Forensic Interviewers’ Forum
Irish Burch
Julie Kenniston
This interactive forum will provide an opportunity for forensic interviewers to meet and discuss the most pressing emerging issues facing them and impacting their practice today.  Among the issues that will be discussed will be the certification of forensic interviewers.  Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to raise and discuss the issues that are important to them.

(A) Team Approach to Prosecuting and Investigating Child Sexual Abuse    (Part 1 & 2)
Irish Burch
Jeff Burge
Eren Price
This workshop will include an analysis of the difficulties faced by prosecutors, forensic interviewers, and law enforcement when handling child sexual abuse cases.  The presentation, from both the prosecution and law enforcement perspectives, will highlight both trial and investigative techniques to improve the likelihood of success in court.

They’re Just Not That Into You: How to Connect with and Interview Hard to Reach Children
Irish Burch
At times, it can be very challenging to connect with children that have been victims of abuse. They may exhibit signs of being guarded, withdrawn, or angry. This workshop will present participants with practical solutions for identifying the potential barriers they may face and tips on how to overcome them.

Conducting Peer Review With an Eye Toward Corroborating Evidence
Mike Johnson
Victor Vieth
This workshop will instruct MDTs to use the peer review process to evaluate how well the forensic interview did in asking questions that will elicit details or investigative leads that can be corroborated. Peer review can also serve as a teaching tool for investigators as to whether or not investigative leads from the forensic interview were appropriately followed up on. Students will watch portions of a forensic interview and participate in a critique of the interview based solely on the issue of eliciting and following up on information from the child that will lead to corroborating evidence.

When Faith Hurts: Overcoming Spirituality Based Blocks and Problems Before, During and After the Forensic Interview
Victor Vieth
Students will receive an overview of research documenting the impact of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, on a child’s sense of spirituality. Students will learn of the various blocks to disclosure this may cause. Students will receive concrete suggestions for addressing these blocks before, during and after a forensic interview.

When the Smoke Clears: Cross-Examining the Defense Expert’s Attack on a Forensic Interview
Victor Vieth
This workshop explores emerging attacks from defense “experts” called to critique a forensic interview. More importantly, this workshop offers concrete tips for prosecutors or child protection attorneys who must cross-examine these “experts.” The information will also assist forensic interviewers in responding to defense challenges to their interviews.

Presenting Evidence in the Investigative Victim Interview (Part 1 & 2)
Catherine Connell
This workshop will focus on presenting evidence in child/adolescent sexual exploitation investigative interviews. Nationally, law enforcement is seeing larger numbers of cases that involve victims of child exploitation where the evidence is discovered before a disclosure by the victim is made.  This presentation will explore developmentally appropriate techniques to introduce evidence to victims including recommendations on what type of evidence and how to present it, in the context of the forensic interview.

Escalating the Interview: Being Mindful of the Slippery Slope 
Julie Kenniston
This presentation will cover a variety of options for forensic interviewers when children do not narrate during attempted transitions to the topic of concern.  All techniques will be discussed in the context of child development and legal defensibility.

Lessons from the Battered: Issues in Interviewing Children about Domestic Violence
Julie Kenniston
Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) allegations can be difficult to handle due to the very nature of the offenses that occur.  Denial is often the response when child protection and/or law enforcement get involved.  Gathering credible data to make case decisions can be difficult.  Thus, it is important to understand the dynamics of IPV in order to maximize information from children and minimize the stress for the child.  This presentation will highlight some techniques that can be used in forensic interviews of children where IPV is the allegation.

Conducting Forensic Interviews in Child Sex Tourism Cases
Alexandra Levi
Child Sex Tourism is a form of child exploitation that has recently been gaining media attention and yet is not very well understood in forensic iterviewing circles.  ICE Forensic Interviewers are now becoming involved in these international cases and conducting forensic interviews both domestically and internationally.  This workshop will focus on providing attendees with a better understanding of Child Sex Tourism through: understanding the federal criminal code, how a forensic interview plays into the investigative process, and the challenges and consideration that must be met when conducting a forensic interview in a child sex tourism case, such as the location of the interview, the use of interpreters, understanding how other forms of child exploitation may play a role and working with foreign law enforcment.

Impression Management in the Courtroom
Daniel Armagh
This presentation provides the police officer, CPS worker, medical services personnel and others who testify on behalf of the prosecution and face cross-examination by defense attorneys, techniques and strategies for effective testimony. It explores why state witnesses make critical mistakes that adversely effect jury verdicts and provides effective solutions to avoid trapdoors and pitfalls set by the defense attorney. This discussion analyzes classic defenses in crimes against children cases, how they are investigated and presented at trial, and suggests solutions for over-looked areas of testimonial competencies for the prosecution. Finally, it explores how juries reach verdicts and how those decisions may be impacted by managing the Courtroom effectively.

Preparing For and Testifying In Court – Learning to Love Being a Witness
Stephanie Smith
This workshop will cover the up-front preparation necessary to effectively testify in child maltreatment cases.  The discussion will include suggestions for establishing your expertise to a jury and how to respond to cross-examination.  Although intended for those with limited courtroom testimony experience, or those who are still very nervous about presenting testimony in court, tips on documentation of the witness’ experience will be helpful for all involved in testifying in these cases.

(The) Mobile CAC: An Innovative Approach for Taking Services to Rural Communities
David Fyler
Kelly Robbins
This workshop will discuss the establishment and use of a mobile children’s advocacy center.  The presenters will explain how building upon the premise, the only services that benefit children and families are the services they can access; to ensure access, services must be available in ones own community, the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center (WKCAC) provides full CAC services to 29 counties in Western Kansas with just 5 staff members by using a 38 ft. motor home equipped with state of the art recording equipment, forensic interview room, observation room, child friendly waiting area, and rest room. The WKCAC has seen a 158% increase in children served since implementing the Mobile CAC.

Mock Trial of a Child Sexual Abuse Case
Rachel Clark
Reynie Tinajero
This workshop will discuss and present the complexities and practical aspects involved in a child sexual abuse jury trial.  Mock trial demonstrations will highlight the various witnesses and issues presented in a "typical" child abuse case.