Training Overview
The National Children’s Advocacy Center is presenting four monthly 90-minute virtual sessions that will include a maximum of ten CAC directors on how they can build a successful forensic interview program at their CACs.
Executive directors of Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) are key champions of child forensic interviewers. Many are responsible for recruiting new interviewers, providing access to high-quality training and peer review and support, and supervision; and sustaining and retaining those interviewers at their centers. However, most CAC directors receive little to no training in forensic interviewing (i.e., general knowledge, protocols, research, resources, etc.), which impedes their ability to fully support the interviewers in their CAC. To meet the needs of CAC directors, especially those newer to their positions, the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) has developed a new training, Cultivating the Forensic Interview Program: Support for CAC Executive Directors.
Facilitated by Linda Cordisco Steele, this consultation group for executive directors will cover the fundamentals of an effective child forensic interviewing program at a CAC, the role of the interviewer, and how to identify the strengths and needs of participants’ current forensic interviewing programs. Upon completion of the program, executive directors will have developed an actionable plan to support their efforts to enhance the child forensic interviewing program at their respective CACs.
Training Format
This training will consist of four monthly 90-minute virtual sessions and will include a maximum of 10 CAC directors. The group’s smaller size will enable more interaction with and learning from other participants and the facilitator. These sessions will occur on the following Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT/11:00 a.m. PT:
- Thursday, July 25, 2024 | Topic: Discuss the current state of participants’ forensic interview program (what is going well, what areas need attention, and strategies for recruiting forensic interviewers.
- Thursday, August 15, 2024 | Topic: Training, mentoring, and in-going coaching of forensic interviewers
- Thursday, September 26, 2024 | Topic: Working effectively with multidisciplinary team (MDT) partners
- Thursday, October 17, 2024 | Topic: Retention of forensic interviewers
About the Trainer
Linda Cordisco Steele, MEd, LPC, is the Director of Forensic Interview Training and Services at the NCAC and a nationally recognized expert on forensic interviewing. Linda has been a forensic interviewer since 1993 and has worked at CACs in Alabama, New Mexico, and Kentucky. In addition to conducting forensic interviews at NCAC, Linda provides supervision and consultation on forensic interviews locally and nationally.
Register through NCAC
Qualifications and Application Process
Ideal candidates for this training will be CAC directors who:
- Administrative supervisors of child forensic interviewers but who have no direct knowledge or experience with conducting forensic interviews, or currently do not have a position dedicated to the supervision of forensic interviewers;
- Work in a small or rural CAC with minimal resources for forensic interviewers
- Have worked as the director at their CAC for five years or less.
Those selected to participate must commit to attending all four sessions and have access to Zoom including a webcam, microphone, and speakers. To apply, click this link and complete the application by June 21, 2024. There is no fee to attend. If accepted, you will be notified by July 12, 2024.