Your visit to the Child Advocacy Center
Coming in for a Forensic Interview?
Caregivers bring children to a CAC for forensic interviews due to concerns of abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence or crime. Alleged perpetrators or suspects, regardless of their relationship to the child, are not permitted at the CAC. The center serves a diverse range of individuals for various reasons.
The goal of the CAC is to:
- Provide a neutral child- and adolescent-friendly environment where community partners work together to find out what may have happened.
- Promote healing through consistent internal providers and high-quality partnerships with community service providers.
- Help every child move beyond their trauma to heal, survive, and thrive.
What is a forensic interview?
Evidence-based forensic interviews are conducted in a child-friendly, trauma-sensitive environment, ensuring a neutral space where children feel heard and supported. This approach helps prevent further trauma while gathering accurate information.
Interviews are recorded to avoid repeated questioning.
To protect the integrity of the interview, the forensic interviewer speaks with the child alone. Discussing abuse can be difficult, and a caregiver’s presence can unintentionally influence what the child shares.
Caregivers can speak with multidisciplinary team members (MDTs) about support services after the interview.
Who you may meet at the CAC?
Each CAC team varies, but staff may include a forensic interviewer, family support specialist, intake coordinator, and behavioral health clinician. Other professionals from partner agencies may also be present for the forensic interview.
The team of professionals may include:
• Forensic Interviewer
• Police Detective
• DCYF Worker
• Prosecutor
• Victim/Witness Advocate
• Family Support Specialist
• Crisis Center Advocate
• CAC Behavioral Health Clinician
Children feel more comfortable when they know what to expect
You can help by:
- Letting them know they will talk with a person whose job is to help kids.
- Reassuring them they are not in trouble and can talk about anything on their mind.
- Telling them you don’t know exactly what they’ll be asked, but you believe them and are here to support them.
- Avoiding asking them questions about what happened, as this can affect what they say.
- Being careful about what is said around them, as they notice more than we think.
- Your support helps your child feel safe and heard.
Who can answer questions about the CAC process?
CAC staff can answer general questions, provide directions, and assist with other logistics for a visit. Virtual tours with child-friendly explanations about the process can be found on your local CAC.