This intensive three-hour advanced course provides a focused environment for experienced forensic interviewers to refine and strengthen their practice in child sex trafficking cases. Through expert-led peer review, participants will critically analyze the structure, clarity, and defensibility of their forensic interviews, identify areas for improvement, and implement best practices to enhance the quality and integrity of their work. Emphasis is placed on trauma-informed interviewing techniques, legally sound documentation, and effective communication of complex case details to multidisciplinary partners and within judicial proceedings. Participants will leave with strengthened skills to ensure interviews are developmentally appropriate, victim-centered, and defensible in court.
Learn the best approach with children who are alleged victims of child abuse in the initial phases of a case, after a concern has been identified. Develop the basic skills and techniques necessary to engage a child in such a way as to minimize suggestibility but still provide support, beyond what is taught in a First Responder Training. Review best practices in identification of a concern and learn to engage these children in a way that maximizes positive case outcomes and minimizes potential behaviors that can hurt cases.
Join other child-serving professionals to create a plan of action for preventing child sexual abuse of youth in your care. Learn the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse, mandated reporter and stakeholder responsibilities. Identify strengths and weaknesses of current prevention practices, and develop an action plan, using the Strategic Prevention Dashboard, for your organization. This course is open to all members of child serving organizations such as preschool, after-school care, summer camps, church groups, athletic associations or others responsible for the care of minors.
Examine the importance of multidisciplinary team (MDT) case coordination and evidence corroboration in the investigation of child abuse cases. Various members of the Multidisciplinary Team, such as law enforcement, child protective services, and forensic interviewers may gather different or differing information. Learn how to evaluate evidentiary findings through crime scene images, interviews and case studies. Understand multidisciplinary team members' roles and responsibilities for protecting child victims and prosecuting offenders. Focus on offenders’ use of technology, including the use of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in grooming and manipulation. Discuss a variety of technology that can be used by investigators.
Sextortion using technology is an increasing trend seen by law enforcement. Sextortion refers to the crime where someone employs an abuse of power, usually a threat to expose explicit images, in order to coerce a person to do something. This 1-day training will identify the methods and tactics used by offenders, and describe why youth are vulnerable to these tactics. The training will explain the long-term impact of these crimes on victims, offer a victim-centered response, and provide information on reporting these crimes to law enforcement, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the electronic service provider(s). This course will conclude with identifying effective Sextortion prevention messages for youth, parents and educators.
Examine the common medical and social myths and misconceptions that undermine the investigation and adjudication of child sexual abuse cases. Materials discussed will include the medical/legal definitions or "child", the evolving definition of "rape", and the different between statutory requirements for "consent" and "force".
Review a case study involving a 3-year old child who was physically and emotionally abused by his mother's boyfriend. It was not until he was unable to walk that his mother was forced to take him to the Emergency Department for medical attention. With the work of many dedicated people of multi-disciplines this case was brought to justice!
Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) is the severe and sudden injury to a child’s head and brain often leading to permanent injury or death. The injuries are caused by using acceleration and deceleration forces as well as blunt force trauma – both of which are not accidental. Understanding the mechanics of AHT injuries and the more common factors associated with them will assist the investigator in interviewing both witnesses and suspects.
Delays in disclosure can present far-reaching challenges that impact the investigations and successful prosecution of child predators. Learn the ways in which the forensic interview can be used to maximize information and disclosure context from youth who have delayed waiting to tell.
What do we really know about the dynamics of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) when a caregiver or family member is directly selling sex with their child for profit? This webinar will explore the commonalities found in victims of family-facilitated CSEC compared to third-party CSEC. The presenter will delve into the identity and modus operandi of familial traffickers, and examine the challenges of family-facilitated CSEC victim identification and long-term outcomes.
