NCJ Number
194806
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 38-40
Date Published
April 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview of the First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center in Duluth, Minnesota established in 1993 to investigate, assess, and educate using a multidisciplinary team approach to strengthen the community’s response to child abuse.
Abstract
As a charter member of the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), the First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center was established in 1993 in Duluth, Minnesota offering a non-threatening environment where victims of child abuse could be interviewed, as well as the coordination of necessary services for the victim such as medical exams. In addition, First Witness offers investigative interview training where interviewers are trained to conduct a child friendly, non-traumatic investigative interview of children who are alleged victims of abuse. Training provides the conceptual framework of its protocol and the process and practice for effectively using a multidisciplinary team approach. Team members are utilized during training from agencies such as law enforcement, prosecution, child protection, and First Witness staff.