FAQs

Children are most comfortable when they know what to expect. We suggest that you explain to your child that they will be meeting with a concerned adult to talk about what happened to them. Tell your child the person that will be talking with them talks to lots of children and it is that person’s job to make sure kids are safe. Do not tell your child what to say; simply tell your child to tell the truth. Please reassure your child that they are not in trouble and are not going to this appointment because they have done something wrong.

Only one member of the Team will interview your child, while the other Team members observe through a one-way mirror. The parent will wait for the child in an adjacent Family Waiting Area.

Parents do not sit with their child during the interview. It is important for the interviewer to talk with your child alone. Since it is often difficult for children to talk about these issues, a parent’s presence may inhibit or distract the child during the interview. Most children are comfortable in separating from their parents and talking with the interviewer. However, if they are not, we will not force them to participate in the interview.

Parents are not permitted to sit with the Team during the interview. Because this is an investigation, the Team members need to carefully observe, assess and document the interview. They would be unavailable to respond to your immediate concerns or questions at the time. You will talk with the Team after the interview for an update and an opportunity to ask any questions.

We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to wait with you in our family waiting room while your child is interviewed and to sit with your child while you are meeting with the Team.

The professionals on the Team will meet briefly to discuss the information disclosed during the interview. You will then meet with the Team to discuss information about your child’s interview and hear the Team’s recommendations about the investigation. The Victim/Witness Advocate will provide you with a folder of community resources. The Nurse Practitioner is able to talk to you about scheduling a medical exam for your child or to talk with you about any medical questions or concerns you may have. She will explain the medical exam is a non-invasive exam and is not painful
to the child.

It is important to understand that participation in this interview does not mean your child will never have to speak about the abuse again. If the case moves forward toward prosecution, an Assistant District Attorney and Victim/Witness Advocate will talk with you about the court process. We encourage families and children to speak with experienced mental health clinicians about their thoughts and feelings about what has happened.

Most child abuse investigations begin with an interview of the child.
A Team member will contact you to explain the interview process, answer any questions you may have, and set up a time for your child’s interview. In an effort to limit the number of times that a child will need to be interviewed, the NAC coordinates a single initial interview of each child. This interview involves a child speaking with the Forensic Interviewer while the rest of the Team members observe the interview from behind a two-way mirror. This interview is video recorded for documentation purposes.