Drug Facilitated Sexual Abuse

Drug Facilitated Sexual Abuse

Brief Overview: This webinar will discuss the use of drugs in sexual assault cases. Expert Presenter: Nancy is the Medical Director for the Center for Safe & Healthy Children at University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. Dr. Harper is Board Certified in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics. Dr. Harper graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1995, and completed her pediatric residency in 1998 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia. After graduation, Dr. Harper served as a staff pediatrician and Child Abuse Consultant for Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and US Naval Hospital Okinawa in Japan. In 2004, Dr. Harper resigned…

Often Normal, but Still Needed: The Medical Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse

Often Normal, but Still Needed: The Medical Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse

Brief Overview: Medical evaluations are an important part of a child sexual abuse investigation. Their importance is often mis-understood due to the typical absence of physical “evidence” from the exam or lab findings. This course will explain the role of the medical provider in cases of suspected sexual abuse as well as an overview of why many of the exams are “normal.” Examples of visual aids and literature resources will be provided that could be used by medical or non-medical professionals to clarify the expectation of physical findings in legal proceedings. Expert Presenters: Karen Farst, MD is a board certified…

Implementation of Measurement Based Care at CACs

Implementation of Measurement Based Care at CACs

Brief Overview: Working in a CAC, we know how effective and impactful our services are because we see it every day, but how do we communicate that to others without data? How do we know that some of the recommendations we give to clients are appropriate and specific? This presentation will give an overview of the benefits of using a team approach to utilize screening measures related to client symptoms starting at the forensic interview. Supports and implementation strategies will be shared. Expert Presenter: Dr. Amelia Siders, Ph.D., is the Director of Clinical Practice Development and Education for Children’s Advocacy…

Drug Exposed Children and Infants: Part 1 & 2

Drug Exposed Children and Infants: Part 1 & 2

Brief Overview: With the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in many states and the increase in prescription drug abuse, the issue of substance exposed newborns and drug endangered children continues to be in important topic for the many professionals that serve women of child-bearing age, pregnant women and young families. This presentation will provide an overview of the impacts of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure including the latest information about the impact of exposures to marijuana and prescription drugs. It will outline the effects of parental substance use/abuse on mothers, infants, children & families and outline a plan for…

Working with Teen Victims: Tips for the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases

Working with Teen Victims: Tips for the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases

Brief Overview: Cases of child abuse involving a teenage victim presents its own unique challenges for prosecution. Understanding adolescent brain development is important for forensic interviewers as well as investigators and prosecutors. Preparing the case requires not only thorough investigation but thoughtful communication with a teen victim to obtain the facts of the crime and provide essential information about the prosecutor’s role and judicial process. This approach will facilitate building a strong criminal case for prosecution. Expert Presenter: Beth Merachnik, JD, serves as the Deputy Director of the Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s (APA) Child Abuse Prosecution Project. She is the…

Elicit and Identify Protective Factors in Domestic Violence Cases Within the Forensic Interview

Elicit and Identify Protective Factors in Domestic Violence Cases Within the Forensic Interview

Brief Overview: This session’s goal is to bridge work of the Duluth Model Coordinated Community Response (CCR) in conjunction with the Child Advocacy Center model. Domestic violence and child abuse maltreatment co-occurrence is exceptionally high in child abuse investigations. These cases are further challenging due to intentional or unintentional contamination of memories ensuring secrecy by a batterer. Multi-disciplinary team members and systems partners may not recognize protective factors utilized by survivors and/or the non-offending caregiver. This session will incorporate research on protective measures and the experiences of domestic violence survivors from focus groups conducted in Duluth, MN. The session will…