Elizabeth Richard, M.S.

Elizabeth is a highly experienced and dedicated professional in the work of violence, trauma and abuse of children and adults. Over the last twenty-five years, Elizabeth has worked in multiple public service capacities, including local government, non-profit agencies and currently, healthcare. The bulk of Elizabeth’s career experience was in the arena of child welfare. As a CPS investigator for 17 years in North Carolina and Virginia, she investigated more than 2500 cases of child abuse and neglect during her tenure.  Elizabeth also worked in the capacity of a child forensic interviewer and was a member of the Virginia Child First faculty, providing education on forensic interviewing across the state of Virginia for law enforcement, prosecutors, medical and mental health providers, advocates, and CPS investigators.  Elizabeth is an active member of numerous regional, state and local taskforces, multidisciplinary teams and collaboratives focused on investigation, prosecution, and advocacy for victims of violence.  As an experienced public speaker, lecturer and educational trainer for professionals, she has promoted research and evidence based best practices for systemic response and engagement with victims of violence and trauma.

In 2020, Elizabeth was a key contributor in the start- up of one of Virginia’s first hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) serving victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. She leads the team of hospital-based victim service advocates as part of the Bon Secours Richmond Violence Response team and in 2021 received program recognition by Catholic Health World. In 2023, Elizabeth implemented a second Bon Secours Richmond HVIP serving victims of community violence based in Petersburg Virginia. As a leader in this work, she has propelled the work of victim advocacy and community health with innovative best practices and standards for hospital systems.

Professional Experience

  • Program Manager Victim Services Advocacy and Community Violence, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Richmond VA March 2020- current

  • Child Forensic Interviewer, Foothills Child Advocacy, Charlottesville VA 2019- 2020

    • Greater Richmond SCAN, Richmond VA 2018-2019

  • Senior Family Services Specialist, CPS Investigations, Henrico County, VA 2007-2019

    • Hanover County, VA 2004-2007

    • CPS Investigator, Granville County, NC 2002-2003

  • Youth Wilderness Program Counselor/After Care Worker, Elizabethtown, NC 2000-2002

Education

  • B.A. Psychology- Randolph Macon College 2000

  • M.S. Forensic Psychology- National University 2023