Lead Interviews with Sensitivity, Safety, and Developmentally Appropriate Expectations
As a Title IX professional, one of the most challenging tasks is interviewing minors involved in investigations as parties or witnesses. Communicating with children appropriately, while considering their linguistic and developmental abilities, is crucial. Additionally, minors may find it challenging to express themselves, especially to an unfamiliar adult. Parents and guardians often insist on being there, and certain states require their permission to interview a minor.
To help overcome these challenges, this seminar will provide participants with the best practices and tools to create safe and trauma-informed environments for interviewing minors. It will include techniques for discussing sensitive or graphic behaviors, selecting an appropriate setting, and the role of advisors, parents, and guardians. ATIXA faculty members will also share suggestions for interview question wording and how to give clear instructions before starting an interview. Participants will listen to and analyze recorded interviews and discuss their feedback with the group.
Topics Covered
- Interview Planning: 5Ws and 1H
- Forensic Interview Model: Rapport-Building Phase, Substantive Phase, and Closure Phase
- Interview Techniques and Tools: Truthfulness, Age-Appropriateness, Aids
- Investigation Challenges and Pitfalls: Reluctance, Language, Ability, Bias
- Techniques for Prompting Recall Accurately
- Interview Critiques: Recorded Interview Samples and Discussion
Key Takeaway
Create a safe and age-appropriate interviewing environment where children can comfortably share their experiences during the investigation.
After completing this seminar, participants will be able to:
- Develop age-appropriate interview questions for minors
- Understand the role of a parent/guardian during the interview process
- Describe the three phases of a forensic interview and what takes place during each phase
- Explain considerations for determining who conducts an interview with a minor
- Provide clear instructions to a minor prior to beginning an investigation interview
Who Should Attend?
- Title IX Coordinators
- Deputy Title IX Coordinators
- Title IX or Civil Rights Investigators
- Decision-makers
- Appeal Decision-makers
- Informal Resolution Facilitators
- Intake/Case Coordinators
- Human Resources Professionals
- Student Conduct Professionals
- Legal Counsel
- Compliance and Risk Management Professionals (Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA/Section 504, AA, EEO, Clery)
- Student Affairs Administrators
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professionals
- Law Enforcement/Campus Safety/School Resource Officers
- School Board Members
- Superintendents, Principals, & Assistant Principals
This seminar is tailored to be applicable for Higher Education Institutions, K-12 Schools and Districts, as well as Dual Enrollment programs.
Please note, Seminars do not offer certifications but they do receive digital badges. Attendees will earn 2 re-certifying credits toward any currently held Certifications. Please click here to view our Continuing Certification Credits (CCC) FAQs.