Jillian Henry
Child Advocacy Center program manager and forensic interviewer for Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy
Age: 29
Location: Fort Collins
Tell us about yourself, your history and how you came to be where you are now.
Perhaps the most interesting part about my professional journey is that I never expected to be in this field in the first place. Approaching my senior year of college, I wanted to be an attorney. I had taken the LSAT and was prepared to go to law school. I just needed an internship, so I chose one that I thought would be easy. What I didn’t know was that a restructuring of their internship program would land me in the Crimes Against Children Unit with the Baltimore County Police Department. There, I discovered my passion for this work.
Explain your career, achievements and professional highlights.
I received my master’s degree in forensic psychology while completing an internship at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, then I accepted a job overseeing allegations of child maltreatment, exploitation and human trafficking in Baltimore. I also worked at USA Lacrosse, where I investigated allegations of abuse in the game nationwide in partnership with the U.S. Center for SafeSport. In February 2025, I decided to explore something new and moved to Colorado, where I am now the program manager for the Child Advocacy Center serving Weld County.
In what ways do you give back to the community?
Aside from giving back in a professional capacity, I serve as a youth lacrosse coach for the Northern Power Lacrosse club. I have coached two seasons with the girls’ 7th and 8th grade team and help with the younger teams as well. It is an honor to coach this amazing group and see them grow as athletes, but most importantly as people. Additionally, last year I was appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Human Trafficking Council.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment or challenge you’ve overcome, either professionally or personally?
I typically do not see things as challenges to overcome, but more so as opportunities to grow. When I moved here in 2025, I didn’t know a single person. I essentially had to begin to grow again with a whole new state of people, and I’m so glad I did.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
This may sound cliché, but the best opportunities have come when I wasn’t expecting them. I’ve never known what my five or 10-year plan is. I know what I’m passionate about, and as opportunities have come up, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to say yes. I anticipate staying in this field as long as I possibly can because I know I’m needed.
What piece(s) of advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell myself that the unknown is the best place to be. I always expected to have a plan for myself, but had I followed the plans I thought I wanted, I would never have experienced so many wonderful parts of life. We are all growing, learning and evolving, and where there is unknown, there is endless possibility.
Tell us something unique about you.
I have a 3-year-old German shepherd named Otis, after Otis Redding, who is my hiking partner. I was born and raised in Baltimore, Md., where my family still lives. However, the most unique thing about me is despite working with some of the darkest crimes, I made a promise to myself to always find the good in the world and in people.
What do you do in your role on the Colorado Human Trafficking Council?
The Colorado Human Trafficking Council influences change to ensure that communities are providing victims and survivors of trafficking trauma-informed approaches to investigations and advocacy. This year, I am the co-chair of the Public Awareness Taskforce for the council, which dispels myths about trafficking and promotes easier access to reporting and victim services.
How do you always find the good in people despite working with some of the darkest crimes?
It would be easy for me to assume the worst in others based on the cases I see every day, but I challenge myself to find the silver lining in every situation. I make the choice that regardless of the darkness of a situation, I can help someone find the light even if they are in the middle of the tunnel and not yet at the end. In doing that with the community I serve, I have to ensure I do it in my personal life as well.
