Your Visit
Here’s what to expect at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
What to Expect
We know it is difficult to hear as a parent or caregiver that your child may have been abused. Our goal at the Warren County CAC is to always be mindful of the safety and health of our children and families at the forefront of the investigative process.
In recognizing the stress that comes with such traumatic news, we’ve put in place a process we feel not only helps put the child at ease, but also assures family members we are doing everything we can to bring alleged abusers to justice.
Before Your Interview
If you are referred to the Children’s Advocacy Center, our staff will contact you and help you through the interview process, answer any questions you may have, and schedule a time for you to bring your child to our center.
We understand that children and caregivers will have questions and concerns about the process. Below are some resources and tools to help answer those questions, and hopefully alleviate some of the concern over the process.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us.
The most important thing to communicate to children prior to their visit is that the WCCAC is a safe place for them to talk. Below are some additional resources that may be helpful to go over before your visit.
The Day of
Your Interview
Arriving
Once you arrive for the interview, you will meet with a CAC staff member to sign a consent form and a release of information form. They will also ask you about any health concerns you may have for your child. You and your child will be offered the opportunity to tour the WCCAC, including viewing the Interview Room.
During the Interview
While you remain in the Family Room, the information gathering will continue with a forensic interview between your child and someone trained in forensics, child development, and linguistics. A forensic interview is a neutral, non-leading, fact-finding, and age-appropriate process to gather information.
During the interview, the rest of the investigative team will observe via closed circuit from another room, reducing stress and eliminating the need for your child to be interviewed multiple times. The interview will be permanently recorded.
After the Interview
Once the interview is complete, the investigative team will meet briefly to discuss the next steps in the investigation and how they may best help you and your child.
You will then be invited to meet with the team to discuss the interview, next steps, and services you may need or want. In some instances, your child may be referred for a medical evaluation by a Pediatric Specialist.
The WCCAC staff will follow-up before you leave with any additional questions you may have or services that you are interested in. You and your child may be asked to complete a brief survey prior to departing to help us improve the WCCAC experience.
After Your Interview
What is the investigative process?
The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) consists of a Children & Youth Services (CYS) caseworker, detective, prosecutor, mental health, healthcare, trained advocates, and a child forensic interviewer. All of these professionals are sensitive to the difficult and confusing time that you and your child may be experiencing.
The CYS caseworker must assess the safety and protection of your child.
The detective is from the location where the alleged incident occurred. They, along with the prosecutor, will determine if a crime has been committed and what other investigative steps must be taken.
The victim advocate will be your link to the court system, if and when criminal action is taken.
Together, the victim advocate and the WCCAC will be your link to resources within your community. They will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding the process.
The MDT's overall goal is to complete the investigation in a child friendly, timely and professional matter.
What about mental health counseling?
At the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center we believe that the most important part of
the reporting and investigation process is the welfare of the child. We understand that the process of this investigation can be confusing and frightening and we know that you, as the parent or caregiver, also want what is best for the child.
First and foremost is finding the right path for the emotional recovery for the child and family. The child will greatly benefit from a trained counselor who specializes in working with children. A child counselor will help the child process their experience to facilitate healing and to identify the meaning of healthy relationships.
For the parents or caregivers, dealing with the aftermath of traumatic events can be overwhelming. Ensuring that the child receives therapeutic assistance is only part of the answer. Parents and caregivers should also consider consulting with a therapist who specializes in working with families affected by trauma.
Although a traumatic event may have happened to the child, other family members are also impacted. It is important for you, as the significant adult(s) in the child’s life, to be prepared to deal with your own emotions as well as the child’s emotions. A specially trained therapist will guide you with appropriate ways to discuss the event(s) and answer questions the child may have.
There are many skilled independent therapists throughout Warren County. If you opt to seek assistance from an independent practitioner, we recommend that you inquire about the therapists’ training and experience in dealing with trauma.
The WCCAC, or the victim advocate, can provide you with resources in the community. The WCCAC can assist with a referral. If you have questions about the investigative process, please contact the assigned detective, or caseworker with Children & Youth Services.
What if I need additional advocacy services?
We recognize that often a family has additional needs or questions which arise after they have left WCCAC. We can assist with questions you may have and help ensure you are aware of other community resources that may be helpful to you or your family.
If you do not understand what is happening during your investigation and/or you have not been able to communicate with investigators about your investigation, please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Warren County CAC (WCCAC) is a child-focused location where children can report abuse in a safe and comforting environment. The WCCAC provides protection and justice through a collaborative approach including law enforcement, Forest-Warren Human Services, the prosecutor’s office, mental health, healthcare, and trained advocates. The interview conducted is neutral and fact-finding in nature. These interviews are always developmentally appropriate.
-
A forensic interview is a neutral, fact-finding interaction conducted by a specially trained interviewer in response to allegations of alleged maltreatment. The interview is viewed by the investigative team.
-
● We provide a safe and welcoming place for children to be heard.
● We bring the system to the child, by providing a single location for interviewing children rather than having a child taken from agency to agency throughout the investigation and potentially enduring multiple interviews.
● We utilize a certified forensic interviewer who can meet the informational needs of all investigative professionals involved while remaining child-focused.
● We facilitate a collaborative approach among investigative professionals that results in effective, efficient and child-centered casework.
● We ensure that parents or caregivers of the children are guided towards programs that will facilitate the healing process for the child and family. -
No. If your child brings up the subject and wants to talk about it, listen without questioning. Be sure to reassure your child that they will be alright, and you are taking care of them. If your child does tell you additional information, please contact your law enforcement detective or CYS caseworker.
-
It is helpful to inform your child that someone wishes to talk with him or her about what was reported. However, it is equally important not to rehearse with your child or tell your child what to say. You may reassure your child and give him/her permission to talk freely. You should let your child know that they will be in a safe place, and the adults that they are visiting will let them know exactly what is happening each step of the way.
Avoid telling your child you will go somewhere or receive something after the interview. Avoid describing the WCCAC as a doctor’s office, as this often confuses children. Also, medical exams are not conducted at the WCCAC.
-
No. Due to the nature of these investigations, it is necessary to provide a neutral setting for the child. It is also to ensure our team is fully focused on the child’s interview, and not distracted by a parent or guardian in the observation room.
Copies of the interview are only released to appropriate members of the team and will not be released to any caregivers or guardians. The WCCAC uses recording equipment to document the interview. Copies of the interview are only released to law enforcement or CYS.
-
All visits are different depending on the age of the child. Younger children participating in a forensic interview will go more quickly than older children and teenagers. Depending on the attention span, talkative nature of the child, severity, and history of alleged abuse etc., interview times vary greatly.
Please allow time for completion of intake paperwork, the forensic interview, and a post-interview meeting. The WCCAC will provide appropriate school/work excuses upon request.
-
The victim advocate will be available to provide support while the interview is taking place and following the interview. It is understandable that waiting for your child may be difficult. If any additional resources or services are needed, the victim advocate can help facilitate this.
-
At the end of the interview, the Caseworker from CYS and/or law enforcement may inform you about what will happen next. The CYS Caseworker and law enforcement are the only agencies able to answer questions regarding the child’s interview. The information they provide may be limited due to the fact that it is an ongoing investigation. They will tell you everything necessary to keep your child safe. Unless told otherwise, you and your child are free to leave after talking with the investigators.
-
● Listen. If your child wants to talk about the interview, listen. Do not ask questions. Do not be concerned if your child does not want to talk about the visit. Many children are “tired” of talking and
just want to “get on with it.”
● Thank your child for talking and acknowledge his or her courage. Assure your child of your love and
support, no matter what was disclosed or determined during the visit.
● Avoid leading your child to think that the interview will end the process. Some cases continue into the
legal system and require re-interviews or court testimony.