This place is a joke. My child was sexually molested and when they did the interview they got nothing out of him. My son is 7 and special needs. At the time, I was not aware of there being a 1980 United Nations Law they are to abide by when they are interviewing/forensics someone who has disabilities or are special needs. So i made sure i let them knkwmy child was, but didn't know the guidelines for that. It had taken my son over a year to tell me what had been going on the entire time. Yet this place expected him to just open right up and spill the beans to them, in a room, no windows, with officials; like it shouldn't be a problem. Then when I asked if they could do a second one, or me atleast be by the door, or let him take a teddy bear, they boasted about how they've been doing this for 6 years and not once have they EVER had a child not open up and talk so they only do the interview that one time. 1 hour in a closed room, just sitting, talking and expecting "hey, so what happened was...." It doesn't work that way for disabilities people have. They're supposed to get background information to understand the child first. i.e. Their IEP, paperwork from doctors, talking to family about their personality etc. Then they adjust the settings and allow drawing, dolls, pictures, change of the style of words or questions use etc- whatever will help that specific child open up. And if they need multiple interviews, scheduel them, do them. They said they'd schedule another one for me if the supervisor would approve it. It's now been 3 weeks and I have not heard from them. No response to any of my calls or emaisl. They also never interviewed his little brother, I guess only because nothing physical happened to him, and him just hearing everything through the bedroom wall wasn't enough reason to ask him about what he heard. This place carried on with their investigation going by what my son jad told them in a normal interview. Which was nothing. . UPDATE:: it has now been 7 months. The case has been dismissed, charges dropped because of the lack of evidence. !? Ill say it again. They never called and set up another interview or one for the other child. Nor did they respond to my emails. They completey ghosted my boys and I and didn't fulfill what they brag about providing- at all. They also blocked me on social media. The worst part of it all that isn't fair- my son could have opened up and told any mandated reporter the whole story, including DCS and it would be invalid, not usable in court. It has to be told to THIS company, in that specific room for it to mean anything in an open case.
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Child Abuse Prevention, Crime & Law, Domestic Violence
Mission: To protect and support children through a coordinated response to maltreatment that includes intervention, assessment, and prevention.
Programs: A total of approximately 1,200 child victims of sexual assault, physical abuse, and witness to violence received forensic interview and healing services in fiscal year 2015-16. Approximately 7,500 children received prevention training learning how to recognize, resist, and report alleged events of abuse. All child victims in southern arizona are eligible to receive the forensic interview and healing services at no charge to them or their families.