Estimated time to complete activity: 90 minutes
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of nurses, physicians, and other health and legal professionals involved in the treatment and care of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Statement of Need/Program Overview
Children are not little adults. In the context of a sexual abuse or sexual assault evaluation we are talking with children about sensitive and highly emotionally charged issues. We often ask children questions that would be difficult for many adults to answer. Understanding child development is critical to a successful interview, which is even more important in the presence of trauma. It is the responsibility of the interviewer to assess the child’s developmental status and then ask questions accordingly.
Educational Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
- Summarize the most common pitfalls encountered by professionals when questioning children.
- Identify developmental issues that require special attention when interviewing children when there are allegations of child sexual abuse.
- Outline specific techniques for how to collect and document information from children.
Faculty
Lisa Dupree, M.A., LCSW
Forensic Social Worker, Our Kids Center, Nashville TN
Faculty Bio
Lisa is a Forensic Social Worker with the Our Kids Center in Nashville TN. The Our Kids Center provides forensic medical evaluation of children when there are allegations of child sexual abuse. Lisa is the Director of Expansion at Our Kids and has successfully launched 4 satellite clinics in child advocacy centers in rural areas of Middle Tennessee. In her 21 years with Our Kids, Lisa has participated in the evaluation of over 8000 children. In addition to collecting a medical history from children who present for forensic medical evaluation, Lisa also provides extended assessments for more complex cases involving young children. Lisa is currently completing her Doctorate of Social Work in Clinical Practice and Leadership at the University of Tennessee.