional facility in Coralville, Iowa where he also became a qualified Battered Education Program (BEP) facilitator for men and women who have been convicted of domestic violence. In 2010, Nate and his family moved back to his hometown, Denison, Iowa, where he obtained a supervisory position at the Denison Job Corps facility.   In April of 2013, he was offered a Juvenile Court Officer Position from the 4th Judicial District and has worked with the State of Iowa since.     

Valerie Dufoe, LISW
Valerie Dufoe is a Juvenile Court Officer for the 6th Judicial District, Juvenile Court Services in Cedar Rapids Iowa.  She has her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa.  She has been employed by Juvenile Court Services since August 1996, with previous employment as a Child Protective Service worker through the Department of Human Services.  She is one of four probation officers in her district who specialize in juvenile sex offender cases.

Sarah Fineran 
Sarah Fineran joined CJJP in 2012 as a Justice Systems Analyst focusing on policy analysis, forecasting, research, and grant coordination. In August of 2018, Sarah was hired to serve as the Research Coordinator for CJJP. She has 8 years of work experience in social and behavioral research. Ms. Fineran obtained her B.A. with majors in Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice at Iowa State University and attended graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa obtaining a M.A. in Criminology. Sarah is also an adjunct instructor at Drake University, Des Moines Area Community College, and Hawkeye Community College teaching behavioral science and research methods courses.

Clint Frederiksen, MS Clinical Psychology
Mr. Frederiksen serves at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders in Cherokee, Iowa as the primary therapist for the Transition Release Program, as well as providing a wide-range of services for his clients.  In addition to offering group and individual therapy for the patients.  Mr. Frederiksen works in conjunction with various Judicial Districts throughout Iowa to create comprehensive treatment plans for patients that have been granted “Release With Supervision” status through the court system.  Each of these plans must comply with Iowa Code §229A and have court approval prior to implementation. He currently resides in Cherokee, Iowa with his wife and two children.  With 9 years of mental health experience, he looks forward to continuing his career in Iowa as the CCUSO program experiences growth and new found challenges in working with the sex offender population.

Russ Goebel
Russ Goebel is employed as an Intensive Probation/Parole Officer, Sex Offender Specialist, for the State of Iowa. He has been employed with the State of Iowa for over twenty 25 years.  He is certified by the Iowa Board for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers as a sex offender treatment provider, level two and is also an IBTSA board member.  He has been involved in the treatment of sex offenders for twenty one years. He obtained his degree in Human Services from Buena Vista University in 1989.  He retired as a Master Sargent from the Iowa Army Guard following a four year tour in the United States Marine Corps. 

Mr. Goebel is an affiliate member of the Iowa Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. He has been to several ICAC trainings sponsored by ICAC, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

He believes that we must be proactive and educate children, parents, and communities in order to combat the exploitation of vulnerable people. Mr. Goebel is a survivor of sexual abuse. His journey from victimization to treatment of sex offenders has been both interesting and challenging. He is passionate about protecting the community and helping offenders overcome their offending behaviors.

Malinda Lamb, PhD, LISW, CCJP, IAADC, SOTPI
Malinda Lamb is the currently the Clinical Services Director for the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services (DCS). Through her current position she is actively involved in the development, implementation and administrative functions of treatment and specialized programming within the judicial district. Malinda received her PhD in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May 2005, with the emphasis in mental health. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), a Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) and an International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IAADC) and a Sex Offender Treatment Professional I (SOTPI).  Malinda also maintains membership in several professional associations and has also been active in other community and agency organizations, boards and committees.

Tonna Lawrenson, MS, LMHC, SOTPII
Ms Lawrenson is the treatment coordinator for Woodward Academy, a boy’s residential treatment center with specialized programming for adolescent sex offenders.  Over the past 11 years she has worked directly with the adolescent sex offender population as well as addressing the victim within the victimizer.

Wendy McGinnis
Wendy McGinnis is a psychologist at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, who works with the incarcerated female sexual offender population.  Along with the Re-Entry Coordinator, she facilitates the treatment and programming of female sex offenders.  Because the overall number of female sex offenders is small nationwide and because evidence-based research regarding treatment is almost non-existent, she has interests that involve treatment and outcomes for female sex offenders as well as recidivism rates in this very small population of sexual offenders.  

Brian Nissen
Mr. Nissen currently facilitates sex offender programing at the State Training school as well as providing out-patient programing in Waterloo.  He has worked for the past 13 years primarily in the field of sexual offender treatment with adolescent males including programing for offenders with special needs such as learning and behavioral challenges, and offenders with mental health issues.  Mr. Nissen has worked to develop new programing for agencies including Lutheran Services in Iowa and Four Oaks of Iowa related to out-patient services in the Waterloo area.  

Cheryl Nolan, Program Planner II
Cheryl Nolan has 32 years with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and joined the Sex Offender Registry in November of 2003.  She has testified in court as an expert in Chapter 692A.  She has served as a law enforcement instructor for the Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.  Early in her career she was a communication specialist on the state and county level.  She provided significant contributions with the design, function, implementation and training on an electronic database that is currently in use for registration and tracking of sex offenders in Iowa in addition to integration efforts of automated information exchanges between the Iowa Dept of Corrections, and the Iowa Sex Offender Registry databases.  She regularly assists the Scott County Sex Offender Task Force during enforcement projects to complete registrations while the officers are on the streets making compliance checks.  She provides vital documents for court proceedings to law enforcement officers and county attorneys.  She routinely coordinates with the United States Marshal Service, US Attorneys’ Office, and US Probation in the Northern and Southern districts of Iowa.  Cheryl disseminates daily bulletins from National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.  She has presented for and addressed addressed legal groups from Drake University, real estate groups, Homes & Services for the Aged, and at medical professional conferences.  Her primary duty at the sex offender registry is to review persons who have been registered for 10 years to ensure they have met all of the registration requirements prior to expiration, document the results and supply appropriate notifications to the registrants.    

Dan Newby
Dan has worked for the 4th District for almost 11 years assigned to the High Risk Unit. He is a member of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force.  Dan has conducted numerous trainings on computer field searches and has performed numerous computer scans for clients.  He has also served as an expert witness.

Michelle Reese
Michelle Reese is a Probation/Parole Officer III for the Sixth Judicial District, DCS. She received her BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Mt. Mercy University in 1992. Early in her career, she was employed as a Dane County Deputy Sheriff in Madison, WI, and then as the Family Violence Victim Assistant Coordinator in Dubuque, Iowa. She has been employed by the Sixth Judicial District, DCS since August 1999.  In 2008, she set her professional sights on having a specialized caseload of adult sex offenders.  Michelle received her Sex Offender Treatment Professional Level l Certification issued by IBTSA in March 2013.  Michelle’s caseload consists of sex offenders who live in a residential placement.  She does extensive work with offenders on the obstacles and barriers they face as they reintegrate into society. 

Mary Roche
Mary Roche is the Director of Victim Programs for the Iowa Department of Corrections and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.  She has previous experience in victim advocacy for sexual and domestic assault victims, providing family and individual counseling, and training/experience in crisis intervention/trauma response.

Jessica Romine, LMSW
Jessica is a Kansas native who has been working at Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) in Cherokee, IA since 2016. She is the developer and primary therapist for the Bridges Program at CCUSO which provides treatment for CCUSO patients with intellectual disabilities. Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Emporia State University and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas.  She began her work at Larned State Hospital in Larned, KS working with acute mental health patients and within the Sexual Predator Treatment Program (SPTP). She currently resides in Cherokee, IA with her fiancé and enjoys returning to the Kansas City metro for various sporting events. 

Sara Beth Schurr MS
Ms. Schurr has worked as a psychologist at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility in the Sex Offender Treatment Program since 1998.  Prior to this position, she worked as a staff psychologist for the Iowa Residential Treatment Center in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and as an in-home Family Centered Therapist for children and families with sexual abuse crises for both Alternative Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Young House Family Services, Burlington, Iowa.  She has been a board member for the Iowa Board for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers since 1996--serving on the certification committee, professional development committee, rural treatment provision committee, and risk assessment committee.  She served as president of IBTSA in 2006-2007.  She is currently certified as a clinical member with the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and by the Iowa Board for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (IBTSA) as an SOTP-II.

Tony Tatman
Dr. Tatman received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He is a licensed Psychologist, Health Services Provider, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Mental Health Counselor in the State of Iowa. Dr. Tatman is the Clinical Services Manager and Psychologist for the Iowa Department of Correctional Services, 5th Judicial District where he supervises, and provides clinical services for, the District’s Sex Offender Treatment Program.  Dr. Tatman has worked in private practice providing treatment and evaluations for convicted sexual offenders, as well as forensic evaluations for individuals at various phases in the legal process. Dr. Tatman has served as an expert witness on sex offender treatment and assessment issues. He has published multiple articles in the field of psychology, marriage and family therapy, multicultural issues, and assessment. 
initial training is sort of unlimited, however the re-certification process is only during that 3 year period.

Tracy White
Tracy White has been employed by the Department of Human Services for eighteen years.  In that time Tracy has worked as a Social Work Case Manager, a child and adult protective worker, a Social Work Supervisor and a Social Work Administrator.  Tracy is a master trainer for the Building a Better Future curriculum for training Parent Partners and is the departmental liaison to the program for the Des Moines Service Area.  Tracy has been actively involved in the Community Partnership to Protect Children for ten years and currently serves on the Shared Decision Making Team and the Practice and Policy Change Team. Tracy is a member of the Cultural Equity Alliance whose goal is to improve outcomes for children and families of color in the child welfare system. Tracy also serves as a member of the Minority Youth and Family Initiative. Tracy is currently responsible for supervising child and adult protective supervisors.

Chelsea Wilder, B.A.
Chelsea Wilder is a Correctional Counselor at Newton Correctional Facility.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology with a minor in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa in 2011.  She began her work in corrections in 2012 at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility as a Correctional Officer.  She currently holds a Special Needs Caseload, facilitates Special Needs SOTP treatment, and coordinates with the community in regards to re-entry of Special Needs Sex Offenders into society. 

Cost

$200 for the full Preservice or $30 per Session

Location

IA Department of Corrections
510 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa
(September session held at this location)

Polk County River Place
 2309 Euclid Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa

(Remaining sessions will be held at this location.)

Make-up Sessions:

For participants who have previously paid the registration fee to attend the entire Pre-service but could not attend all nine sessions, you may attend any session you missed at no cost.  You must complete the attached registration form and indicate the session/s you will attend in order to receive your certificate.  If you are not sure at this time you must call or e-mail Anne Brown at least a week in advance of the session you plan to attend.