Carissa Vaccaro is a Crime Victim Advocate in the Palm Beach office. She also serves as the Secretary of the Palm Beach County Victims’ Rights Coalition. Carissa began her journey with CILO as a Florida Atlantic University (FAU) social work intern in the spring of 2020. After earning her Bachelor of Social Work, she joined CILO as a staff member in May 2021. She later earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Florida Atlantic University, further strengthening her knowledge and commitment to serving survivors of crime.

Carissa works with individuals with disabilities who have experienced violent crime, including domestic violence, human trafficking, and child sexual abuse. She provides information and referrals, assistance with victim compensation applications and claim monitoring, personal advocacy and emotional support, criminal justice advocacy, emergency legal advocacy, safety planning and emergency safety measures (including Ring Doorbells), advocacy for disability accommodations, and training, presentations, and technical assistance for community partners and service providers.