Our Approach
Conversations about child abuse can feel uncomfortable — and that's completely understandable. Maybe you're here because you want to create a space where children feel heard, seen, and truly safe. Maybe you're driven by a vision of a community where every child can simply be a child. Or maybe nothing has happened, but something feels off and you want to talk it through without triggering a formal response. Maybe you're not even sure what's bothering you, just that something doesn't sit right. That's exactly what G&J Collaborative Consulting is here for.
We believe child safety is a shared adult responsibility. We don't only show up after an incident, when an organization is scrambling to strengthen its safeguards. We're also here for the quiet concerns, the gut feelings, and the "I just need to think this through with someone" moments. Rather than delivering one-size-fits-all solutions, we partner with your organization to assess your current practices, develop policies and trainings tailored to your unique environment, and build a culture where adults are confident in their ability to protect children — because every child deserves to simply be a child.
Our approach is collaborative and meets you where you are. Whether you need a private conversation to process a concern, a community training on recognizing the signs of abuse, or a comprehensive safety strategy, we tailor our support to what you actually need.
Who We Are
Grace and John spent years working together in the child abuse world, alongside families navigating investigations and their aftermath, seeing up close what that kind of trauma does to a child, a family, a community. Over time, three things became clear: they made a good team, they valued the same things, and they both kept landing on the same conclusion — prevention matters. They don't want to just respond to harm after it happens; they want to do everything they can to help prevent it in the first place.
They bring different perspectives and different strengths, but a shared mission: partnering with communities and organizations to build safer environments for children. They approach every engagement collaboratively, honoring the unique needs of each community and meeting people where they are, because meaningful change requires trust, not just expertise.
G&J Collaborative Consulting operates as a true team, not simply two individuals. Clients gain access to a combined breadth of knowledge spanning forensic interviewing, trauma-informed care, nonprofit leadership, policy development, and survivor services. Grace and John are committed to showing up for organizations and communities at every level, because keeping kids safe isn't the work of a few. It takes all of us.
Grace is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and dedicated advocate for child safety, with over 10 years of experience supporting trauma survivors across the lifespan. Her expertise spans forensic interviewing for children, trauma-focused counseling, child abuse prevention, and direct services for both child and adult survivors of trauma.
Grace began her career at a Child Advocacy Center, conducting forensic interviews with children with allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and child fatality, while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams of pediatricians, child protective services, law enforcement, and prosecutors. She provided short-term, trauma-focused counseling and guided families through the investigative process with care and compassion.
In the second half of her career, Grace shifted her focus to adult survivors, working with individuals healing from abuse and witnessing firsthand the lasting impact of early trauma — an experience that deepened her commitment to prevention and ultimately led her to co-found G&J Collaborative Consulting. Prior to her social work career, she served as a special education teacher working with elementary-age children. Grace considers it a profound privilege to walk alongside people during their most difficult moments, and looks forward to partnering with communities who share a dedication to creating safety for all children. She is committed to anti-racist practices and trauma-informed care.
John is an innovative, compassionate, and committed leader in the nonprofit sector, with over 28 years of experience fostering healthy, collaborative cultures and organizational effectiveness across multidisciplinary settings. His expertise spans nonprofit operations, strategy and policy development, training, child abuse prevention, trauma, crisis intervention, forensic interviewing, and funder and regulatory compliance.
Throughout his career, John has built robust inter-agency relationships with child welfare professionals, prosecutors, law enforcement, medical experts, therapists, and victim advocates — strengthening support for children and families while optimizing program effectiveness. He regularly trains and presents on research-based best practices to a cross-section of professionals, with the goal of improving systems and reducing trauma and stress for children and families.
John's experience is wide-ranging, from hospital trauma work and Doctors Without Borders to leading victim services at a nonprofit dedicated to child abuse prevention — a breadth of background that uniquely positions him to drive meaningful change in the field.
We are dedicated to empowering and equipping leaders, parents and all community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent child abuse and harm. We believe that safeguarding children is a collective responsibility, and we strive to create communities where the burden of protection never falls on the shoulders of the child. Together, we can strive to foster a culture of vigilance, empathy, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of every child.
Our Mission
A world where every child is safe, valued, and empowered, living free from abuse and violence. We envision communities united in their commitment to protect and support children, fostering environments that promote healing, resilience, and justice for every child.
Our Vision
Our Values
Anti-Racism: Committing to actively dismantle systemic racism and ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, are protected and supported. Recognizing that different communities may need tailored approaches to combat child abuse effectively.
Compassion: Approaching every situation with empathy, understanding the trauma faced by victims and the complexities of their experiences.
Resilience: Fostering strength and recovery in both individuals and communities, recognizing the capacity for healing and growth after trauma. (cultivating hope)
Sustainability: Committing to long-term solutions that address the root causes of child abuse, rather than just the symptoms. (equipping people for the long term is how I see sustainability - generational changes)
Contact us
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