Frequently Asked Questions

Your child’s interview is observed only by members of the Multidisciplinary Investigative Team (MDIT) who are directly involved in responding to the concern. This typically includes law enforcement and Children and Youth Services.

Observers watch from a separate room using closed-circuit technology. They do not sit in the interview room with your child. This allows professionals to receive the information they need without requiring your child to repeat their experience multiple times.

In some cases, a forensic interview may be used as part of an investigation or court process. This can help reduce the need for a child to testify multiple times. Decisions about how the interview is used are made by investigators and the legal system, not by The Children’s House.

The purpose of observation and documentation is to protect your child, limit repeated questioning, and support a coordinated, trauma-informed response.

We understand why caregivers may want to be present or observe their child’s interview. However, caregivers are not able to watch the forensic interview live or view the recording.

Only professionals who are directly involved in the investigation are permitted to observe the interview. This helps ensure the interview remains neutral, legally sound, and focused on the child’s experience, while also reducing the risk of additional trauma or influence.

After the interview is complete, you will have the opportunity to meet with the professionals involved. During that time, you may ask questions, share concerns, and receive information about next steps and available supports.

Because a forensic interview may become part of an investigation or court process, families are not provided with a copy of the interview. The recording becomes part of the investigative record, and the copy held by The Children’s House becomes the property of the District Attorney’s Office.

These guidelines exist to protect your child, limit repeated questioning, and support a coordinated, trauma-informed response.

Every child and situation is different, so the length of a forensic interview can vary. Most interviews last between 20 minutes and one hour.

The interviewer follows the child’s pace and allows breaks if needed. The goal is not to rush the conversation, but to give your child the time and space they need to share information in a way that feels safe and comfortable.

Children often feel more comfortable when they know what to expect.

It can be helpful to tell your child that they will be meeting with someone whose job is to listen and help. Let them know they can talk freely and that they are not in trouble.

Reassure your child but avoid rehearsing the conversation or telling them what to say. The interviewer’s role is to ask questions in a neutral, child-friendly way so your child can share information in their own words.

Caregivers are welcome to bring supportive family members or friends with them to The Children’s House. Having trusted support can be helpful during a difficult time.

To help maintain a calm, safe, and child-focused environment, we kindly ask that no more than two supportive adults accompany a child to The Children’s House whenever possible.

For everyone’s safety, alleged offenders or individuals identified as suspects in the case are not permitted inside the Center.

Experiencing abuse can affect how children feel about themselves and the world around them. Children may experience emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, confusion, or sadness. Caregivers and family members may also need support during this time.

Professional, evidence-based therapy can help children and families process these experiences and begin healing.

If you are interested in counseling or therapy, Family Advocates will assist you with the referral process, including referrals for on-site therapy at The Children’s House or connections to trusted providers in the community when appropriate.

If there is a concern that a child may have been abused, a medical evaluation helps ensure your child’s health and wellbeing, both physically and emotionally.

A medical provider with specialized training in child abuse will examine your child in a gentle, trauma-informed way to:

• Check for any injuries or health concerns that may need care

• Answer questions from you and your child and provide reassurance about your child’s health and body

• Screen for pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections when appropriate

• Help determine whether your child or family may benefit from counseling or additional support

Medical evaluations are focused on care, reassurance, and healing. Our goal is to make sure your child feels safe, supported, and cared for throughout the process.

Every medical evaluation is tailored to the child and the specific concerns involved. The medical provider’s priority is your child’s health, comfort, and safety.

In most cases, the provider will:

• Talk with you and your child about your child’s medical history and the reason for the exam

• Complete a gentle head-to-toe physical exam to check your child’s overall health

• Conduct a visual exam of the genital area when appropriate

• Identify any injuries or health concerns that may need care

In some situations, and only when medically necessary, the provider may also:

• Use a forensic evidence collection kit

• Take medical photographs

• Order lab work or collect swabs to screen for infections

Throughout the evaluation, the provider will explain each step, answer questions, and move at a pace that feels comfortable for your child. You have the right to ask questions and to say no to any part of the medical exam. Caregivers are encouraged to share concerns at any time.

If there is a concern that a child may have been abused, a medical evaluation can play an important role in both health and healing.

Some of the benefits include:

• Your child is seen by a specially trained medical provider who can identify and treat any injuries or infections

• Your child has the opportunity to ask questions and receive reassurance that their body is healthy and normal

• Medical providers can help correct misunderstandings or myths children may have about abuse

• Caregivers are able to discuss health concerns and receive guidance and information

• The evaluation can be a supportive experience that shows your child they are cared for, believed, and supported

Medical evaluations are not just about evidence or investigation. They are about ensuring your child’s wellbeing and helping families move forward with confidence and care.

In most cases, a medical evaluation does not hurt. Your child’s wellbeing is always the first priority, and providers take great care to minimize discomfort.

Medical providers who conduct child abuse evaluations receive specialized training in working with children and use gentle, child-sensitive approaches throughout the exam. Each step is explained, and the exam moves at a pace that feels comfortable for your child.

For girls, the medical evaluation is not a well-woman or gynecological exam. There is nothing done during the evaluation that should hurt your child. The focus is on health, reassurance, and safety.

In some situations, lab work such as a blood draw may be recommended to ensure your child’s health. If this is needed, the provider will explain why and answer any questions before moving forward.

Caregivers and children are encouraged to ask questions at any time, and you have the right to pause or decline any part of the exam.

No. For young children, the medical evaluation is not like a women’s pelvic exam. The medical provider will conduct only a visual exam of the genital area, and nothing is placed inside the child.

For teenage girls, the evaluation may be more similar to a well-woman exam if medically appropriate. This allows the provider to more thoroughly assess the teenager’s health and address any concerns. The provider will explain what to expect, answer questions, and proceed only in a way that prioritizes comfort, consent, and wellbeing.

At every age, the exam is focused on health, reassurance, and care. You and your child have the right to ask questions and to pause or decline any part of the evaluation.

Follow your child’s lead.

If your child wants to talk about the interview or medical exam, listen. Let them share as much or as little as they want, without asking leading questions. If your child does not want to talk about the visit, that is okay too. Many children feel “talked out” and simply want to move on.

Thank your child for talking and acknowledge their courage. Let them know you are proud of them for doing something hard.

Most importantly, reassure your child of your love and support, no matter what was shared or determined during the visit. Avoid making promises that everything is over. Some cases continue into the legal system and may involve additional steps, such as follow-up interviews or court proceedings.

Your steady support helps your child feel safe, believed, and supported as they move forward.

There are five steps that you, as a parent or caregiver, can take to protect your children from sexual abuse:

Learn the facts about sexual abuse.
It is very likely that you know a child that is being or has been sexually abused. Know that it impacts everyone. (Learn more on the Signs of Abuse page.)

Minimize opportunity.
Limit the opportunities for your child to be in a situation where they are isolated, one-on-one or alone with someone else.

Talk about it!
Talking openly about our bodies, sex and boundaries may make it easier for your child to open up to you about their experiences.

Recognize the signs.
Keep in mind that the signs of abuse aren’t always obvious, so know what to look for.

React responsibly.
Don’t overreact. If your child sees you overreacting, he/she to shut down and change his/her story. Stay calm. Offer your child love and support. Report your discovery to your local law enforcement or CYS right away.

Learn more about age-appropriate sexual behavior at stopitnow.org.

Grooming is when a perpetrator fosters a relationship with a child and builds trust. Grooming makes it difficult to escape the abuse and keeps the child from telling, as he likes the person and feels loyal to him. It makes the child feel that it is his/her fault when abuse occurs. At times the perpetrator uses power and authority as a tool.

It is important to recognize when grooming may be occurring. Once children are groomed, they internalize the abuse as their own fault, making the possibility of them telling someone minimal.

Some signs of grooming to look for:

• Buying the child gifts or giving the child money
• Finding excuses for one-on-one time with the child
• Treating the child as more special than other children
• Viewing child when nude or exposing child to nudity/pornography
• Excessive appropriate touching or inappropriate touching
• Talking about sexual activity with the child

Abusers manipulate children into keeping the abuse a secret. Children feel helpless to disclose the abuse, due to the fact that the abuser has told them many reasons why the child shouldn’t tell. Some reasons why a child would not tell include:

• The abuser is a trusted friend/family member; the child thinks no one will believe him/her.
• The child feels ashamed or embarrassed.
• The abuser has threatened the child or the child’s family.
• The abuser blames the child; the child feels responsible and doesn’t want to get in trouble.
• The abuser bribes the child.
• The child likes his/her abuser and doesn’t want the abuser to get in trouble.

When sexually abused children disclose abuse, it is crucial for the important adults in their live to believe them, support them, and protect them. Everyone, including child victims, needs to have their reality confirmed.

Abused children need for protective adults to acknowledge that the abuse occurred; it is a problem; and it is wrong.