OUR
VISION
A world where every child is free from abuse.
ABOUT US
Finding Words/ChildFirst® New Jersey trains forensic interviewers in Finding Words/ChildFirst®, a child forensic interview protocol recognized and approved by National Children's Alliance (NCA), which was adopted by the State of New Jersey as the interviewing protocol of choice for all its forensic interviewers. It is designed for investigative teams of law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, child protection attorneys and child forensic interviewers. Students receive training on the Finding Words/ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol, child development, memory and suggestibility, testifying in court, legal issues, and preparing children for court. This training incorporates lecture and discussion, review of electronically recorded interviews, skill-building exercises, and an interview practicum.
Finding Words/ChildFirst® New Jersey utilizes faculty with expertise in conducting forensic interviews and facilitating peer review. Peer review meetings include didactic information, small group sessions in which forensic interviews are reviewed and positive recognition and constructive feedback are provided, and larger group sessions where participants and faculty share additional information.
Training is funded by the Children's Justice Act (CJA) through the New Jersey Task Force of Child Abuse and Neglect. All sessions are free of charge to each discipline.
OUR
MISSION
To protect children from abuse and sexual assault, by engaging people and resources through a trauma-informed approach of education, research, advocacy, and hands on training.
OUR
SERVICES
FORENSIC INTERVIEW TRAINING
Finding Words/ChildFirst® New Jersey is an intensive five-day training course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct a competent investigative interview of a child abuse victim using the ChildFirst forensic interview process.
EXPANDED FORENSIC INTERVIEW TRAINING
Established upon current research, a single comprehensive forensic interview does not meet the needs for all children. This expanded forensic interview training addresses the needs and best interests of the child victim. Based on the nationally recognized ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol, this training provides a defensible process for conducting interviews with children who may not disclose in a traditional single session forensic interview due to trauma, development, special needs, other complicating issues including polyvictimization.
PEER REVIEW
Peer Review is a training opportunity to make interviews adhere to best practice standards that remain forensically defensible. Peer Review sessions maintain interviewer consistency and fidelity to the protocol and minimize interviewer drift.
CONSULTATION
Finding Words/ChildFirst® New Jersey provides case consultation services that allow for individual prosecutor's offices or child protective service offices to present cases for review by the appropriate content experts. This forum allows structured feedback to child forensic interviewers and investigators for opportunities to discuss case challenges.
CONTACT
FINDING WORDS
Finding Words New Jersey / Child First
136 Central Ave, Suite 203
Clark, NJ 07066
A Division of the New Jersey Children's Alliance
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