Instructors
Cindy McCain
Co-Chair, Arizona Governor’s Council on Human Trafficking and McCain Institute’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council
Cindy McCain
Co-Chair, Arizona Governor’s Council on Human Trafficking and McCain Institute’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council
Senator Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator for North Dakota
Senator Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator for North Dakota
Chairman Mark Fox
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation
Chairman Mark Fox
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation
Dan Mills
Program Manager, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Dan Mills
Program Manager, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Derek VanLuchene
Project Coordinator, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP)
Derek VanLuchene brings a unique perspective to the investigation and response to child abductions. In 1987, when Derek was 17 years old, his 8 year old brother Ryan was abducted and murdered by a repeat sex offender. Ryan was taken from the family’s backyard in a rural Montana community. Since that time, Derek has devoted himself to issues of sex offender management and child abduction response.
Derek spent 18 years as a Montana Law Enforcement Officer working for both the Conrad Police Department and The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. Currently, Derek manages Ryan United, a non-profit organization dedicated to his brother. Through Ryan United, Derek provides resources to crime victims, law enforcement, corrections officials specific to sex offender management, child abduction and community safety. As a Project Coordinator for AMBER Alert, Derek focuses on expanding the number of US DOJ Certified CART programs nationwide.
Derek VanLuchene
Project Coordinator, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP)
Derek VanLuchene brings a unique perspective to the investigation and response to child abductions. In 1987, when Derek was 17 years old, his 8 year old brother Ryan was abducted and murdered by a repeat sex offender. Ryan was taken from the family’s backyard in a rural Montana community. Since that time, Derek has devoted himself to issues of sex offender management and child abduction response.
Derek spent 18 years as a Montana Law Enforcement Officer working for both the Conrad Police Department and The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. Currently, Derek manages Ryan United, a non-profit organization dedicated to his brother. Through Ryan United, Derek provides resources to crime victims, law enforcement, corrections officials specific to sex offender management, child abduction and community safety. As a Project Coordinator for AMBER Alert, Derek focuses on expanding the number of US DOJ Certified CART programs nationwide.
Janell Rasmussen
Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center
Janell Rasmussen has spent over 20 years working in Public Safety to develop, implement and operate multiple statewide law enforcement programs that have been highly successful and nationally recognized. During her time at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Rasmussen was responsible for the development and operations of multiple statewide programs, including the Minnesota AMBER Alert Plan, the Missing Children’s Clearinghouse, the Communication & Duty Officer Program, the Crimes Against Children in Indian Country Conference and the President’s Initiative on Missing & Unidentified Persons. She also served in capacities as Legislative and Media Coordinator during her tenure at the BCA.
Janell Rasmussen
Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center
Janell Rasmussen has spent over 20 years working in Public Safety to develop, implement and operate multiple statewide law enforcement programs that have been highly successful and nationally recognized. During her time at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Rasmussen was responsible for the development and operations of multiple statewide programs, including the Minnesota AMBER Alert Plan, the Missing Children’s Clearinghouse, the Communication & Duty Officer Program, the Crimes Against Children in Indian Country Conference and the President’s Initiative on Missing & Unidentified Persons. She also served in capacities as Legislative and Media Coordinator during her tenure at the BCA.
Jim Walters
President (Founder), The Border Research Group
As founder of The Border Research Group, Mr. Walters provides assistance to tribal communities and nongovernmental organizations in the field of child protection, human trafficking and family violence. As the former Program Administrator for the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP), Mr. Walters was responsible for developing and delivering national training and technical assistance in investigative techniques, program development and policy issues related to child protection, exploitation, missing and abducted children and youth at high risk of victimization. Mr. Walters oversaw the implementation of the AMBER Alert Initiative for Indian Country, developing training and technical assistance on public safety issues to over 500 federally recognized tribes. He supervised efforts in support of the implementation of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018.
Jim Walters
President (Founder), The Border Research Group
As founder of The Border Research Group, Mr. Walters provides assistance to tribal communities and nongovernmental organizations in the field of child protection, human trafficking and family violence. As the former Program Administrator for the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP), Mr. Walters was responsible for developing and delivering national training and technical assistance in investigative techniques, program development and policy issues related to child protection, exploitation, missing and abducted children and youth at high risk of victimization. Mr. Walters oversaw the implementation of the AMBER Alert Initiative for Indian Country, developing training and technical assistance on public safety issues to over 500 federally recognized tribes. He supervised efforts in support of the implementation of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018.
Michelle Rivard-Parks
Associate Director, Tribal Judicial Institute
Mrs. Parks has extensive experience working with tribal communities and leadership in the area(s) of tribal justice system planning, program development, economic development, business law, code development, child welfare, sex offender prosecution and management and domestic violence. Mrs. Parks is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois and in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Mrs. Parks is an appointed member of the North Dakota Supreme Court State and Tribal Court Committee. She has served tribal communities for more than fifteen years including as a member of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force, and as the Chief Prosecutor for the Spirit Lake Nation.
Michelle Rivard-Parks
Associate Director, Tribal Judicial Institute
Mrs. Parks has extensive experience working with tribal communities and leadership in the area(s) of tribal justice system planning, program development, economic development, business law, code development, child welfare, sex offender prosecution and management and domestic violence. Mrs. Parks is a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois and in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Mrs. Parks is an appointed member of the North Dakota Supreme Court State and Tribal Court Committee. She has served tribal communities for more than fifteen years including as a member of the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force, and as the Chief Prosecutor for the Spirit Lake Nation.
Rebekah Charleston
Associate, NCJTC and Executive Director of Valiant Hearts
Rebekah Charleston is the Executive Director of Valiant Hearts, an associate with the National Criminal Justice Training Center, mother, honors graduate student and advocate for victims of human trafficking. Rebekah is passionate about this issue because at the age of 17 she ran away and became a victim of human trafficking for more than ten years. Rebekah trains all over the U.S. and has partnered with multiple state and federal agencies, and is the recipient of several awards, including the Survivor Leader Award in 2016, and has been featured in multiple media opportunities, including Deadline Crimes.
Rebekah Charleston
Associate, NCJTC and Executive Director of Valiant Hearts
Rebekah Charleston is the Executive Director of Valiant Hearts, an associate with the National Criminal Justice Training Center, mother, honors graduate student and advocate for victims of human trafficking. Rebekah is passionate about this issue because at the age of 17 she ran away and became a victim of human trafficking for more than ten years. Rebekah trains all over the U.S. and has partnered with multiple state and federal agencies, and is the recipient of several awards, including the Survivor Leader Award in 2016, and has been featured in multiple media opportunities, including Deadline Crimes.
Sgt. Terry Styf
AMBER Alert Coordinator, West Fargo Police Department
Sgt. Terry Styf
AMBER Alert Coordinator, West Fargo Police Department