My child has a forensic interview - what do I do?
If we’ve reached out to schedule an appointment for a forensic interview, you’re in the right place. If you are looking to report suspected abuse please go here for more information.
What should I say?
Investigators may have instructed you not to discuss the alleged abuse with your child. If your child talks to you about a traumatic experience, absolutely listen and offer reassurance, but try not to ask for more details, this can sometimes complicate things in the pursuit of healing and justice. Your response to your child’s disclosure can have a lasting impact. We want you to feel prepared when responding to your child’s needs following the disclosure of abuse. Follow these key points to best care for the child in this difficult time.
Actively listen - don’t interrupt the child’s disclosure, and don’t press for details. Thank them for telling you and emphasize that you want to keep them safe.
Believe the child - children may be afraid of coming forward about abuse, especially if part of the abuse dynamic was to tell them no one would believe them.
Stay calm - children may internalize your reactions as something they’ve caused. If they see you in pain, angry, sad, etc. they may become reluctant to talk about what’s happened to protect people they love.
Make a plan for safety - work with our family advocates on planning for safety. Make sure the alleged perpetrator doesn’t have continued access to you or your child(ren).
You're not alone. - child physical and sexual abuse is an epidemic that many have faced. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding abuse that can make people feel like they can’t talk about it. You’re not alone. It’s important that you identify safe people that can help check-in on you during this time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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There are many reasons for this.
Asking for more details could be traumatic to the child/ teen.
For many kids and teens, it can be hard to talk to a parent/ caregiver about what happened.
They could minimize what happened because they’re afraid of how you will react or respond.
They may feel they will get in trouble or that you will think differently of them.
They could change how they talk about what happened based on your reactions to what they say.
Investigators and justice professionals may suspect you’ve coached the child on what to say or not to say.
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No. All of our services are free to families always. Insurance is never billed for advocacy or forensic interviews.
Right now, the Voice for Clinton County’s Children does not offer on-site therapy services, however, an advocate will work on finding you a therapist within your insurance network and will discuss Crime Victims’ Compensation to help pay for therapy expenses not already covered.
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The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is dedicated to providing high-quality services to a diverse range of clients. If you need any support for your appointment such as translator services, sign language interpretation, etc., or if there are supports that would help your child feel more comfortable during the appointment, speak with our Family Advocate today to make arrangements. (989) 640-2933
For youth on the autism spectrum, or any child who feels better preparing for appointments, you can take virtual tour of our agency, and check out our illustrated guide “My Voice Matters: A Safe Place to Tell My Story."
It helps also to bring a comfort item like a trusted plushie or stuffed animal, a blanket, etc.
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We block off two hours for an appointment on our calendar. During this time, a trained family advocate will meet with you; a trained forensic interviewer will speak with your child(ren), and you will meet with the multidisciplinary team (“MDT” consisting of law enforcement, child protective services, and sometimes other associated professionals assigned to the investigation and support services).
Appointments may wrap up sooner or go a bit longer, but in general, an appointment typically lasts for 1.5 - 2 hours in total. Interviews typically last between 30 minutes to an hour per child, depending on their developmental ability. We are happy to provide absence notes for school or work as needed.
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No, only the forensic interviewer and the child are allowed in the interview room. This is an important legal precaution that ensures that the interview will be objective. Additionally, only members of the multidisciplinary interview team — such as law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, and child protective services — are allowed in the observation room.
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A Family Advocate will walk through an acknowledgment form that states you understand the forensic interview is recorded and used in the investigative process for law enforcement and child protective services. A forensic interview is considered evidence and taken into custody by law enforcement after it’s completed. A forensic interview may be used in criminal court proceedings but does not replace testimony. Your child will likely be called to testify if a criminal trial is initiated. As always, talk with your advocate to learn more and arrange support with court accompaniment.
There is also an optional Social History Form that helps our advocates better support you and your child(ren) during their appointment. You will be sent this form prior to your appointment. There may be additional intake paperwork during your appointment as needed.
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The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is located behind Sundance GMC off of US 27 in St. Johns. We are a small building with murals of flowers outside and a have a sign out front facing Daisy Ln.
So what will happen when I’m there?
Advocacy
When you arrive, an advocate will help you settle into our family room. Your assigned advocate is there to support you throughout this process. They will work with you to identify strengths and needs, make a plan for safety and healing, and connect you to community supports like food security, safety planning, assistance with PPOs, and much more!
Advocates follow up with families to check in on goals, continue finding resources, and accompany you to court if the case moves forward. Your advocate will speak to you briefly before meeting with the team to discuss the case. Afterward, your child(ren) will meet our Forensic Interviewer one-on-one while the advocate meets with you to collaborate on your questions, concerns, and needs.
Forensic Interview
A forensic interview is an exploratory, child-centered, truth-seeking, non-leading conversation between a trained professional and a child used to inform decision-making in the investigation of child abuse and neglect. These interviews are recorded and observed by MDT members.
Meeting MDT
There may be time during your appointment dedicated to speaking with your assigned detective, and/or CPS worker, to discuss the next steps in their investigation. MDT members may elect to follow up with you at a later time if unable to meet during your appointment. An advocate can coordinate questions you have for the team or about the investigation and will ensure you have their contact information.
What happens next?
The MDT will inform you what will happen next in their investigations. Your family advocate will be in contact with you and continue to support you as needed. Your child may feel emotional after the interview and ask for space, or they may want closeness and comfort. Be there for them, ask them how it went and how they are doing, but don’t ask for details of what was discussed. Maintain a normal schedule as much as possible. If they typically go to afterschool activities, check if they feel well enough to attend and encourage them to stay engaged in social activities they enjoy. Social supports, and hobbies that allow kids/ teens to feel confident and competent will help them to feel resilient.
If your child(ren) are not in therapy services already, work with your advocate to find a provider in-network. A great starting place is Community Mental Health serving Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties.