Forensic Child Abuse Investigations

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker

Credits: 6

Intended Audience: New and current child welfare personnel seeking information on forensic interviewing skills and evidence gathering in investigating child abuse cases

Intended Objectives:

• Provide information and the skills needed to conduct interviews, gather evidence, and work with other professionals in child abuse investigations.

Topics Include:

• Investigating physical and sexual abuse cases
• Investigating child fatalities
• Penal laws pertaining to child abuse
• Interviewing children using forensic interviewing techniques
• Evidence collection
• Working in a multidisciplinary team

CalSWEC Competencies Addressed:

3.4 Student conducts effective casework interviews.

3.9 Student uses a variety of methods and strategies to interview and elicit information from children and adolescents that are age appropriate and consistent with social work values and ethics.

3.13 Student has knowledge of and understands how to work collaboratively with other disciplines that are routinely involved in child welfare cases.