Interviewing children who have been sexually abused takes intensive training and patience by forensic interviewers to let a child pick his own words in describing the abuse. Many times it is difficult for children to explain exactly how they were abused or where they were touched because they don’t know the names of their body parts.
“We can be the voice for the children, but it has to be their words,” said Tim Beckham, an officer with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department.
Beckham and several other child advocacy team members met recently at Hope Unlimited to discuss a new SMART Board being used in suspected child abuse cases. A SMART Board works as a wall-mounted interactive computer screen.
Pictures of the human body are projected onto the white board, allowing child to point to where they were touched.
Evidence obtained during an interview is sent directly from the SMART Board to law enforcement officers and attorneys for prosecution of offenders, said Donita Garner, child advocacy coordinator for Hope Unlimited.
“I had one child who keep telling me someone was touching him in a private place but was unable to verbalize to me where he was touched until he saw pictures on the Smart Board,” said Jody Brillhart, SRS social worker.
Once an allegation is disclosed it is reported to law enforcement officers or to SRS. An investigation is initiated once the safety of the child is ensured. Children who are victims of abuse are taken to Hope Unlimited’s Child Advocacy Center for questioning. If the investigator is able to validate the allegation, an arrest is made and the case is sent to the county attorney for prosecution.
“Our SMART Board, which is used during the questioning of a child, helps to ease fears. All kids like technology, even under the most stressful conditions,” Garner said.
Occasionally an allegation of child abuse is false — but very seldom.
“I had a person of interest who was accused of molesting his child, but it turned out he simply didn’t know how to handle a small child and had touched him inappropriately. He was referred to SRS for child-care handling and the charges were dropped,” Beckham said.
“I wish we could say more accusations are innocent mistakes,” Brillhart said, “but they aren’t.”
LAST YEAR, Hope Unlimited’s Child Advocacy Center achieved associate member status with the National Children’s Alliance, which is a child advocacy organization that empowers communities to provide services to victims of child abuse. The center will be working towards accreditation status over the next three years.
“It is through our relationships with law enforcement, SRS, mental health professionals and prosecutors that we can continue to seek justice and healing for victims of child abuse and their families,” Garner said.
Hope Unlimited’s SMART Board includes a computer and projector. It was funded through the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act via Social and Rehabilitation Services under the efforts of Steve Anderson, social services administrator.
