Forensic Interviewing of Children Training
2025-12-08 - 2025-12-11, 2026-02-02 09:00 - 2026-02-05 16:30, 2026-03-02 - 2026-03-05, 2026-04-13 - 2026-04-16, 2026-06-01 - 2026-06-04, 2026-07-13 - 2026-07-16, 2026-09-14 - 2026-09-17, 2026-11-16 - 2026-11-19 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Training
The National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) Forensic Interviewing of Children training is an internationally recognized, research-informed and practice-informed intensive training. Participants will learn necessary skills to conduct a competent investigative interview of a child using the NCAC Child Forensic Interview (CFI) Structure. Participants will also be introduced to the evidence-based literature that supports the NCAC CFI Structure. This 4-day, interactive training is facilitated by practicing forensic interviewers who are well-versed in the current literature. The training includes lectures, skill-building activities, guided discussions, reflections, and an interview practicum in a supportive environment with assessment and feedback provided by experienced interviewers.

Increasing Skill in Forensic Interviewing of Children
2026-01-13 09:00 - 2026-01-14 16:00 | Virtual Training
Expand your knowledge beyond the basics of forensic interviewing. This training deepens interviewers’ understanding of how and why effective questioning strategies work, along with delivering sensitive and targeted social support. Highly recommended as primary follow-up for interviewers seeking to update and enhance their skills.
This training is highly recommended as the first follow-up training for newer interviewers as well as those who wish to refresh and update their skills.

When Children Recant: Strategies for the Forensic Interviewer
2026-01-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Training
Recantation by a child or adolescent of child maltreatment allegations may occur for many reasons and can have significant implications for child protection, police investigation, and prosecution. Recantation may result from external pressure from an alleged offender or family or may develop from internal reasons such as protection of self or others. Child witnesses may recant their allegations before or during the initial forensic interview, following the interview and subsequent investigation, or leading up to judicial proceedings. Decisions about a possible re-interview of the child should be made by the investigative team and the forensic interviewer. This training provides guidance for the forensic interviewer in effectively addressing a recantation with their multidisciplinary team as well as in the preparation for and the process of conducting the forensic interview. Steps will be outlined for coordination with the multi-disciplinary team partners including preparation and planning for the interview, and critical thinking throughout the interview process.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers who have been trained in an evidence-based FI process and who routinely conduct forensic interviews.

Preparation and Adaptations for Interviewing Children with a Disability
2026-02-10 09:00 - 16:00 | 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 | Virtual Training
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 | Virtual Training
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.

42nd International Symposium on Child Abuse
2026-03-16 - 2026-03-19 | Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL, 35801, United States
The International Symposium on Child Abuse is a premier conference providing expert training and networking opportunities to professionals in the child maltreatment field. This conference is unique in addressing all aspects of child maltreatment, including but not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, poly-victimization, exploitation, intervention, trafficking, and prevention. Child abuse professionals also learn important techniques to manage the impact of vicarious trauma.

The fully in-person 42nd International Symposium on Child Abuse will offer more than 140 workshops and networking opportunities in Huntsville, Alabama: home of the first child advocacy center in the world.

Getting the Best Information from a Narrative Child Witness
2026-04-01 09:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Training
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 | Virtual Training
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.

Forensic Interviewing of Children Training
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-07, 2026-08-17 - 2026-08-20, 2026-10-19 - 2026-10-22 | National Children’s Advocacy Center Training Facility, 210 Pratt Avenue NE, Training Building, Huntsville, AL, 35801, United States

Interviewing Children on the Autism Spectrum
2026-05-19 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-11-10 09:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Training
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.

Critical Thinking in the Forensic Interview: moving from rote to responsive practice
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-17 | Virtual Training
Effective forensic interviewers must possess a broad repertoire of skills. Additionally, forensic interviewers should develop a critical thinking framework to accommodate the needs of the child and the investigative team, especially in highly complex cases. This training focuses on preparing interviewers to make thoughtful decisions throughout the entirety of the interview. Suggestions for engaging with investigative partners in the adaptations will be addressed.
This training is recommended for forensic interviewers wishing to improve their planning, thinking, and decision making processes throughout the forensic interview as well as working effectively with investigative partners.

Forensic Interviews of Preschool Child Witnesses
2026-06-23 - 2026-06-24 | Virtual Training
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 | Virtual Training
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.

Supervision of Child Forensic Interviewers
2026-08-11 - 2026-08-12 | Virtual Training
Forensic interviewing with children and adolescents demands more than training—it requires strategy. This advanced training equips supervisors with the tools to coach and elevate interviewers across four essential areas: question typology, protocol adherence, social support, and critical thinking. Practical guidance and adaptations will be provided for all experience levels—helping your team grow with confidence and consistency.
This training is open to those having previous and/or ongoing experience in conducting forensic interviews and are currently responsible for the skill development and support of other interviewers.

Increasing Skill in Forensic Interviewing of Children
2026-09-01 09:00 - 2026-09-02 16:00 | Virtual Training
Mastering the use of optimal questioning strategies and legally defensible social support requires additional training beyond an initial one-week class. This course deepens interviewers’ understanding of the why and how of effective questioning strategies and the provision of sensitive and targeted social support. Opportunities for practice are provided.
This training is highly recommended as the first follow-up training for newer interviewers as well as those who wish to refresh and update their skills.

Forensic Interviewing with High-Risk Youth: Identifying and Responding to Trafficking Concerns
2026-10-27 - 2026-10-28 | Virtual Training
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.

More Than One Interview: When, Why, and How
2026-11-03 | Virtual Training
Forensic interviewers and multi-disciplinary partners recognize the shortcomings of strict adherence to a “one and done” interview approach. Research provides some clarification of reasons why a child may need more than one interview and limited recommendations for implementation, leaving forensic interviewers and their investigative partners with little clarity about how to apply this information to day-to-day practice. This training will review supportive literature, introduce a decision-making process for selecting appropriate cases, and guidance for conducting follow-up forensic interviews. Recommendations for explaining and defending the multi-session approach is included.
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.

Introduction to Supervision for Child Forensic Interviewers
2026-12-01 09:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Training
This one-day course is an introduction to a supervision model for forensic interviewers beginning with a review of basic principles of supervision and offering strategies for developing an effective supervision process which can be tailored to the resources of the child advocacy center and community.
This training is recommended for experienced forensic interviewers and executive directors interested in introducing an effective supervision model for forensic interviewers. Chapter representatives interested in establishing a regional or statewide supervision program are also welcome.
