Dr. Eileen Dombo to coordinate assistance for immediate pastoral care of persons who report having been sexually abused as minors by clergy or other church personnel
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Eileen A. Dombo, Ph.D, LICSW, an experienced clinical social worker specializing in treating victims of trauma and sex abuse, has been appointed the Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) of the Archdiocese for the Military Services(AMS). Dr. Dombo will coordinate assistance for the care of persons who report having been sexually abused as minors by any AMS-associated clergy or church personnel. She assumes those responsibilities from AMS General Counsel John Schlageter, who has doubled as Victim Assistance Coordinator for the past seven years. Mr. Schlageter remains General Counsel.
The AMS created the VAC position under Article 2 of theCharter for the Protection of Children and Young People, also known as the “Dallas Charter,” promulgated by the Church in 2006 following approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In so acting, the AMS affirmed its commitment to the protection of children from sex abuse.
As AMS VAC, Dr. Dombo is responsible for responding promptly to persons who contact the archdiocese concerning sexual abuse of a minor. Once a claim is deemed credible, it will be her responsibility to coordinate assistance along with the military/federal government, the cleric’s diocese or religious community, and any other necessary parties.
Dr. Dombo is Assistant Professor, Assistant Dean, and Chair of the Undergraduate Social Work Program at the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) at the Catholic University of America (CUA). She began her teaching with NCSSS in 2000 as an adjunct professor and as a Visiting Assistant Professor in 2006. She has more than 15 years of experience in trauma treatment and services to sexual abuse survivors as a direct service practitioner, supervisor, and clinical director. She has provided numerous clinical trainings to prepare clinical social workers for the individual, couples and group treatment with survivors of sexual trauma. In addition, she has worked with many organizations to address issues of vicarious trauma and burn-out in social workers.
At NCSSS Dr. Dombo teaches master’s level courses in diversity in a multicultural environment, human behavior in the social environment, human development and psychopathology, advanced clinical seminar, and a one-credit course in the DSM-IV-TR.
Dr. Dombo’s research interests are in testing clinical models of practice; exploring effective therapeutic intervention techniques for social workers in trauma treatment; and exploring the links between trauma work and vicarious trauma.
She is also the former Clinical Director of the DC Rape Crisis Center in Washington, D.C. In that role she supervised six staff members and numerous volunteers, conducted evidence-based practice research, coordinated data management, and managed six federal grants. She is licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Dombo may be reached at 202-681-5069 or VAC@Milarch.org.
