Jessica Gartin
BSW., QMHP-CS, SAA

Director of Education

Jessica is the new Director of Education for Brighter Tomorrows. Along with managing the education department, Jessica assisted in the development and oversees the new trauma informed Policing & Medical Professional Training Program, which is a program designed to improve the justice system’s response to violent crimes against women. Jessica has over 20 years of experience in her field of social work and criminal justice. Her experience includes being an Adult Probation Officer for Denton County, working with Denton County Adult Parolees diagnosed with a serious mental illness, along with being the Denton County Mental Health Court Liaison. Jessica has been trained and has testified in multiple court cases as an expert witness, has been a BIPP (Batterer’s Intervention Prevention Program) Facilitator, and has worked with domestic violence victims with the Denton County District Attorney’s office. Jessica was also the program manager over the Jail Diversion Program for Collin County’s local mental health authority. Jessica is a certified Victim’s Advocate, and a member of CAASA, the Campus Alliance Against Sexual Assault Her goal is to continue raising community awareness and knowledge on domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking through education and outreach.

Teresi Cole

Trauma-Informed Professional Training Coordinator

Teresi is the Trauma-Informed Care Professional Training Coordinator for Brighter Tomorrow’s. She is certified in sexual assault advocacy and legal advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. Teresi spent 5 years working directly with over 600 victims as a liaison to law enforcement and  medical professionals.

She developed curriculum and training for our new Trauma-Informed Care training program to help improve victim response with service providers. Her goal is to educate and support our community partners so that all victims of sexual assault are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Teresi has been in the advocacy field for over 25 years working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Lauren Morales
B.S., QMHP-CS

Certified Sexual Assault
Educator

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

Influenced by 15 years of working with high risk and vulnerable populations, Brighter Tomorrows’ new Sexual Assault Educator is committed to expanding the Education Department through community collaboration and primary prevention initiatives to challenge cultural and social norms that support sexual violence. As a Mental Health Parole Officer turned Sexual Assault Educator, Lauren has developed a unique perspective when it comes to advocating for underrepresented populations and giving a voice to those that are invisible, ignored, and misunderstood. Sexual violence impacts every member in our society, as such, Lauren believes that prevention is possible by empowering every member in our society with education and awareness. Lauren is a firm believer that knowledge is power, and we are infinitely more powerful together. Lauren graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. As part of the Multi-Ethnic Biomedical Research Support Program, she conducted in vivo and human subject research and has presented her findings at several national conferences as well as co-authored manuscripts in peer reviewed journals. While training at the BRIEF Centre for Solution Focused Therapy in London, Lauren discovered her love of tea and dry humour. She is currently completing a master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.