First Witness Child Advocacy Center was founded by and for the community and has served children and families since 1991. Before child advocacy centers, like First Witness, children could have had to tell their story of abuse to attorneys, police, child protective services, doctors, and other criminal justice professionals after making a disclosure. Now, after the birth of the Child Advocacy Center movement, family advocates and forensic interviewers are extensively trained in trauma-informed practices to help create a space that is centered around children and their caregivers.
There can be many unknowns when a child you love enters our center for a forensic interview. In some cases, specific details of the case may not be shared with the caregivers and families can be left with unanswered questions. At First Witness, we aim to create a safe, comfortable, and trauma-informed space for children and families to come during a time with so many unknowns.
Before the Interview
When you come to First Witness for a forensic interview, you can expect to be entering a child-focused and trauma-informed space. In most cases, a family advocate will contact the non-offending caregivers before the interview to answer any questions you might have. Upon arrival to First Witness, you will be greeted by a family advocate who is present for emotional support and to answer any questions you may have.
Upon entering the First Witness building, you and your child will enter our playroom.
Our playrooms are a space for your child to be with playroom staff before and after their interview. If the child’s siblings or other children are with you, they are also welcome in the playroom. The playrooms are equipped with toys, games, and books for the child(ren) to play with to help them become acquainted and feel comfortable in the space. The playroom is a space to help your child feel more comfortable with our building before being interviewed.
If your child is a teenager, they can be brought into our teen room instead of the playroom.
The teen room has activities and a space that is designed to be more developmentally appropriate for older children and teens. This space is also intended for teens to have emotional support from their advocate before and after their interview.
You, as the caregiver, will then be brought into our family room.
Our family room offers a safe space to discuss your feelings and emotions about the process, get work done, answer emails, or do anything else you may need at that time. The family room is a space centered around you and the support you need. We understand that this support looks different for every family and our family advocates are flexible about what this time might look like for each family. Family advocates are available to listen to any concerns you may have and to get resources that are best suited for you and your family.
Before the interview begins, a First Witness staff member will come into the family room to talk to you . The purpose of this is to discuss any final details before the interview begins.
During the Interview
When it is time to interview the child, one of our forensic interviewers will come to the playroom/ teen room and lead the child to the interview room.
During the interview, current practices at the time of this article’s posting are that the forensic interviewer will utilize open-ended and developmentally appropriate questions. The child needs to be interviewed alone to ensure the integrity of the investigation and to help the child feel more comfortable if they do decide to disclose abuse. All interviews are recorded so that children do not have to repeat their story multiple times. Members of our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) will monitor the interview from a separate room with live video and audio feed so we can make collaborative decisions as a team with law enforcement, child protective services, and attorneys. These details are subject to change based on current best practice guidelines.
After the Interview
After the interview is complete, the child will be brought back to the playroom/ teen room to be with playroom staff until it is time to leave.
When applicable, the team monitoring the interview will come to the family room to speak with you about how the interview went. This is also a time for you to ask any questions you may have for the team. Your advocate is also able to talk through any emotions that have come up or any questions you may have.
The specific details of the interview will remain confidential until an investigator can share them with you. The purpose of this is so the investigation can remain secure. In some cases, your child may talk to you about what they were asked or what they said in the interview, but we encourage you not to ask the child more questions or investigate on your own.
If your family is in need of support in the days, weeks, or months after the interview, First Witness Family Advocates are here to help you through the process that happens after a child discloses. For more information, you can reach out to us via phone at 218-727-8353 or via email at info@firstwitness.org