Providing Victim Advocacy
Child-Focused Forensic Interviews
LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center coordinates the investigative
interviews of children alleging sexual abuse or severe physical
abuse in and around Shawnee County. After a report of abuse is made to
child protective services (SRS) or law enforcement, a child may be
scheduled for his or her investigative interview to be conducted at our
child-friendly facility. Our Interview Specialists, specifically
trained in forensic practices, conduct the interviews. Care is taken to
assess the child's cognitive skills, language development, and
suggestibility. Investigation professionals observe the interview by
closed-circuit television while the child's statement is recorded on
DVD. These practices ensure comprehensive and quality interviews while
reducing the number of times a child must make a statement, thus
greatly reducing the child's trauma.
Advocacy Services
During the child’s interview, LifeHouse CAC staff meet with the
non-offending family members to provide additional support, inform them
about specialized therapeutic services and community resources, and
provide an understanding of the legal process. The advocates also
provide the family members with educational information that can be
used to better equip them to deal with the circumstances as well as
resources for additional reading on the subject of abuse. Our Victim
Advocates are trained to refer families to professionals and agencies
that have special training, skills and services in trauma and
victimization.
Multidisciplinary Case Review
Following the child's interview, LifeHouse CAC personnel meet with the
investigation team, including child protection workers, law enforcement
officers, medical personnel, mental health professionals and
prosecution to plan investigation strategies. Our case tracking system
allows LifeHouse to follow the progress of each case through the child
protection and criminal justice systems. The coordination of these
services significantly reduces the child's trauma, enhances the quality
of the investigation and improves prosecution and conviction rates of
child abuse cases.
Education & Training
LifeHouse staff coordinate and conduct training for law enforcement,
child welfare staff, prosecutors, mental health and medical providers
on specialized issues related to child abuse investigations, assessment
and the children’s advocacy center model.
