Investigation of Child Fatalities Child Protective Services

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker

Credits: 6

Intended Audience: Child Protective Services workers who want to enhance their investigation skills of child fatalities

Intended Objectives:

• To read and evaluate a child fatality vignette, and form an investigative plan
• To articulate the intervention considerations in physical abuse and neglect cases
• To demonstrate an effective techniques in suspect interviewing in child fatality cases

Topics Include:

• Dealing with Emotions
• Dynamics Involving Surviving Sibs
• Coordinating Effective Cooperation with other Responsible Agencies
• Common Natural Causes of Sudden Death in Pediatric Age Group
• Profiles of Perpetrators
• Working with Families after the Death
• Fine Tuning Investigation and Interviewing Skills

Cal SWEC Competencies Addressed:

1.4 Student can develop relationships, obtain information, and communicate in a culturally sensitive way.

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.