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Information Collection Protocol for Interviewing Families . Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Investigations Section - In-service Presentation . Learning Objectives. Understand the basics of how to prepare yourself for an interview. .
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Information Collection Protocol for Interviewing Families Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Investigations Section - In-service Presentation
Learning Objectives • Understand the basics of how to prepare yourself for an interview. • Understand how to initially engage the parent and begin a discussion • Understand how to engage and interview children using the 6 domains
Another qualification is that everyone in the profession approaches their work in an acceptable, consistent way. They follow a protocol! Our informationcollection protocol for interviewing families defines “how” we go about doing our job.
The Information Collection Protocol provides a uniform, systematic and structured approach to help gather sufficient information in 6 federally recognized domains of information to determine what is happening w/i the family And determine whether a child is safe. CPI
Controlling Yourself Two areas of self-control: • Controlling your emotions • Intimidating or threatening? • Over-identifying? • Insensitive? • Controlling your focus or concentration. • LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! Skillfully, thoughtfully, and sensitively, guide the interview and refocus attention to information collection. • As an investigator, you likely are inundated with completing work demands and heavy case activity. When you are with a client, the pressure you are under must NOT show nor be used as an excuse to move quickly through the process.
Controlling Yourself • Controlling yourself includes self-awareness and management of your values and intentions. • Controlling yourself demands that you recognize clients in positive, open terms. Avoid stereotypes! • You must remain open as you proceed to understand the situation. • You must appear relaxed, calm, and genuine.
Guiding principles for structuring family interviews Family members should be seen in a specific order. Dependent upon where the child is located.
Guiding principles for structuring family interviews - When the child is in the home
Guiding principles for structuring family interviews – When the child is not in the home Interview with alleged child victim.
Effective application of the protocol includes: Mindset: You should prepare for the interviews in such a manner as to be able to discuss relevant issues while controlling emotional responses. Time: You should be prepared to spend a sufficient amount of time with the family members so to complete the interview and information gathering and so that the individuals recognize that they are the experts on their own family and what they have to say is important. Privacy should be provided to all family members.
Probe into their perception as to the reason for the report “What do you think may have lead to someone having a concern about your family to contact the Abuse Hotline?” While avoiding reporter identify, do not avoid discussing the fact and reality that the family was reported.
Allow parent to speak to maltreatment issue To the extent that you are nondirective about the maltreatment or allegations during the introduction, you are more likely to avoid parents building defenses and arguments immediately which will have to then be overcome to proceed. In order to remain in the “here and now,” it will be important to allow the parent(s) to talk out their feelings and concerns about the allegations and to give their explanations.
For example… “I can appreciate that you are very concerned about what has been reported about you, and we need to talk about it in more detail so you can share with me your perspective about the report and about your family as well as talk with me about what you want. But for now, let’s move on into helping me understand and get to know your family…”
During Introduction You should begin assessing the immediate situation for the present danger. Present danger indicates the need to take immediate action. For example, 2 yr. old found outside without supervision, extremely bizarre behavior, weapons, violent/threatening individuals in the home, etc. Remember, when a child is in present danger a Safety Plan must be established before leaving the home/the same day. Present danger is happening now…”not about to happen”…”may happen”…”could happen”…it is happening now and is a threat of danger to a child and must be controlled before you leave. Some family situations or parent behavior may not lead you to take any immediate action; such as, dirty home environment, family isolated, parent alcohol or drug use not occurring now and not immediately impacting child safety.
Interviewing child Build rapport with the child. Ask questions about the child’s life, interests, expound where appropriate. Tell the child who you are, and what you do, & why you are there. Start with broad seemingly general topics and eventually become more focused in information needed. How you speak with the child will vary depending on age and developmental status of the child. Time should be spent in getting to know the child and giving the child a chance to know you.
Sample questions initiating interview • Who is in your family? (Family Functioning) • Who lives at home with you? (Family Functioning) • What kinds of things does your family do together? (Family Functioning) • How do you get along with your brothers/sisters? What kinds of things do you do with them? (Family Functioning) • Tell me about your grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. (Support) • What are the ‘rules’ in your house? (Family Functioning)
Questions about self • What kinds of things do you do in school? • Who is your best friend at school? • Your favorite teacher/subject? • Any areas where you have problems? • Are there times when things are easy? (Child Functioning) • Who do you hang out with at school? Who are your friends? (Child Functioning) • Do you belong to any clubs, or participate in any organized activities? Play any sports? Who is your favorite team? (football, baseball, soccer, etc.) (Child Functioning)
Child about their parent • How do you get along with your mom/dad? (Adult functioning/Parenting) • What happens when things are going well? What do you like about your family? • What happens if you break one of the rules in the house? • How do your parents react? (Adult Functioning) • What kind of things do they do? (Parenting) • What do you not like about your family or wish that you could change? • What about your brothers/sisters, how do they deal with them?What do you all do together? (Adult Functioning/Parenting)
Child about parent continued • Do your parents belong to any organizations, have any friends etc.? Who visits your house? Whose house does your family visit? (Support) • When mom and dad aren’t getting along, how do you know? • What does that look like? If they are not getting along and you walk in the room, what do you see? What do you hear?
Sample questions which can be used to explore the alleged maltreatment:
