Maria Isabella Pontoriero

Maria Isabella Pontoriero (“MIP”) is a licensed social worker and forensic interviewer. MIP is Program Manager for New Jersey’s PSB Program at the New Jersey Children's Alliance, managing NJ's statewide coordinated response to youth who are impacted by and/or youth who engage in problematic sexual behaviors. MIP is also Founder and Consultant for Enhanced Choice Training & Consulting LLC, which provides forensic interviews, specialized training, grant writing, program development, and case consultation services to individuals and agencies who serve victims of crime and exploitation. In addition, MIP provides training and peer review feedback as a consultant for Modell Consulting Group and RADAR Child Forensic Interview Models on an as-needed basis. She previously served as Lead Social Worker for the New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Center & Audrey Hepburn CARE Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. There, MIP supervised full-time and contract forensic interviewing staff and coordinated a child trafficking survivor services team called BRAVE (Building Resilience for All Victims of Exploitation). In partnership with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), MIP developed a proactive recovery planning team that provides rapid recovery and advocacy response to missing and exploited youth. MIP develops and delivers child abuse curricula for officer in-service and New Recruit classes for the NOPD Training Academy. In her spare time, MIP loves to bake, read, and celebrate Mardi Gras!