MDT Training Opportunities
Ralston House utilizes a multidisciplinary team response to child abuse allegations and includes representation from law enforcement, child protective service, district attorneys, medical team, mental health navigator, and victim advocacy support. We offer several free trainings every year.
2026 Training Schedule
May MDT Training: Beyond Physical Abuse
Thursday, May 28, 2026 11am-1pm
Date: Thursday, May 28 from 11am - 1pm
Location: 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office: Sean May training room (1st floor)
1000 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601
Topic: Beyond Physical Abuse
Reports of children that are severely abused or even killed by a caregiver are tragic enough, but often the victim has been scapegoated in the family. This training will explain some of the experiences and abuse these scapegoated victims have endured and explain the ways they were treated differently. Unknowingly, siblings may even play a role in the abuse. This training will focus on important questions to ask the siblings, the type of environment these abused children lived in, along with other investigative techniques for these cases. Two cases will be profiled during this presentation.
Space is limited; please register early.
Presented by:
Rhoda Pilmer, Assistant District Attorney, 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office
Rhoda Pilmer is an Assistant District Attorney at the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and a steadfast advocate for victims and public safety. With 19 years of legal experience, she has led complex litigation and now oversees multiple specialized units, driving operational excellence and supporting leadership development across the office. Rhoda has led key initiatives focused on data transparency, law enforcement collaboration, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). She spearheaded the 2024 and 2025 Women’s Leadership Summits, empowering women through professional development and leadership training. Deeply committed to public service and mentorship, Rhoda holds a J.D. from the University of Denver and a graduate certificate in Executive Women in Leadership from Cornell University.
Linda Mikow, Clinical Director/Forensic Interviewer, Ralston House
Linda Mikow, MA, LPC, is the Clinical Director/Forensic Interviewer/MDT Coordinator at Ralston House. She has been in a supervisory/management position since 2016 and has been a forensic interviewer since 2002. Linda has conducted more than 3000 forensic interviews. She has worked for Ralston House since August, 2006, and prior to that she worked at the Jeffco Children’s Alliance. Linda has over 20 years working with abused children and their families. She worked at Family Tree Women In Crisis, working with children and their mothers who were domestic violence victims. Additionally, Linda has worked as a Research Clinician at the University of Denver, where she conducted developmental assessments and trauma assessments of children who were exposed to domestic violence and facilitated a parenting program with their mothers. She has also worked at the Cleo Wallace Center and Excelsior Youth Center with abused children. She has presented on forensic interviewing and child abuse issues over the past ten years at local, national and international trainings. Additionally, Linda has been a trainer since 2013 with the Colorado Children’s Alliance on forensic interviewing. Linda has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado.
August MDT Training: False Memory Defense
Thursday, August 20, 2026 11am-1pm
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 11am - 1pm
Location: Thornton Police Department- Training Room
Justice Center Headquarters
9551 Civic Center Dr. Thornton, CO 80229
Presented by:
Jessica Dotter, Senior Chief of Legislative Policy & Special Victims Prosecution, Colorado District Attorneys' Council
Jessica Dotter joined the CDAC team in March of 2021 as Sexual Assault Resource Prosecutor after serving over eight years in the DA offices for the 20th (Boulder) and 4th (El Paso, Teller) judicial districts – six of which were spent prosecuting special victims cases. Jessica utilizes her experience and expertise to analyze legislation and advocate for effective sexual assault policy in Colorado.
September MDT Training: Vicarious Trauma
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11am-1pm
Date: Wednesday, September 16 11am-1pm
Location: Westminster Police Department Training Room, 9110 Yates St., Westminster, CO 80031
Topic: How to Stay Gritty When Things Get Shitty
This training addresses the unique challenges faced by professionals who work closely with individuals experiencing trauma and crisis. Participants will learn to recognize and manage the psychological impacts of sustained exposure to others' traumatic experiences, including vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
The course explores how trauma exposure can affect fundamental assumptions about trust, safety, and self-worth, while also introducing the positive concepts of vicarious resilience and compassion satisfaction. Attendees will learn to identify physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive warning signs of trauma exposure in themselves and colleagues.
Participants will gain practical strategies organized into three key approaches: avoidance versus healthy compartmentalization, inoculation through breathwork and mindfulness practices, and decontamination techniques for processing difficult experiences. The training emphasizes building antifragility—the ability to grow stronger through adversity rather than simply surviving it.
Designed for helping professionals in high-impact roles, this course provides evidence-based tools for maintaining resilience, processing traumatic material effectively, and building sustainable careers while preserving personal well-being.
Presented by:
Cora Luedtke, Brower Psychological Police & Public Safety Services
Although born and raised in Colorado, Cora has lived and worked in various communities across the globe. With a decade of community mental health experience, she is adept at working with acute mental health conditions and crisis situations. The past six years she has worked as a co-responder clinician alongside law enforcement and other first responders. Combined with her marriage to a law enforcement officer, she has developed a unique perspective and passion for first responder mental health and well-being.
Cora holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and soon to be Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). In addition to crisis intervention, she holds a certification in complex trauma (the Neuro-Affective Relational Model, NARM) and is a CAMS Trained clinician (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality). Cora believes in the power of presence and community. She integrates mindfulness practices with evidence-based and solutions focused interventions
November MDT Training: The Forensic Medical Exam
Thursday, November 19, 2026 11am-1pm
Date: Thursday, November 19 11am-1pm
Location: Jefferson County District Attorney's Office- Training Room
500 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401
Topic: The Forensic Medical Exam
Presented by:
Dr. Coral Steffey, MD, FAAP
Coral Steffey, MD, FAAP joined Ralston House in 2018. She is a board-certified pediatrician and the medical director of the co-located Denver Health child abuse team at the Denver SAFE Center. She also provides medical care for children at Ralston House Children's Advocacy Center, serves on the Denver Child Fatality Review Board, participates in multidisciplinary case reviews in Denver and Jefferson Counties, and serves on the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman Board. Coral is passionate about child maltreatment education for children, caregivers, and professionals, and has worked in the field of child abuse medicine since 2009.
CASE REVIEW
Case review takes place on the second Wednesday at each month at the Jefferson County District Attorney Office. This training is closed to the public. For more information or to be added to the communication list - please email jkemps@ralstonhouse.org
SART
The Sex Assualt Task Force meets the third Tuesday of the month in the 17th Judicial District. Locations may vary. This meeting is closed to the public.
For more information contact: Sexual Assault Response Team, Brighton Police Department
Medical Referral Form
Click here to request a medical referral form for your case.
Vicarious Trauma Resources
Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the first hand trauma experiences of another. Its symptoms mimic those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Accordingly, individuals affected by secondary stress may find themselves re-experiencing personal trauma or notice an increase in arousal and avoidance reactions related to the indirect trauma exposure. Click here for more resources.