A First-of-Its-Kind, Multi-Module Training Series
For professionals who may talk with children about abuse — outside official CAC forensic interview roles. Whether in mental health, healthcare, education, child welfare, law enforcement, or frontline work, gain the skills to respond safely without causing harm.
Learn the Why, When & How
Safe, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed interviewing skills — stay in your role and reduce risk.
Why does this training matter?
- Fills a national gap for non-CAC interviewers
- Promotes trauma-informed, child-centered, legally sound practice
- Led by national experts in forensic interviewing & child protection
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Module 1: The Why and the When?
Module 2: The Practice of How?
- Demonstrate Non-Invasive Interviewing Skills: Participants will learn techniques to establish rapport and conduct child-friendly, non-invasive conversations that encourage children to share concerns and basic information.
- Apply Open-Ended Questioning Techniques: Participants will learn how to utilize open-ended questions and narrative event practice to gather accurate, reliable information from children about their experiences.
- Understand Child Development and Memory: Participants will enhance their understanding of how children recall and communicate traumatic events.
- Support Investigations and Child Well-being: Professionals will be able to more effectively respond to children's statements in a manner that supports ongoing investigations, maintains trust, and prioritizes the child's emotional safety.
Module 3: The How and Beyond — Research-Informed Interviewing
Prerequisite: Module 1 must be completed prior to attending Module 3. Module 2 must be completed or registered for prior to attending Module 3.
- Define the time and place for these interviews. Attendees will demonstrate the ability to differentiate from a formal child forensic interview.
- Assess quality of interview questions: Attendees will be able to evaluate the quality of interview questions.
- Advanced questioning: Demonstrate knowledge of language and memory development to generating interview questions
- Advanced practice: Gain knowledge of challenges to talking with children and ways of reducing drift. Make a plan for avoiding draft.
| Packages | Prices | Date and Time | Location |
| Module 1 (16 Hours) – all dates required |
$449 non-member $300 member |
January 5, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET January 6, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET January 7, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET January 8, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET |
Live, Interactive Zoom |
| Module 2 (7 Hours In-Person) |
$349 non-member $300 member |
January 25, 2026 8:00 AM PT - 4:30 PM PT Or June 14, 2026 8:30 AM CT - 4:30 PM CT |
In-Person, Interactive: San Diego, CA –APSAC Pre-Conference to 41st Annual San Diego Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment or New Orleans, LA – APSAC 33rd Annual Colloquium |
| Module 3* (17 Hours) – all dates required |
$449 non-member $300 member |
February 2, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 5:30 PM ET February 3, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET February 4, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET February 5, 2026 12:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET |
Live, Interactive Zoom |
| Modules 1, 2 and 3* (40 hours Total) |
$1,199 non-member $900 member |
See Dates Above | Modules 1 + 3 Live, Interactive Zoom Module 2 in San Diego, CA or New Orleans, LA |
| Modules 4 and 5 | TBA: There will be future options to add Modules 4 and 5 specifically focused on advances issues on Forensic Mental Health Evaluations. Modules 1, 2, and 3 will be pre-requisites. | ||
*Pre-Requisites for Module 3: Must complete Module 1 and have completed or registered for Module 2 prior to attending Module 3.
More Information
Professionals in many settings have contact with children who may have witnessed or been a victim of violence. Children sometimes make statements that are as alarming as they are unclear, resulting in a professional feeling anxious about child safety and confusion about how to manage a mandated report. In some situations, professionals need clarity regarding a child’s statement and in other situations professionals need to get some information from a child before or after an investigation and child forensic interview.
This training will teach child serving professionals across disciplines how to talk with the child in a non-invasive manner that allows the child to provide basic information about the concerns and feel supported in the process. Specific emphasis will be on how to enhance rapport building throughout an interview, address the importance of including narrative event practice prior to talking about the issue of concern, and will teach specific interview techniques focusing on the use of open-ended questions from narrative event practice through basic questioning about the concerns.
Presenters will cover memory and cognitive development research and the values of these skills. Presenters will also provide an overview of the components of child maltreatment investigations and child forensic interviewing. Attendees will learn and practice new skills that may help them respond effectively to children who make statements that raise child maltreatment or family violence concerns. The goal of using these skills is to support the child, get helpful basic information, and enhance, not hinder an investigation.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Limited space available!
Continuing Education for Modules 1 and 3 pending.
Continuing Education credits for module 2 may be earned and can be added in person at the San Diego conference or by calling 858-966-4972. Additional fees apply.
Chadwick Center: sandiegoconference.org