CMAS - L05 Children's Advocacy Centers

Question 1

What type of services does a CAC provide to the investigative agencies?

Answer 1

One report from the child and shared with all agencies so children don’t have to repeat their stories to various investigators/people.

Question 2

What type of services does a CAC provide to the child?

Answer 2

Psychological therapists,

Question 3

What role could a CAC play in supporting the non-offending caregivers?

Question 4

What is a Forensic inteview

Answer 4

a critical stage of the investigation into child maltreatment and is the cornerstone of the child abuse investigation. The forensic interview is a fact-finding, non-leading, neutral, cultural, and child-sensitive structured conversation with a child about things that may have happened.

Gathering information for use in a legal setting.

Question 5

Role of MDT in forensic interview

Answer 5

The child forensic interview can support accurate and fair decision-making by the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

The investigative team members observe the forensic interview from an observation room limiting the number of times the child has to detail what may have happened.

child’s non-offending caregiver not able to see/hear what the child say

Question 6

The focus of the interview is to:

Answer 6

• reduce trauma for the child and non-offending caregiver;
• reduce suggestibility; and
• increase child’s credibility.

Question 7

When a forensic interview is conducted at a Children’s Advocacy Center. Who is present?

Answer 7

law enforcement, child protective services, and in some cases the prosecutor is observing from another room. While observing, law enforcement is considering what evidence is being described and what evidence they can obtain.

However, evidence can only be obtained if there is a search warrant.

Question 8

What is the best location for a forensic interview to be conducted?

Answer 8

child-friendly location, such as at a Children’s Advocacy Center.

room neutral, effort should be made to de-emphasize perceived authority

Question 9

Phases/Models for Forensic Interviews

Answer 9

• 1. Rapport-building
• 1. Substantiative phase
• 1. closure phase

Question 10

Ways in which a forensic interview models differ

Answer 10

Structure
Instructions
Trusthfulness discussion
Appropriate questions

Use of anatomical dolls and drawings up for debate

Question 11

Important Considersations

Answer 11

• Age and development level
• Effect of trauma on memory
• Suggestibility
• Muliple interviews
• Bias

Question 11

Victim advocates

Answer 11

trained individuals who support and empower the child and the non-offending caregiver who are identified as victims of a criminal act. Advocates can be employed at a Children’s Advocacy Center, a community-based Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault agency, and/or within the prosecutor’s office.

Question 12

Victim advocates provide trauma-informed services which include but are not limited to:

Answer 12

crisis assessment and intervention;
risk assessment and safety planning;
referrals for additional services and support for the family;
ongoing support and empowerment;
information and case updates;
court education, support, and accompaniment; and
assistance with access to treatment and other services, including protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention, transportation, financial assistance, interpreters, etc.

Question 12

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was signed into law in

Answer 12

1974