Leslie Barfknecht, LCSW, ATSAF, is co-founder of Change Partnership, LLC, an organization dedicated to training mental health and justice involved professionals and organizations on best practices. Additionally, she is a Treatment Supervisor at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, a civil commitment center for sexual offenders in Wisconsin and oversees the development and delivery of a sexual offender treatment program. Leslie is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a Certified Trainer with the International Center for Clinical Excellence (ICCE), both since 2013. Leslie has worked in direct practice and as an administrator in criminal justice systems for the majority of her career with those that have both committed sexual offenses and/or been subjected to sexual abuse. For the past 15 years, she has been involved in ATSA, MNATSA and WIATSA as a member, presenter and attendee at annual conferences. Leslie has been a board member of the Wisconsin ATSA chapter since 2020 and is currently serving as President.
Ernie Marshall, LCSW has worked in the non-profit and public sectors in both clinical and administrative roles since 1996. His work has focused on populations traditionally considered resistant and hard to treat including: criminal justice, substance abuse, sexual offenders and multiply diagnosed individuals. Ernie was a charter member of San Diego’s CADRE; a group dedicated to improving service delivery to the neediest populations utilizing Motivational Interviewing as an evidence-based model to increase client engagement. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers(MINT) and been conducting training for therapists and organizations for 15 plus years. Ernie was employed by the California Department of Mental Health at Coalinga State Hospital as the Treatment Enhancement Coordinator/Assistant Clinical Administrator where he trained MI throughout the State Mental Health System. He is currently a Treatment Supervisor at San Ridge Secure Treatment Center where he is supervises the development and delivery of treatment for high risk sex offenders with elevated levels of psychopathy.
Carolyn Pierre is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who began working in forensic settings in 2003. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master of Social Work program with an emphasis on mental health, substance abuse, and forensic social work. She has provided psychotherapy to individuals who have committed sexual offenses in the community, as well as to those incarcerated and civilly committed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ms. Pierre supervised the Treatment Track at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center serving individuals with cognitive disabilities, major mental illness, and elevated psychopathy. She has also served as a Director at a state psychiatry hospital and has extensive experience in program development, continuous improvement, and implementation of best practices.