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Grantees report expanded forensic-interview training, community events and new equipment
Summary
Clark County, Washoe County and community partners reported increased in-person forensic interview training (29 participants in one session), community outreach events, and acquisition of professional injury-photography equipment to support assessments.
Several grantees updated the task force on training, equipment and outreach funded or supported in part by CJA-related activity.
Cheryl Cooley, speaking for Clark County Family Services, described resumed in-person forensic interview training and a marked increase in attendance: "We've now had a succession of in person forensic interview training, and our attendance has more than doubled. We had 29 participants in our February class." Cooley outlined the week-long format of the training, which includes observation, practice interviews with children brought in for training, facilitator feedback and courtroom panels with civil and SVU DAs to provide practical testimony guidance. She invited members to upcoming prevention-month events and noted the program’s community engagement activities.
Chris Goodman reported for No To Abuse on a recent community pinwheel event that drew several hundred attendees and included family activities, free food and county-agency participation.
Amber Hurtado, speaking by proxy for Denise Tyre and identifying herself as a supervisor at Washoe County’s Child Advocacy Center, said Washoe delivered multiple site-interview trainings (one funded by CJA and additional deliveries supported with state funds), sent staff to national forensic-interviewer training in Huntsville, Alabama, provided clinical CSEC training to strengthen clinical responses, and acquired professional injury-photography equipment to assist injury assessments by a nurse practitioner at the CAC.
Why it matters: The updates show investment in hands-on training and cross-agency collaboration intended to improve the quality of investigations and clinical evaluations for child-abuse cases across the state.
Next steps: Grantees will share training feedback and post-event summaries with staff; task-force members asked staff to gather and circulate participant survey results and to track grantee reporting at future meetings.
