Child Abuse Interviewing & Assessment

This is a week-long multidisciplinary course for WA State law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, and specialized child interviewers.  The training is co-sponsored by the WSCJTC and the Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence.

The focus is on improving investigative skills in child sexual abuse and physical abuse cases, with emphasis on the forensic interview with the child in suspected sexual and physical abuse cases for law enforcement, prosecutors, and DCYF, FAR, and CPS investigators.

A separate criminal justice track addresses other aspects of the investigation in addition to the child interview, including electronic surveillance techniques, scene searches, and suspect interrogation skills.

Each applicant will:

• Receive information on current research-based child forensic interview techniques.
• Understand the structure and components of forensic interviews that have been proven by research to be most effective in eliciting reliable information.
• Practice interview skills by interviewing actors using suspected child abuse scenarios.
• Learn the importance of cultural influences on the investigative interview.
• Be aware of considerations for effective interviews of victims with special needs.
• Learn to defend interviews in court.
• Receive information about resources available to reinforce skills and keep updated about future developments in best practices.

To register for the course, contact your Training Manager to register you in Acadis. 

If you have any issues with registration, please reach out to the program staff listed on this page.

Department of Children, Youth & Families, DCYF, employees must register for the class through the Washington State Learning Center.

If classes are full, or not available, please complete the Course Interest Survey.  This is not a waiting list, but instead helps us see if there is enough interest to create another class.  You will be contacted if we schedule a session.