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Family Crisis Center now has four forensic interviewers on staff
FCC training
Three Family Crisis Center staff members recently earned their certifications in the skill of forensic interviewing. From left to right are: Kelsie Baxter, Sandra McMullen and Melissa Busch.

Up until a few weeks ago, Kayla Bailey was the only trained forensic interviewer on staff at the Family Crisis Center (FCC). She is thankful things have changed.

As the FCC’s Child Advocacy Center program director, Bailey now has extra support because three of her colleagues were recently trained to conduct forensic interviews, mainly with children who have been sexually abused.

The three women are: Kelsie Baxter and Melissa Busch, both family advocates; and Sandra McMullen, school/community advocate.

“Having four people skilled in this forensic technique is a first for us,” Bailey said. “All of us are grateful to our colleagues for stepping up and taking this specialized training.

“They are always eager to learn and were willing to spend a week of their time to further their education. They also have the perfect personalities for this type of work by being personable, approachable and professional. This is a tremendous help that allows us to better serve the families who count on us.”

A forensic interview is a structured, fact-finding conversation. The interviewer uses non-leading, open-ended questions rather than yes-no questions, encouraging interviewees to share what happened in their own words.

A majority of interviewees are ages 3-17. Most have been sexually abused and are referred to the FCC by law enforcement and/or the Department of Children and Families.

Sometimes, the interview will involve a vulnerable adult who has a disability or cognitive delay.

It is difficult to estimate the number of forensic interviews needed during any given month. In April, there were 14. In Bailey’s experience, there have been anywhere from three to 20 in a month.

In addition to sexual abuse, there are several other situations that can lead to a forensic interview. They are:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Neglect
  • Exploitation and human trafficking
  • Exposure to violence
  • Witness to drug use

“When these situations arise, children and families are the focus of all we do. But having four forensic interviewers also benefits our staff,” Bailey noted. “When we share the caseload, we lessen burnout. Our staff carries a lot of weight. It’s gratifying that we can share the work, while giving families the quality service they deserve.”

Misconception

There is one misconception about forensic interviews. Some believe they take the place of testifying in court. Not so.

“However, forensic interviews prevent children from having to tell their stories over and over again,” Bailey noted. “They tell their stories to us and then they may have to testify in court.

“They don’t have to keep repeating it for law enforcement and other child advocates. This is so important for the child, as well as parents who want to do all they can to protect their child from further trauma. We offer our support to help parents as they make decisions throughout the process.”

Training

The week-long training session was held at the Great Bend Events Center where several teachers from throughout Kansas used the ChildFirst curriculum.

This protocol brings the field into the classroom, enhancing the education of front-line child-abuse professionals with real-world scenarios, according to the ChildFirst website.

Students include investigative teams of law-enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, child-protection attorneys and other forensic interviewers.

Sessions include information about child development, memory and suggestibility; legal issues; and preparing children for court.

It incorporates lectures and discussions, reviews of recorded interviews and skill-building exercises.

“This was great training for our three new interviewers, who are usually paired with our family advocates when speaking with a child,” Bailey commented. “We appreciate the teachers who provided us with new insights and knowledge.”

The Child Advocacy Center serves Barton, Barber, Pawnee, Pratt and Stafford counties. Kingman County will be added soon.

The FCC, 1924 Broadway in Great Bend, serves 10 counties – Barton, Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush and Stafford. The number is 620-793-9941; the 24-hour crisis hotline is 866-792-1885.