No child comes to Susie’s Place, or another child advocacy center, because something good is happening in their lives. However, our mission is to promote the prevention, justice, and healing of child victims of abuse and violence while maintaining the comfort and safety of the child as the first priority.
Creating that safe, information-gathering environment includes having an expert, trained forensic interviewer speak one-on-one with the child without a caregiver or other person present. This is the consistent, best-practice approach in all accredited child advocacy centers.
Why?
- A child may not be comfortable saying everything they need to say in front of a parent, guardian or other family member. Almost all forms of abuse lead to a feeling of shame and responsibility for the child. Even though they are victims, they may not feel like they can say what happened in front of someone they love and care about. They often fear that a parent or loved one will look at them differently, be angry, or blame them which can work against the feeling of safety and security.
- Being present for a forensic interview transforms the parent, guardian or family member from being a caregiver to being a witness. Rather than acting as a support, they can be subpoenaed to testify regarding the interview, which removes their ability to be with the child during parts the criminal justice process. Those are the times that the child needs a supporter the most, and no parent should have to abstain from that role because they are called to appear in court.
- While it may be hard to understand in the moment, it is better for the parent. Finding out that your child is the victim of abuse is traumatic and painful enough. Hearing the details does not aid the parent in supporting or protecting their child. It causes additional trauma that parents do not need to feel when they are already feeling so much. Non-offending caregivers and parents are welcome at Susie’s Place; they simply cannot sit in on the interview.
A forensic interview of a child is not an interrogation. They are not tricked into talking, or strong armed into giving details. Our Susie’s Place staff ask open-ended questions and will redirect if the child is unable to continue. Most importantly, the child leads the way. If there is a subject the child is not ready to talk about, they are not forced to do so.
It’s important to know that a child’s experience at Susie’s Place is about more than their interview. From the moment a child and their caregivers walk into our centers, they are met with a welcoming and comfortable space. There are toys, snacks, and sometimes even therapy dogs to make them feel safe. We work to ensure it feels homey and puts a child at ease.
Our staff are specially trained to meet the child and family where they are, developmentally and in age-appropriate ways. They walk the child through everything that is going to happen to ensure that the child understands the process. There are no secrets. The forensic interviewers focus on getting to know the child beyond the victimization. Our advocates are available to provide ongoing support and resources for weeks, months or years.
At Susie’s Place, we put the child, their needs, their short and long-term well-being, and their safety first. Always.
