What to Expect- Your Visit to the CAC
Before the Interview
A day or two before the interview, we encourage you to talk to your child about what you’ll be doing at Child Enrichment. Ideally, you want to give your child a little time before your visit to avoid concern or surprise, but not so much time that he or she worries too much. To make things a little easier, we recommend the following:
Introduce the Role of the Forensic Interviewer
Tell your child that there will be a meeting with someone whose job it is to talk to children who have experienced similar situations. This person is called a Forensic Interviewer and can be trusted with very personal and difficult things. Let your child know that there is no need to worry; Child Enrichment always places the well-being of a child first.
Tell Your Child That It Is Okay to Talk
You can promote open and honest communication by reassuring your child that it’s perfectly fine to answer the Interviewer’s questions. Saying things like, “It’s okay to tell the Interviewer what you told me,” can go a long way.
Reinforce Love and Support
Remind your child of your love and never-ending support for them. Reinforce this message and give your child confidence and assurance. It will give them extra support as well as help make the interview process easier.
On Interview Day
The day of your child’s forensic interview can be challenging, but Child Enrichment aims to make it less so. Below you’ll find a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help give you and your child a clearer understanding of what to expect on Interview Day.
What happens when we arrive?
When you arrive, you’ll enter through the door above, sign in, and then enter our child-friendly waiting room with toys, coloring books, and other activities. Our Client Intake Coordinator will give you some paperwork to fill out. Once the investigating agencies have arrived, a Family Advocate and Forensic Interviewer will come introduce themselves and give you and your child a tour of the CAC. Your Family Advocate will take you back for a Pre-Interview to explain the process, answer any questions, and offer resources. Your child will remain in the waiting room under the supervision of our Client Intake Coordinator. When it’s time for the interview, the Interviewer will bring only your child to the interview room. We will ask that you remain in the waiting area for the duration. When the interview is over, the Interviewer will escort your child back to you.
Please note, if you bring other children who are not being interviewed, they must be supervised at all times.
Who is a part of the multidisciplinary team?
Our team includes professionals from the Division of Family & Children Services, the District Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement officers. It also includes mental health therapists, forensic interviewers, family advocates, and medical professionals. Together, working as a team, these professionals support the goal of Child Enrichment to reduce the number of interviews—and the number of times children must retell their stories—as part of the investigative process.
Who will speak to my child?
On the day of the interview, your child will meet with a Forensic Interviewer who is specially trained. The role of an Interviewer is to speak to your child in a friendly, age-appropriate, and objective manner that encourages open and honest discussion. Your child’s safety and well-being are always our priorities. This is why we have other professionals observe the interview from a closed-circuit TV in an adjacent room.
What happens during an interview?
The goal of Child Enrichment is to make the process as child-friendly as possible. That’s why your child speaks with only one member of our multidisciplinary team, the Forensic Interviewer, instead of several people. The Interviewer will only ask non-leading, open-ended questions, allowing your child to tell what has happened in his or her own words.
Who can I speak to about my child’s case?
While your child is being interviewed, one of our Family Advocates will take a moment to speak with the caregivers in greater detail about their visit. Our Family Advocates guide parents through the process as well as provide support and various services, including referrals for specialized medical exams and counseling.
Can I watch my child’s interview?
We understand your urge to be there for your child throughout the entire process. We even encourage it, with one important limitation. When it comes to the interview, Child Enrichment only allows professionals who are directly involved in the investigation to watch. But, once the interview is over, you will have the chance to meet who was involved and voice any questions or concerns you may have.
How long does the interview last?
Because all children are so different and each case is handled with that in mind, there is no standard duration for an interview.
After the Interview
After the interview is completed, the Interviewer will return your child to the waiting room. The team will meet to discuss follow-up suggestions. After that, you will have an opportunity to meet with some team members to ask any questions and raise any concerns. The Family Advocate will be with you during this meeting and discuss any needed medical or counseling referrals.
The Role of the Family Advocate
After your visit to Child Enrichment, the same Family Advocate you spoke to during your child’s interview will follow up with you in a few days. Generally, a Family Advocate stays involved with your case for as long as needed, checking in and being available to both you and your child. Family Advocates aid the healing process by providing support, information, referral services, victim’s compensation assistance, court support, and other assistance when needed.