Tom Rawlings brings 30 years of legal experience in juvenile justice, child protection, and legal ability to YSO Academy. Over the past 20 years, he has been a trusted advisor to and leader of child-serving ministries and nonprofits both in the US and abroad. He has served as the director of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, the director of the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, and juvenile court judge.
In addition to his work in the US, Tom has also served as the Guatemala country director for International Justice Mission, where he built and led a team of Guatemalan professionals who worked with government prosecutors and courts to protect and treat child sexual abuse victims, prosecute offenders, and train child abuse professionals. He has trained child welfare, justice, and human rights professionals across the US as well as in Armenia, Romania, and Thailand.
Tom earned a master's degree in international human Rights Law from Oxford University (UK), and he is certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as Child Welfare Law Specialist.
Debbie Ausburn is a social-worker-turned-lawyer who has worked with youth-serving organizations for more than 40 years. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law and has served a a criminal prosecutor, member of the governing board of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and a volunteer and Board member with non-profit youth organizations. She currently serves as a civil attorney working with youth organizations, defending lawsuits, assisting with internal investigations, and advising clients about best practices for child safety.
Debbie’s most challenging and rewarding service has been as a foster parent and stepparent. She has never had biological children, but she and her husband have collected 7 children and 10 grandchildren. She put the lessons that her foster and stepchildren taught her into her book Raising Other People’s Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me about Bringing Together a Blended Family.
“In these courses, I share the best practices that I have learned from the many youth organizations I have worked with and represented over the years. I hope that the videos and worksheets will help you better serve the children and teens entrusted to your care.”
