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Rachel Heath Wallace, L.C.S.W., L.C.A.D.C. (she/her), is Senior Director of Substance Use Treatment Services at Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic, where she provides administrative and clinical oversight for Blake Recovery Center (Belle Mead) and Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley (Mahwah). Additionally, Ms. Wallace is owner of Serendipity Counseling and Consultation Services, LLC, providing supervision and consultation. Professor Wallace has been an adjunct professor with the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy since 2003 and has taught many courses, including Forensic Interviewing of Children, Adolescents and the System, Child Abuse and Neglect, Introduction to Applied Child Advocacy, Development and Trauma in Adolescents, and Special Topics in Child Advocacy. Professor Wallace was excited to be a part of the development of the Online MA in Child Advocacy program as well as the Post BA Certificate in Adolescent Advocacy which ran successfully for 8 years, educating hundreds of child maltreatment professionals on trauma informed care with children and families.

Professor Wallace received her Master of Social Work from New York University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Stockton University where she received Program Distinction in Social Work. Ms. Wallace is dually licensed as a Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W) and a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (L.C.A.D.C.)in the state of New Jersey, and is entering her 24th year in practice as a social worker. During that time, she has had a variety of professional experiences advocating for children such as Forensic Interviewer at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office in NJ and CornerHouse Interagency Abuse Evaluation and Training Center in Minneapolis, MN. She then became Executive Director of Ginnie’s House, Sussex County’s Children’s Advocacy Center, advocating for a child-centered approach to investigations of child abuse and neglect, and was Director of Clinical Services at The Center for Prevention and Counseling for over 12 years, providing clinical and administrative oversite for a non-profit providing prevention, treatment and recovery services to individuals and families. Professor Wallace has also conducted extensive training with professionals nationwide on topics such as conducting forensic interviews with children, issues affecting mandated reporters, advanced training for forensic interviewers, interviewing children who have developmental disabilities, reducing stigma, understanding trauma, vicarious trauma and self care and trauma and addictions. She continues her commitment to community education by providing education and training regarding substance use, co-occurring mental health disorders, trauma and addictions and the effects of addiction on children and families to multi-disciplinary professionals in her community. Professor Wallace has also provided clinical treatment to and conducted evaluations with children traumatized by abuse, neglect, substance abuse and family violence, and she is the former Treasurer of The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children – NJ (APSAC – NJ). Professor Wallace co-authored an article on conducting forensic interviews of children who have developmental disabilities, and remains committed to advocacy for this population. Professor Wallace is a certified bereavement facilitator, SMART facilitator and completed CRAFT training for families impacted by substance use disorder.