River Valley CAC Staff

Marilyn Sanders
​​Executive Director, ​Forensic Interviewer

Mrs. Sanders has a degree in Behavioral Sciences and is a Certified Forensic Interviewer who has completed over 2000 interviews with suspected child abuse victims. She has previously worked as a Child Abuse Investigator, Case Manager, and Director for SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect); Social Services Coordinator for Paris School District for 16 years; and Forensic Interviewer for Hamilton House Child Advocacy Center in Fort Smith for 5 years. 

Mrs. Sanders has been married for 26 years. She and her husband have three children, ages 14, 15, and 21. 

Click here to email me!
Marilyn@RiverValleyCAC.com

Nickie Johnson

Family Advocate
Mrs. Johnson is a resident of Johnson county. She has an Associate of Science degree in the Human Services field at Arkansas Tech University Ozark, and studying Behavioral Science at Arkansas Tech main campus. She has completed Stuart's of Children, ChildFirst Arkansas Forensic Interview training, and MYTE training. Active Johnson county CASA volunteer.
Mrs. Johnson is married with three children. 

​Click here to email me!
​CNickie@rivervalleycac.com

Sarah Jo Lasiter

Advocate/Education Coordinator
Ms. Lasiter is a resident of Pope County. She has a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and a minor in sociology. She was hired on as the Child Abuse Education Advocate for RVCAC. Previously, she had completed an internship at RVCAC. Since being with the organization she has completed Advocacy 101 training as well as ChildFirst Arkansas Forensic Interview training.

Sherry Tatman

Trauma Focused Therapist

Sherry Tatman graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2009 with a B.A. in Psychology. She completed her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Community Counseling at John Brown University in 2013. While in graduate school, she interned at Professional Christian Counseling where she discovered her passion for working with children. Sherry has completed additional course work and professional certification to be listed as a Registered Play Therapist. In addition, she completed training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Additional clinical work was completed to be an EMDR Clinician. In 2014, Sherry obtained licensure from the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling. For the past seven years, she has been assisting adults, teens, and children in a private practice setting. She is currently the owner of A Gentle Journey in Russellville. She is assisted by her office manager, Gregory Bowley.

Click here to email me!
.agentlejourney4u@gmail.com

Amy Gray
Family Advocate

Mrs. Gray is a long-term resident of Pope County. She has assisted her community for 12 years in personal, professional, and financial decisions.  Mrs. Gray completed her degree in Behavioral Science in December 2017.  During that time she completed her internship at the Help Network, a local community non-profit helping people through difficulties. 

Mrs. Gray and her husband have been married for 15 years and have 3 children, ages 16, 9 and 7.

Click here to email me!
amy@rivervalleycac.com

Stephanie Carter

Forensic Interviewer
Mrs. Carter is a resident of Pope county. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Arkansas Tech University. Ms. Cannon is a former Lead Teacher and Direct Care professional for children with developmental disabilities and has completed ChildFirst Arkansas Forensic Interview training. 
​
Click here to email me!
Stephanie@RiverValleyCAC.com

Aimee Hemmer

Trauma Focused Therapist

Aimee has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Arkansas State University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Henderson State University. She worked with severely mentally ill adults at Inspiration in Little Rock and Perspectives in Clarksville, adult acute hospitalization with Turning Point at St. Mary’s and outpatient school-based treatment for children in Hot Springs and Malvern. She most recently worked as the Pediatric Neurobehavioral Program Therapist for Timber Ridge in Benton which treats children and adults with brain injuries as well as children ages 5-13 with psychiatric and behavioral issues. Aimee is a Registered Play Therapist who has treated hundreds of kids experiencing the effects of trauma and who has a passion for helping children and families heal from these challenges. Aimee has also completed Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training through UAMS and Level One Theraplay through the Theraplay Institute in Chicago. Russellville is Aimee’s home town and she is excited to partner with the River Valley Child Advocacy Center. Aimee and her husband live in Dover and have 4 children ages 13-16. 
​
​Click here to email me!
aimee@heartandmindcounselingar.com

Dr. Kristen Martin
​
Medical Director

River Valley CAC Board Members

Marti Wilkerson, LPC, Board President - Retired Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Science/ATU Child Welfare Partnership

Dr. Johnette Moody, Board Vice President and Secretary- ATU Associate Professor Computer Science

Dr. Rickey Casey, Board Treasurer - DBA in Management

Liz Yate - Consultant/Certified Court Interpreter 

​John Burke - Retired School Administrator

Rashad Woods - Assistant Editor Dardanelle Post Dispatch

Trish Henry -  President/General Counsel, Russellville Steel Co. Inc.

Barton Allen - First State Bank

River Valley CAC Advisory Committee

David Gibbons, Retired Prosecuting Attorney

Steve Barker, Russellville Police Department

Heather Patton, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Theresa Johnson, Director Victims Services