National Children's Advocacy Center

Preparation and Adaptations for Interviewing Children with a Disability
2026-02-10 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Training
Children with a disability are at high risk for victimization. Forensic interviewers well trained in their discipline may lack confidence when speaking with a child with a disability as it is unrealistic to expect that an interviewer be well versed in the impact of the wide variety of disabilities on a child’s behavioral, cognitive, linguistic, and emotional functioning. This training will address pre-interview preparation, collaboration with investigative partners, interview adaptations, and the importance of critical thinking decisions through the forensic interview.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have developed some comfort and flexibility with the continuum of questioning strategies as well as the phases of a forensic interview.

Strategies for Interviewing a Reluctant Child Witness
2026-02-18 09:00 - 2026-02-19 16:00
Forensic interviewers encounter a variety of forms of reluctance in child witnesses. Forensic interviewers are challenged to adopt a single strategy as reluctance is often the result of a complex interaction of factors including external and internal influences. This training offers an opportunity to do a deep dive into possible sources of reluctance and provides a “toolbox” of strategies for providing support and tailored questioning approaches which may be helpful to a reluctant child witness.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have developed some comfort and flexibility with the continuum of questioning strategies as well as the phases of a forensic interview.

Testimony Preparation Using the Forensic Interview
2026-02-24 09:00 - 16:00
Receiving a subpoena for court testimony often sparks anxiety for forensic interviewers. Every action of the forensic interviewer may be reviewed under microscope for any errors resulting in a less than perfect interview. Given that there is no perfect interview, potential errors of omission and/or commission will be identified by the prosecution and the defense teams. At times, aspects of the forensic interview may be identified as “flawed” even if this identification is actually the mistake. This session will equip forensic interviewers with skills to review their forensic interview for strengths and challenges when preparing to testify in court. Students will learn methods for the provision of professional expert or fact-witness testimony.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers at any level who wish to increase their skills and confidence in the provision of court testimony.

Getting the Best Information from a Narrative Child Witness
2026-04-01 09:00 - 16:00
Forensic interviewers often focus much attention on strategies for interviewing reluctant children. Alternatively, there are also skills to be developed and generously applied when interviewing a highly narrative child. The use of invitations, breadth and depth questions, open and specific ‘wh-’ questions and limited use of option posing questions provides a framework for understanding and moving through a child’s narration of remembered event(s).
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers at any level who wish to increase their ability to obtain the most complete and accurate information from a child witness.

Interviewing Children Who Witnessed Violence
2026-04-21 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-06 09:00 - 16:00
Trauma can affect children mentally and physically, even when they haven’t been physically hurt themselves. The session focuses on conducting interviews that consider the child’s emotional state and working closely with investigators for a thorough and compassionate approach.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers at any level who wish to increase their ability to obtain the most complete and accurate information from a child witness.

Interviewing Children on the Autism Spectrum
2026-05-19 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-11-10 09:00 - 16:00
Children with neuro-divergent disorders such as ASD are at an increased risk of child maltreatment. This population presents challenges for forensic interviewers as there is great variability in functioning including unique memory and cognitive processes, linguistic style, understanding and expression of emotions, and forming connections with others. Many of these children can provide information about their experiences if the interviewer is able to adapt questioning approaches and the interview strategies to meet the needs of this child. Preparation and flexibility are key. While providing a review of possible domains of impact on functioning, this training will focus on tips for information gathering, preparation with the investigative partners to set reasonable expectations, and adaptations to questioning strategies and interview phases.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have developed some comfort and flexibility with the continuum of questioning strategies as well as the phases of a forensic interview.

Forensic Interviews of Preschool Child Witnesses
2026-06-23 - 2026-06-24
Forensic interviews of preschool children are challenging, calling for knowledge of early childhood developmental abilities and limitations, as well as strategies for developing rapport and maintaining engagement with a preschool witness. A nuanced ability to adapt questioning approaches and the interview protocol to the temperament and linguistic ability of each child is necessary. This training focuses on deepening understanding of preschool capabilities as well as strategies for obtaining information from the youngest witnesses.
This training is recommended for child forensic interviewers who have received no formal training on interviewing preschool children, as well as those who lack comfort in interviewing this population.

Interviewing Children with Problematic Sexual Behaviors
2026-07-28 09:00 - 16:00
Children exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors may be referred for a forensic interview. CAC forensic interviewers whose mission is to interview children about potential maltreatment they have experienced and not as offenders find themselves balancing their mandate with the goals of investigators and concerned parents. This training will provide information to help forensic interviewers distinguish normative from problematic sexual behavior in children, identify potential contributing factors to the behavior, dispel common misconceptions about these behaviors and children, and have a more robust and evidence-informed response to these cases. Interview adaptations and recommendations will be provided.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have developed some comfort and flexibility with the continuum of questioning strategies as well as the phases of a forensic interview.

Forensic Interviewing with High-Risk Youth: Identifying and Responding to Trafficking Concerns
2026-10-27 - 2026-10-28
Children identified as potential trafficking/exploitation victims present many challenges in the forensic interview. Challenges range from reluctance to disclose information to the disclosure of multiple victimizations by numerous offenders occurring in various locations. This training will equip interviewers with skills to effectively plan for and conduct the high-risk or trafficking interview.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have developed some comfort and flexibility with the continuum of questioning strategies as well as the phases of a forensic interview.
