Complex Issues and Blocks - It's a Team Effort!

Abstract:

Children who have been abused deserve fair and objective investigations by skilled professionals. Unfortunately, even the most skilled professionals will encounter complex issues within forensic interviews as well as during the remainder of the investigation. It is important to remember the forensic interview is one part of the whole investigation. These complex issues, such as coaching, contamination, allegations amidst divorce/custody, our own bias, corroboration, fantastic elements, recanting, multiple victims, and multiple perpetrators may result in barriers to disclosure and thus the team’s investigation. This session is designed to provide both those conducting forensic interviews of children and the entire multidisciplinary team with the ability to recognize and the tools to navigate circumstances in which they may encounter complex issues. Focus will be on engaging the entire multidisciplinary team in the forensic interview process to work together on corroboration, the investigation and the use of research-based practices which can be later defended in a court trial.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and be capable of recognizing possible complex issues that may be seen as blocks or barriers

• Identify research-based tools to navigate these complex issues

• Gain an understanding of strategies to engage the entire multidisciplinary team in overcoming potential blocks

• Have a working knowledge of how to defend those research-based tools in court