Currently serving as the clinical director at Sentinel Foundation since 2023, she has dedicated herself to creating systemic changes in the realms of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation.
CHAGRIN FALLS, OH, May 02, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Ashley E. Poklar has been recognized for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Poklar's impressive range of professional roles span the spectrum of psychology and education. Currently serving as the clinical director at Sentinel Foundation since 2023, she has dedicated herself to creating systemic changes in the realms of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation. Her holistic approach to these issues involves close collaboration with rescue and prevention teams, focusing on aftercare and bridging gaps between organizations to ensure no child is left behind. Her expertise in this field was instrumental in helping facilitate the rescue of 59 children with severe disabilities from a Haitian orphanage, ensuring that not only their physical safety, but their emotional and mental well-being were considered during their relocation to Jamaica. On the US side of things, Dr. Poklar's programming, through the Sentinel Foundation, has enabled over 18 youth to receive free psychological assessments, giving their caregivers, therapists, and educators a better understanding of the impact of early childhood traumas on the child's functioning and a clear direction to provide appropriate and effective emotional supports. Because of these interventions, all children have had access to additional mental health services, have avoided further exploitation, and have remained in their homes with their caregivers as opposed to being placed in foster care or long-term residential facilities.
In 2022, Dr. Poklar founded A Poklar Ponders, an initiative to provide high-quality parenting and homeschooling resources, consulting services for youth and families, and tools to bridge the gaps between parenting, psychology, and education. This venture reflects her commitment to enhancing mental well-being and educational outcomes for all children. It is built, partially, upon her experiences navigating homeschooling with her four children (ages 9-13).
As a school psychologist at Hawken School, a college preparatory day school in Northeast Ohio, between 2019 and 2022, Dr. Poklar demonstrated her ability to effect change within educational settings. Dr. Poklar serves as an adjunct professor for several Masters and Doctoral programs housed within Cleveland State University, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and Capella University from 2016 to the present, sharing her knowledge and passion for psychology with students in a manner that bridges the gaps between theory and practice. Her academic journey was marked by significant achievements, including numerous teaching awards that underscore her dedication to education and mentorship. Dr. Poklar continues to engage in professional mentorship through her position as a clinical coordinator at The Behavioral Wellness Group, where her efforts are pivotal in supporting psychology trainees in their work with clients, with Dr. Poklar specializing in trauma and engaging in effective therapy with children, adolescents, and their families.
Dr. Poklar's involvement with professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association highlights her commitment to her field. As co-director of Room Redux Greater Cleveland since 2023 and campus representative for the APA Division 56-Trauma Division from 2013 to 2018, Dr. Poklar has actively contributed to initiatives that address trauma and support those affected by it.
Dr. Poklar's academic journey is a testament to her resilience, determination, and desire to affect change in educational and psychological services. As a first-generation college student, she overcame numerous challenges to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in special education and teaching from the College of Charleston in 2007, followed by a master's degree in mental health counseling from Cleveland State University in 2013. 2018 she completed her PhD in counseling psychology at Cleveland State University.
Dr. Poklar enjoys traveling in her free time and has visited 40 states and 19 national parks across the United States with her children in the past two years. These travels provide awe-inspiring and recreational enjoyment and inspire her work by exposing her to diverse cultures and community needs. Looking ahead, Dr. Poklar aims to expand her impact on addressing child exploitation and sexual abuse both internationally and within the United States. Her vision includes engaging in prevention-focused awareness pushes, such as community-wide town halls, implementing sustainable programs that offer holistic support for affected families in partnership with local organizations doing great work on the front lines, and, ideally, making systemic changes within schools to foster environments where every child feels seen, safe, and supported.
Dr. Poklar encourages anyone interested in joining her in creating Communities of Care that support all youth to reach out directly to [email protected] or to explore her ponderings on all things parenting, psychology, and homeschool-related at APoklarPonders.org
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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