StepWise 360: Effective Interviewing for Child Welfare

StepWise 360: Effective Interviewing for Child Welfare is a basic workshop that provides participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct sound investigations into reports of abuse by children and adolescents. The StepWise investigation is a four-stage process that was specifically developed to:

1. Maximize fact-finding and the collection of reliable memory evidence;

2. Minimize the negative impact of investigations on the individuals involved; and

3. Reduce biases that could place the integrity of the investigation at risk.

This workshop is suitable for any professional who conducts child abuse investigations, such as police, mental health specialists, social workers, child protection specialists, lawyers, and judges. Completion of a basic StepWise 360 workshop (or equivalent) is recommended, as this workshop builds upon basic forensic interviewing skills and concepts. The topics covered include:

• Relevant Canadian laws and other legal considerations

• Identifying and neutralizing biases

• Generating and testing hypotheses

• Types and sources of evidence

• Dynamics of child abuse, offending patterns, and impact on victims

• Types of disclosures, barriers to disclosing, and ways to overcome them

• Disclosure person and witness interviews

• The process of assessing credibility 

• Effectively documenting and communicating findings

• Working collaboratively in teams

• Critiquing investigations and receiving constructive feedback