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More Than One Interview: When, Why and How
Virtual TrainingForensic interviewers and multi-disciplinary partners recognize the shortcomings of strict adherence to a “one and done” interview approach. Research provides some clarification of reasons why a child may need more than one interview and limited recommendations for implementation, leaving forensic interviewers and their investigative partners with little clarity about how to apply this information to…
Supervision of Child Forensic Interviewers
National Children's Advocacy Center Training Facility 210 Pratt Avenue NE, Training Building, Huntsville, AL, United StatesAs many child advocacy centers (CAC) employ child forensic interview specialists or choose to develop a small group of investigator interviewers, there is a growing need for a set plan for building skills and increasing the competency and resilience of their forensic interviewers. Supervision, a long-standing tradition in medicine and mental health, is an established…
Strategies for Interviewing a Reluctant Child Witness
Virtual TrainingForensic interviewers encounter a variety of forms of reluctance in child witnesses. Forensic interviewers are challenged to adopt a single strategy as reluctance is often the result of a complex interaction of factors including external and internal influences. This training offers an opportunity to do a deep dive into possible sources of reluctance and provides…
Getting the Best Information from a Narrative Child Witness
Virtual TrainingForensic interviewers often focus much attention on strategies for interviewing reluctant children. Alternatively, there are also skills to be developed and generously applied when interviewing a highly narrative child. The use of invitations, breadth and depth questions, open and specific ‘wh-’ questions and limited use of option posing questions provides a framework for understanding and…
Interviewing Children Who Witnessed Violence
Virtual TrainingChildren may witness situational or chronic violence in several ways including domestic violence in the home, living in a violent neighborhood, and/or witnessing an assault or murder of another person. Even when a child is not physically harmed, witnessing incidents of violence takes a toll on their body, heart, and mind. Memories may be fragmented,…
Interviewing Children with Problematic Sexual Behaviors
Virtual TrainingChildren exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors may be referred for a forensic interview. CAC forensic interviewers whose mission is to interview children about potential maltreatment they have experienced and not as offenders find themselves balancing their mandate with the goals of investigators and concerned parents. This training will provide information to help forensic interviewers distinguish normative…
Forensic Interviews of Preschool Child Witnesses
Virtual TrainingForensic interviews of preschool children are challenging, calling for knowledge of early childhood developmental abilities and limitations, as well as strategies for developing rapport and maintaining engagement with a preschool witness. A nuanced ability to adapt questioning approaches and the interview protocol to the temperament and linguistic ability of each child is necessary. This training…
Preparation and Adaptations for Interviewing Children with Mental Health Needs
Virtual TrainingChildren referred for a forensic interview during an investigation of maltreatment may also present with either a diagnosis or concerns about their mental health including but not limited to PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety, and sleep disorder. They may also present with concerning behavioral indicators such as a history of self-harm, suicide ideation or prior attempts,…
Preparation and Adaptations for Interviewing Children with a Disability
Virtual TrainingChildren with a disability are at high risk for victimization. Forensic interviewers well trained in their discipline may lack confidence when speaking with a child with a disability as it is unrealistic to expect that an interviewer be well versed in the impact of the wide variety of disabilities on a child’s behavioral, cognitive, linguistic,…
Critical Thinking in the Forensic Interview: moving from rote to responsive practice
National Children's Advocacy Center Training Facility 210 Pratt Avenue NE, Training Building, Huntsville, AL, United StatesEffective forensic interviewers must possess a broad repertoire of skills. Additionally, forensic interviewers should develop a critical thinking framework to accommodate the needs of the child and the investigative team, especially in highly complex cases. This training focuses on preparing interviewers to make thoughtful decisions throughout the entirety of the interview. Suggestions for engaging with…
