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Talking to your Child
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Harbor House provides a child-friendly environment where the child can be
interviewed regarding allegations of sexual or physical abuse.
The Interviewing Process:
A majority of cases follow the following format. Some
cases may slightly vary:
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A team of investigators will speak with the
non-offending caregiver(s)
before interviewing the child. During this process, investigators
explain the process of talking with your child, gather background
information, and answer any questions you may have. |
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While investigators are speaking with you, other Harbor House staff
and/or trained volunteers play with the children in the waiting
room.
(Click the image for more details.) |
After speaking with the child's caregivers, the child is
interviewed by a professional trained in forensic interviewing techniques
with children. The technique is designed to help make the child feel
as comfortable as possible. In other words, your child will not be
'forced' to talk about anything he/she does not want to.
(Click the image for more details.) |
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After the interview, the child plays in the waiting room
while investigators talk with caregiver(s) regarding the outcome of the
child's interview. Most interviews take place at a very early stage
in the investigation. Therefore, it will likely be difficult for the
investigators to tell you exactly what will happen. However,
the investigators will have a better idea of the 'next steps' and will
answer any questions you may have. They may also recommend
additional resources that are available to you and your child. The
investigators and/or Harbor House staff will keep you updated on your
situation (and are available to answer questions) throughout the entire
process. |
All photographs depict the actual
facility. However, persons depicted as victims are actors.
The entire process is always conducted in a
way that minimizes the amount of trauma felt by the child and his/her family.
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