Making the process less stressful and less traumatic for child victims of abuse
Putting the Child First from Day One
Before places like SungateKids existed, child victims who disclosed abuse were expected to navigate their way through a confusing system that required them to talk about what happened multiple times and forced them to relive their experience over and over — often re-traumatizing the child. What’s more, investigations were disjointed, with little communication between agencies.
Children’s advocacy centers, like SungateKids, were created to:
- Streamline investigations
- Enhance coordination and communication between agencies and victims
- Ensure that the best interests of the child victim were at the forefront of every step in the process
Our Investigative Interview Program is by far the most important tool available to investigators. Having on-site forensic interviewers means that agencies can rely on SungateKids to get the best information in a way that is least damaging to the child.
Forensic Interviewing
One key component to our Investigative Interview Program is our forensic interview process, which is focused on finding out the facts about what happened — and so much more.
The most important components of forensic interviewing are:
- Listening to children and really hearing them
- Ensuring that the response system is truly responsive, professional, trauma-informed, and victim-centered. To accomplish this, SungateKids’ expert forensic interviewers work together with law enforcement, child protective services, and the District Attorney’s Office using a multidisciplinary team model
- Making sure that victims and non-offending family members get the support and services they need
Victim Advocacy Services
SungateKids’ Family Support Coordinators (FSCs) are an invaluable resource and an integral part of the Investigative Interview Program. They work closely with the family during the interview process and long after its completion to ensure that children and families get the support and services they need by:
- Meeting families where they are
- Helping provide services and resources
- Knowing how to work with families in crisis and how to listen
Our Process and Difference
We’re Here for Everyone, No Matter What
Every detail at SungateKids has been planned to make our visitors feel more comfortable and safe, which allows our forensic interviewers a chance to get the best, most accurate interview possible. At SungateKids, we know that this experience can be an intimidating and scary one. That’s why we have:
- An appointment-only location that remains locked during all hours
- Comfortable waiting room filled with toys and books
- Non-threatening interview rooms
- Our service dog, XYZ who often comes by to help put everyone at ease during this difficult process
SungateKids serves all victims, without regard to:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Socioeconomic status
- Sexual orientation
- Language
- Physical ability
We do not charge for any of our services or programs and provide translators free of charge to all victims and/or family members who need them, including those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Our services are available on an emergency basis, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year.
Learn More About What to Expect
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