Interviewing Children and Preparing for Court
The course was designed by and for the front line child abuse professionals. Finding Words brings the world of academia into the street. Each student receives extensive homework assignments. The assignments force students to become well versed in pertinent literature regarding linguistics, child development, memory and suggestibility in children.
Each student watches numerous videotaped child sexual abuse interviews. Applying the knowledge gained from the homework and workshops, students analyze the interviews and discuss whether the interviewer made any errors and, if so, how to defend the interview in court. No videotaped interview of a child abuse victim is shown without the permission of the victim's parents or guardian. As a further safeguard of the victim's privacy each Finding Words student makes a written pledge to hold in confidence the child's experiences.
In addition to completing homework and attending workshops, "Finding Words" students are required to demonstrate their skills. Each student interviews a child about a non-abuse event, such as a trip to the zoo and then gets critiqued on the use of developmentally and linguistically appropriate questions.
In the last two days of the course, the 40 students are divided into four groups and given 10 fictitious reports of child sexual abuse. Working as a team, the students chart out a game plan for the interview. Where is the child likely functioning developmentally? What cultural or other barriers may the child have? What is the child's likely attention span? What information is essential to obtain?

Finding Words Georgia is a week long course that will be offered three times in 2004. Teams may apply for one of the following weeks:

Week One:

Course Dates: April 19-23, 2004

Application Deadline:

February 1, 2004

Week Two:

September 20-24, 2004

Application Deadline:

July 1, 2004

Week Three:

December 6-10, 2004

Application Deadline:

October 1, 2004

Location:
Each week long training will be held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia.
Coordinator:
Sandra Darby is the training coordinator for the Finding Words program for the Office of the Child Advocate. She will coordinate classes at the training center. Contact Sandra for more information.
Accommodations:
Accommodations will be provided at the training center based on double occupancy with team members.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided Monday through Friday in the GPSTC cafeteria.
Travel and evening meals will be the responsibility of the team members.

Thanks GPSTC for the use of your facility!

2003 by Office of the Child Advocate, Macon, GA, USA

Finding Words Georgia
Interviewing Children and Preparing for Court
Sponsored by: The Office of the Child Advocate The Department of Human Resources' Division of Family and Children Services Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia
Office of the Child Advocate 3330 Northside Drive, Suite 202
Macon, GA 31210-2575 Tel: 478-757-2661 Tel: 800-254-2064 Fax: 478-757-2666
Web: www.gachildadvocate.org

The Faculty

Greg McConnell, Esq: Mr.. McConnell is the Assistant District Attorney for the Eastern Judicial Circuit, Savannah, where he is the sole prosecutor assigned to the Child Abuse Prosecution Division. Past President/Board of Directors for the Coastal Children's Advocacy Center; recipient of the Community Service Award presented by the Savannah Bar Association for contributions in the area of child abuse education and community response; Chairperson for the Chatham County Child Fatality Review Subcommittee and member of the Chatham County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force.
Danielle Levy, PsyD: Dr. Levy is this Program Manager of the Georgia Center for Children, DeKalb County. She has been at the Georgia Center for Children since September 2000, providing clinical and forensic services to hundreds of children. As program manager, Dr. Levy supervises the clinical staff and students, provides clinical and forensic services to abused children and their families, and co-facilitates a multidisciplinary team meeting.
Curtis Holmes, PhD: Dr. Holmes has specialized in assessment and treatment of sexually abused children, their family members, and perpetrators for the past 14 years. He is currently serving on the Administrative Boards of both the Rainbow House and the Stepping Stone CAC of Dublin, GA Dr. Holmes is the Project Coordinator of UGA's Internet Resource for Forensic Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse Cases.
Patrice A. Harris, MD : Dr. Harris is the Senior Policy Fellow for the Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic at Emory University. She directs the Barton Clinic's legislative advocacy. She supervises students in the Clinic and guest lectures in the class "Child Advocacy: The Law, the Policy, and the Players." Dr. Harris is a child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist with a private practice that serves children and families who are in the child welfare system.

Chris Newlin, MS, LPC: Chris Newlin is the Executive Director of the Northwest Georgia Child Advocacy Center, Inc. in Rome, GA. He is responsible for the overall functioning of the center dedicated to the facilitation of an interdisciplinary team approach for child abuse investigations. Mr. Newlin also supervises the Floyd county CASA Program.
DeAlvah Hill Simms, Esq: Ms. Simms was appointed by Governor Barnes as Georgia's first Child Advocate for the Protection of Children in September of 2000. Prior to becoming the Child Advocate, Ms. Simms has prosecuted over 300 cases involving crimes against children. Ms. Simms also served as the Executive Director of Crescent House Children's Advocacy Center and was responsible for the coordination of the MDT.
Nancy Scott Moskaly, Esq: Ms. Moskaly has served as Assistant District Attorney since July 1995 specializing in Child Abuse Pros ecution since 1997. She has received training from CJCC in the area of Investigation/Prosecution of Child Deaths and Physical Abuse Training; National College of District Attorneys-Child Abuse and Exploitation. National Children's Advocacy Center-14th and 15th National Symposiums on Child Sexual Abuse, Career Prosecutor Course.
Vicki L. Boardman, MS, LCSW: Ms. Boardman is the Clinical Director of the Georgia Center for Children in Dekalb County. She has worked there for the past five years providing clin ical and forensic services to child trauma victims in medical-based and private, non-profit CAC's. She has interviewed, evaluated or treated hundreds of children. She has interviewed, evaluated or treated hundreds of children. Ms. Boardman coordinates trainings with multi-disciplinary team members in the community and co-facilitates weekly case reviews of child victims of sexual abuse in the DeKalb community.

Finding Words Georgia
Finding Words Georgia applictions may be downloaded from the website at: www. gachildadvocate.org
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code Telephone, fax and email address

Please indicate your affiliations below:

Law Enforcement Child Protective Services District Attorney's Office

Mental Health Medical Other ______________

Do you do multidisciplinary investigations of child abuse cases?

Yes

No

Please return to:
Sandra Darby Office of the Child Advocate 3330 Northside Drive, Suite 202
Macon, GA 31210-2575

APPLICATION TO ATTEND
Finding Words Georgia supports a multidisciplinary approach to the investigation of child abuse cases. The ideal team consists of a minimum of a prosecutor, law enforcement, and child protective services. Additional team members often include medical, mental health, and victim assistance professionals.
Any questions may be directed to the Office of the Child Advocate at 800-254-2064 or 478-757-2661. Finding Words Georgia Applications may be downloaded from the website at www. gachildadvocate.org.