Sexual Abuse Investigations: Interviewing and Evaluating Children’s Disclosures through a Research-Based Lens

This training will help social workers who are interviewing children and evaluating a child’s disclosure apply up-to-date, research-based knowledge regarding disclosure patterns of children (including recantation), trauma implications, memory, cultural & developmental considerations, and perpetrator influence.

After attending this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify best practice interviewing methods that elicit the most accurate, detailed, and quality information from children.
• Utilize interviewing techniques that enhanced children’s capabilities, including narrative practice rapport building, open-ended questions, developmental and cultural considerations, and supportive techniques.
• Demonstrate the use of question types that enhance the productivity of children’s responses and resist question types that reduce children’s productiveness.
• Recognize and dispel myths/misconceptions and surfacing biases related to children’s allegations of sexual abuse.
• Better understand their own biases and misconceptions related to child interviewees and utilize critical thinking to counter bias/misconceptions.