Presented by Jeannette M. Adkins, MEd, LPC, CA Retired Executive Director

1. Victim Assistance: Advocacy & the Impact on All MDT MembersChampions of Children ConferenceMarch 11-12, 2019 Itasca, Illinois Presented by Jeannette M. Adkins, MEd, LPC, CA Retired Executive Director Michael’s House Child Advocacy Center Fairborn, Ohio jmadkins84@gmail.com

2. On Finding a Place in the Process… “Confidence…thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

3. What is the Role for Victim Assistance Providers on the MDT? • Victim assistance providers in many jurisdictions play a key role in the coordination of services and forensic interviews of child physical and sexual abuse victims. • In some areas, they may even conduct the forensic interviews. • How can victim assistance providers be involved in the continuum of services from initial report through final disposition of these challenging cases?

4. Where Do You Fit In? Where are you located in victim services? *Social Service, Community-based *Law Enforcement-based *Prosecutor or System-based *Mental Health-based *Faith-based

5. What Type of Victim Services Do You Provide? • 24-hour crisis services*, community-based (telephone or in-person response, child advocacy, DV shelter, rape crisis center or mental health?) • Law Enforcement-based (24 hour or only after police report is filed?) • Prosecutor or system-based (24 hour or only after case comes to the attention of or is filed with the prosecutor?) • Faith-based (within faith community only?) *If 24/7 service, advocates often meet child victim at hospital, police department, etc.

6. Assessing Child Abuse Services in Your Jurisdiction Who becomes involved when an allegation of child abuse is reported? *Child Protective Services *Law Enforcement *Victim Services *Prosecuting or State’s Attorney *Social Services, Mental Health, Medical

7. Do You Have a Role in the Intervention with or Forensic Interviews of Child Abuse Victims? • Are you called when an allegation of child abuse is reported? • Do you participate on a MDT in a CAC in your jurisdiction? • Have you or your colleagues been trained in the forensic interviewing of children? • Are you in a key position to provide supportive services to child victims and could easily be involved throughout the process from report to final case disposition? • Do you have the permission to participate from your supervisor or the authorization from the agency for whom you work?

8. Do Coordinated Services Already Exist in Your Jurisdiction? • If yes, and you are not involved, identify a contact person, e.g. coordinator of child advocacy center, and request an appointment to discuss your possible involvement. • Be prepared to provide information on what services you are prepared and authorized to provide to child victims/witnesses and how you could assist in the forensic interview or criminal justice process.

9. If No Coordinated Services Exist in Your Jurisdiction, Take the Initiative!(This is reference for those who may not yet have a CAC or MDT) I Identify the key players in your jurisdiction: *Law Enforcement (road patrol officer, detective or investigator from each law enforcement jurisdiction who would handle child abuse reports and investigations) *Child Protective Services (mandated in most states to investigate and intervene in reported cases of child abuse) *Prosecutor or District Attorney (responsible for prosecution of substantiated reports of child abuse) *Victim Assistance (community or system-based who provide assistance to child abuse victims such as prosecutor-based victim advocates, domestic violence or rape crisis workers) *Medical Providers (physicians, SANE nurses who specialize in forensic examinations of child abuse victims)

10. Contact the Identified Key Players • Invite them to a coordination meeting • Prepare a packet of information with the names, phone numbers, email and office addresses of those invited • Plan on refreshments (offer food and they will come!) • Research other jurisdictions with successful Child Advocacy Centers, team approaches or coordinated services

11. Coordination Meeting • Ask each person to identify him or herself and provide a summary of how he or she might be involved with child victims/witnesses • Provide an introduction summary (and handouts) of your research on other jurisdictions with successful coordinated services to reports of child abuse • Explain that you are taking the initiative, but invite others to offer their thoughts on coordination of services to child victims

12. Coordination Meeting cont. Identify benefits of formal coordination of services: *Improved overall services to children *Improved investigation of reported child abuse *Increased possibility of successful prosecution *Interagency sharing of identified offender information Discuss reactions to formal coordination of services

13. Coordination Meeting cont. • Determine if consensus can be reached about implementing a “multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach” and child advocacy center (CAC) or forming a child advocacy team at least for forensic interviews and follow up for prosecution. • If yes, discuss logistics of coordinating the team and the overall possibility or goal of establishing a child advocacy center

14. Coordination Meeting cont. Plan for coordinated forensic interviews: *Location for interviews (e.g. before our CAC- we had David’s Room located in V/W Division) *Participants in forensic interviews ( e.g. law enforcement investigator, forensic interviewer, child protective services worker, victim advocate, prosecutor)

15. Coordination Meeting cont. • Establish a team name, coordinator and meeting schedule for the county-wide child advocacy team • Identify a committee to establish a protocol for responding to child abuse reports in the county or jurisdiction and any specialized protocols necessary for those participating jurisdictions based on size, personnel, etc. • Set a follow up meeting date or email group list for follow up

16. CAC/MDT Services, Forensic Interviews & the Role of the Victim Advocate • Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services are mandated to investigate and therefore, should and must be involved • The Victim Advocate can be of assistance in the interview process by taking a supportive role with the child and non-offending parent or guardian and serving as a point of contact especially if the allegations are substantiated and the case moves forward in the criminal justice system • CAC Accreditation (NCA) requires Victim Support & Advocacy under the Standards for Accredited Members

17. Child Advocacy Centers & the Role of the Victim Advocate – NCA Standard #4 of the 10www.nationalchildrenalliance.org

23. Greene County, OH CSA Team and the History of the Advocates’ Role in Forensic Interviewing • Team was initiated cooperatively by Greene County Victim/Witness Division and Greene County Children’s Services in 1983 • An informal coordination of services between law enforcement, victim/witness and children’s services was implemented to begin multidisciplinary team • All three were present when children were interviewed and because the advocates had been trained in forensic interviewing and role in prosecutor’s office, they began to assist the law enforcement investigators in the interviews

24. Greene County CSA Team cont. • Forensic Interview Protocol prior to formal CAC: *Referral received by Children’s Services (CSB), Law Enforcement or Victim/Witness Division (V/W) *Interview time and date set to be held in David’s Room in the Victim/Witness Division of the Prosecutor’s Office (or at time, location most appropriate to accommodate child) *Law enforcement, CSB and V/W were all present for interview initially *2007 Discussion began to establish a formal CAC with V/W and Children’s Services taking the lead *2009 Michael’s House CAC opened its doors

25. Greene County CSA Team cont. • 2009-2016 Victim Advocate continued to be primary forensic interviewer with back up from FI-trained Child Protective Services caseworkers • 2016 Dayton Children’s Medical Center took over administrative responsibilities of Michael’s House CAC and FI-trained social work staff from CMC conducts forensic interviews with back up still from FI-trained CPS caseworkers • Advocates part of the team assuming Victim Support & Advocacy responsibilities. Facility dog now located with Advcoate/Handler in Juvenile Court and serves primarily as a Courthouse Dog.

26. Greene County CSA Team cont. • Conclusion of Forensic Interview cont. *Advocate, investigator and CSB worker will meet to discuss forensic interview results and plan for action, if any *Team will meet in follow up with parent/guardian to discuss interview and plan for action (NOTE: Information disclosed will depend on relationship of offender to parent/guardian) *Team will meet to plan course of action if the allegations have been substantiated by the interview or to discuss subsequent interviews, if necessary, with child

27. Greene County CSA Team cont. • Follow Up Action to Forensic Interview: *CSB worker will follow up with parent/guardian and child for safety plan and medical attention, if necessary *Investigator and victim advocate will meet with prosecutor to discuss possible charges and or presentation to the grand jury *Investigator will write a report and CSB worker and advocate will document interview in their respective case files

28. Greene County CSA Team cont. • If case proceeds in criminal justice system for prosecution: *Victim Advocate will continue providing support to child and child’s parent/guardian (case status information; preparation for competency or any other hearings and trial; court escort and advocacy) NOTE: Another advocate or volunteer advocate is always introduced to the child in the event the primary advocate is subpoenaed by the defense to testify.

29. Greene County CSA cont. Victim Advocate can provide written information for child and read with child: • So, You’re Going to Go to Court! • Lily Lightning Bug and Her Stolen Glow

30. Importance of Advocate on MDT – the Cog* in the CAC Wheel(*Integral person or part) • If system or prosecutor-based, you should be or become familiar with ALL relevant victim-related laws (e.g. Marcy’s Law effective since 2015 here in Illinois, enhancing your 1993 IL Crime Victims’ Bill of rights, your statutes, especially sexual offenses, competency, court filings, procedures, etc.) • If you conduct FIs, familiarization with the law should also guide you in your questions, along with your FI training • Knowledge is power when meeting with investigator and prosecutor about the possible charges in case, understanding competency, elements that must be proven in hearings, trial, etc. as well as answering questions or conveying CJS info to child and family.

31. Importance of Advocate on MDT – the Cog in the CAC Wheel • If you are a 24/7 advocacy program, you may have had contact with the child/parent/guardian from the time the crime was reported (hospital, police department, school, etc.) and therefore, you carry valuable information from the child’s story, hospital exam results, identification of case strengths/weaknesses and contact with initial players • Key role for advocate, especially prosecutor-based, is assistance with the preparation of children for criminal proceedings. • Facility or Courthouse Dog handler! • You have the opportunity to be THE consistent contact for the child/non-offending parent/guardian from case beginning to end and beyond • If you understand ALL roles and the entire process, you become the consummate guide for the child/parent/guardian

32. Conclusion & Summary • Victim Assistance can definitely have a role in the coordination of services and participation in forensic interviewing of child abuse victims. • Even if the victim assistance provider does not conduct the forensic interviews like the Greene Co, Ohio advocates in the example given, the victim assistance provider can provide support to the child throughout the process. In addition, and especially if the victim assistance provider is prosecutor or system-based, he or she can provide case status information and court escort and follow up to the child and his or her family serving as consistent point of contact.

33. QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS/CONCERNS DISCUSSION • What are some of the issues or challenges you’ve encountered as a victim advocate in the MDT process? • The good, the bad and the ugly… • Support for each other? • Resources…(NACP with Child Abuse Specialty, continuing education, FI Training) • Questions/Comments?

34. Don’t worry & fret, faint-hearted, the challenges have just begun.For the best jobs haven’t been started. The best work hasn’t been done.~BertonBraley