How Immersive Training Equips the APS Workforce

When: Thursday March 11th, 2026 at 12 PM ET

Register: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Immersive training is changing how Adult Protective Services professionals learn, practice, and strengthen real-world skills. Join NAPSA for an engaging webinar exploring how APS and state government programs are using immersive, first-person learning to support workforce development, improve outcomes, and build stronger systems. Through real examples and shared lessons learned, this session will highlight the why, what, and how behind this innovative training approach — and what it could mean for the future of APS.

Goal

Our primary goal is to build awareness of this innovative training tool across the NAPSA membership by showcasing how APS and State Government programs are currently using immersive training, highlighting the why, what, and how.

What We’ll Cover

• Introduction & Goals — Speaker introductions and webinar objectives
• What & Why — Understanding immersive first-person training and its impact
• Who Is Using It — Spotlight on APS programs currently implementing immersive learning
• Implementation Models — Practical examples of how immersive training works in real settings
• Lessons Learned — Benefits, challenges, best practices, and measurable outcomes
• The Future — Scaling adoption across APS and state government programs
• Conclusion & Call to Action — Next steps and resources for leaders
• Live Q&A with all speakers

Moderator:

Paul Needham

Panelists:

Jaime Dyson, jndyson@ucdavis.edu

carrie.cusker@embodiedlabs.com

An innovator in the aging space and a fervent advocate for older adults and their care partners. Carrie draws on her 30 years of nursing experience to create meaningful, immersive content that encompasses both the clinical and human aspects of healthcare. With Embodied Labs, Carrie continues to challenge the social construction of aging through unique learning design. She has lent her voice to multiple conferences and webinar panels in efforts to inform, inspire, and celebrate innovation in aging services.

elaine.fisher@state.co.us

Elaine Fisher, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CMS, serves as the Staff Development Director for the Colorado Department of Human Services, where she is dedicated to strengthening the professional infrastructure for more than 600 staff members. As a certified Enneagram Coach, she focuses on fostering a culture of mutual understanding and psychological safety as a foundation for systemic transformation. Her work centers on creating sustainable change, from pioneering the award-winning John Eachon Re-Entry Program to developing trauma-informed care frameworks that prioritize the dignity of both staff and the individuals they support. She advocates for equitable career paths that empower direct support professionals and ensure long-term stability for the workforce. Elaine remains committed to the belief that meaningful progress is achieved through collaborative, person-centered efforts to build more just and supportive systems.

christine07@mail.fresnostate.edu

Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Louis University in the Philippines and a Master of Social Work, with a specialization in mental health and gerontology, from the University of Southern California. She began her career at the Madera County Public Guardian Office and spent nearly six years with Madera County Child Protective Services, where she developed strong expertise in child dependency, permanency, reunification, family maintenance, and the Resource Family Approval program. Her leadership led to a promotion to Social Work Supervisor II, focusing on ICWA cases and serving as Education Liaison, followed by roles with Santa Rosa Tribal Social Services and the Madera County Court as a Family Court Services Child Court Recommending Counselor and investigator. With 17 years of experience serving the aging population, including roles in medical and behavioral health settings, Christine currently serves as Director of the Central and Bay Area Adult Services Training Academy, where she is committed to advancing excellence in Adult Protective Services.

lauren.elcesser2@fairfaxcounty.gov

Lauren Elcesser is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Director of Community Health with Inova, the largest health system in Northern Virginia. She has nearly 15 years of experience serving older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers in community-based settings.

Lauren has led Area Agency on Aging programs, directed Inova’s Medical House Calls Program, which provides in-home primary care for homebound older adults, and currently oversees Inova’s Transitional Care Clinics as well as ElderLink—a nonprofit partnership with the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging that delivers community-based programs promoting health and independence for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. In 2025, ElderLink received national recognition by USAging for its Exploring the Dimensions of Aging program which leverages the Embodied Labs platform to offer education and support to professional and family caregivers.

Through the management of medical practices and administering Older Americans Act programs, Lauren brings a unique perspective on the impact of partnerships between health care systems and Area Agencies on Aging.