abstract: Child advocacy centers provide a safe, child-friendly environment for the forensic interview and subsequent investigation of child victimization cases. However, very little research has examined the effects of burnout, secondary trauma, and organizational stressors on forensic interviewers. The goal of the present project was addressing the following research questions. Do forensic interviewers experience burnout and secondary trauma associated with their profession? How do organizational stressors mitigate or increase these effects among forensic interviewers? Data was collected by conducting an online survey of forensic interviewers working at child advocacy centers across the United States. Specifically, burnout was measured with the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, and secondary trauma was measured with the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). The current study utilized bivariate correlations, and OLS regression models to analyze the effects of burnout, secondary trauma, and organizational stressors on forensic interviewers. The results indicate burnout and secondary trauma among interviewers in the sample. Job support, funding constraints, and heavy caseloads all influence the outcome measures. Policy recommendations include continued education, training, and mental health services for forensic interviewers. Future researchers should conduct qualitative interviews and expand on variables within the current dataset such as note taking, peer evaluations, and forensic interviewing protocols in order to gain further insight into this population. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2019

ABSTRACT MATERNAL PERCEPTIONS AND RESPONSES TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE by Elizabeth U. Willingham Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a complex phenomenon that requires various levels of intervention to address the safety, recovery, and prevention needs of children and families who have experienced victimization. Although there is a large body of literature that has identified and examined many aspects of CSA (Putnam, 2003), less is known about nonoffending caregivers of sexually abused children. The one consistent finding across studies that have investigated CSA, nonoffending caregivers, and traumatic stress in children is the importance the of child-caregiver relationship in facilitating recovery (Elliot & Carnes, 2001; Scheeringa & Zeanah, 2001). CSA is stressful for both the child and the caregiver, and it affects the child-caregiver relationship. Studies are needed to determine the underlying factors and processes that contribute to nonoffending caregivers’ stress and coping responses, supportive and protective reactions, and intervention needs as they relate to supporting their children’s recovery and healing the family unit. This exploratory study examined the phenomenological experiences of mothers whose children had been sexually abused. In-depth exploration and systematic analysis of mothers’ perceptions about their children’s victimization, their reaction, and their distress using constructivist grounded theory methods (Charmaz & Corbin, 2005) provided a better understanding of the mothers’ collective experience and response. This study used theoretical sampling (Miles & Huberman, 1994) for participant selection. The researcher interviewed 14 mothers of children who had been sexually abused and had received services at a child advocacy center. Two key informants were also interviewed to obtain a detailed conceptualization of the theoretical and practical aspects of the programs and services at the child advocacy. The findings from this naturalistic, phenomenological inquiry revealed that the mothers experienced crisis and traumatic distress following their children’s disclosure. The findings also showed that even in the midst of traumatic distress and grief, the mothers did believe and protect their children. In addition, the results of this study highlight how maternal supportive responses are interdependent on numerous factors, especially their capacity to cope with past abuse, current distress, and their level of emotional and financial dependency on their child’s perpetrator.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.36-38).

Syftet var att utforska vad som är viktigt i ett krisstöd till barn efter ett barnförhör. Metodensom användes var semistrukturerade intervjuer med fyra krisstödjare ur kristeamet i en svenskkommun. Resultatet analyserades utifrån systemteori och salutogenes. Resultatet visade attden juridiska processen, som ska tillvarata barnens rättigheter, även bidrar till krisen, samt attdet är föräldrarna som behöver byggas upp för att kunna stötta sitt barn. Ett tredje resultat varatt krisstödjarna upplever att de gör stor nytta i den akuta krisen, men att den dörr som dåöppnas in till familjen ofta hinner stängas innan det sätts in fortsatta resurser som kan leda tillverklig förändring. Utifrån grundantagandet att barnen ska hamna i en bättre situation efteråtän de gjorde innan, diskuterades sedan om krisstödjarna kunde fullgöra denna uppgift medmetoden de använder. / The aim of this study was to explore what is considered important in a crisis supportintervention after child interrogation at a child advocacy center. The method used was semistructuredinterviews with four social workers in the crisis support team. The analysis wasbased on systems theory and salutogenesis. The result showed that the legal process,constructed to protect children’s rights, also contributes to the crisis. It showed that the parentsneed to be strengthened in order to support the child. The social workers feel that they help thefamilies in the first crisis, but a lack of resources prevent them from continuing the support,missing the chance to real change. We discusses how well the social workers could helpputting children in a better position than before, with the crisis support method.

Syftet med denna studien har varit att undersöka hur socialtjänstens stöd till barn efter polisförhör ser ut när föräldrar misstänks för att ha utsatt barnen för våld. Vi har undersökt socialkontor i Norrbottens län som inte är anslutna till ett Barnahus eller erbjuder strukturerat stöd till målgruppen. För att uppfylla studiens syfte har vi genomfört en enkätstudie riktad till chefer inom samtliga socialtjänster inom Norrbottens län och hållit kvalitativa intervjuer med sju socialsekreterare som i sitt arbete kommer i kontakt med barn som kan bli föremål för polisförhör. Studien visade att avsaknad av en strukturerad metod ger socialsekreterarna handlingsutrymme att bevilja stöd och gör detta utifrån individuella bedömningar av barnets behov. Stödet till barn i Norrbottens län ser därför olika ut beroende på vilken socialsekreterare barnet möter. Det framkommer att organisationerna har brustit i att ta fram rutiner som är ändamålsenliga för klientgruppen då flera informanter beskriver att de saknar rutiner att luta sig mot när det kommer till vissa aspekter av arbetet med barn i samband med polisförhör. Detta blir särskilt viktigt för de med liten eller ingen praktisk erfarenhet men även för de med mer erfarenhet för att minska risken för godtyckliga bedömningar. Samverkan mellan socialtjänst och polis beskrivs fungera bra i vissa kommuner men inte alls i andra. Tidigare forskning visar att en faktor som spelar in för bra samverkan är samlokalisering vilket flera av kommunerna saknar då polis inte finns belägen i den egna kommunen. Norrbottens län är ett av få län i Sverige som saknar Barnahus och det finns ingen motsvarande funktion som på ett strukturellt plan arbetar mot att barn i Norrbottens län får en barnanpassad process och adekvat krisstöd efter att ha tagits till polisförhör. / The aim for this study was to explore the support offered by the social services to children after a police interview in cases where a parent is suspected of violence against the child. We have examined social services in the county of Norrbotten that don't cooperate with a Child Advocacy Centre (Barnahus) or use structured methods. To fulfil the aim, we sent out a questionnaire to social services managers in all local authorities, and carried out qualitative interviews with seven case workers within child welfare services. The study shows that in absence of a structured method leaves room for the case workers to grant support based on individual assessments of children's needs done in each individual case. Due to this the support to children in the county of  Norrbotten tends to differ depending on which case worker the child meets. The study shows that authorities have not implemented routines that address the specific nature of working with these clients as case workers describe a lack of routines to lean on when it comes to certain issues while working with children after a police interview. It becomes more important to those with little or no experience from these kinds of cases but routines would also contribute to lower the risk of arbitrary assessment amongst those with more experience. Cooperation between social service and police cooperates well in some municipalities while some does not. Science shows that one factor that has an impact on cooperation is co-location which is lacking in several municipalities since there is no police located in the area. The County of Norrbotten is one of few Swedish counties that lacks a Child Advocacy Centre and there is no similar function that on a structured level contributes to a child friendly interrogation process and adekvat support after experiencing a police interview in the County of Norrbotten.

À la suite du dévoilement d’une agression sexuelle, l’examen médical est l’une des étapes importantes qui sont recommandées pour les enfants victimes, mais seulement certains d’entre eux le complètent. L’objectif de la présente étude est de vérifier si les enfants qui font l’examen anogénital à la suite du dévoilement d’agression sexuelle sont différents de ceux qui n’en font pas ainsi que de documenter les variables, notamment les caractéristiques de l’enfant, de la famille, de l’agresseur et de l’agression, qui pourraient prédire le fait de compléter cet examen. L’échantillon est composé de 211 enfants âgés de 6 à 13 ans recevant des services au Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent. Une régression logistique binaire révèle que l’absence d’emploi de la mère (RC = 6,15), être victime d’une agression sexuelle très sévère (RC = 6,02), être victime d’un agresseur adulte (RC = 3,43) et provenir d’une famille monoparentale (RC = 2,89) contribuent à prédire si l’examen anogénital est réalisé ou pas à la suite du dévoilement. Les résultats confirment que les enfants complètent l’examen surtout afin de trouver des éléments de preuves et que parmi ceux qui pourraient en bénéficier pour leur bien-être, plusieurs ne sont pas rencontrés. / Following the disclosure of sexual assault, the medical examination is one of the most important steps recommended for child victims, but only some of them undergo the examination. The objective of this study was to determine whether children who undergo an anogenital examination following a disclosure of sexual assault are different than those who do not, as well as to document the variables, particularly, the characteristics of the child, the family, the aggressor and the assault, that could predict whether or not an anogenital examination is conducted. The study group was composed of 211 children within between the ages of 6 to 13 years old receiving services at the Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent. A binary logistic regression reveals that when the mother is unemployed (RC = 6.15), being a victim of a very violent sexual assault (RC = 6.02), being a victim of an adult aggressor (RC = 3.43) and coming from a single-parent family (RC = 2.89) contribute to predicting if the anogenital exam is given or not following the disclosure. Results confirm that the primary goal of the anogenital examination is to find elements of proof and that many children who could benefit from this test for their wellbeing are not being examined.

À la suite du dévoilement d’une agression sexuelle, l’examen médical est l’une des étapes importantes qui sont recommandées pour les enfants victimes, mais seulement certains d’entre eux le complètent. L’objectif de la présente étude est de vérifier si les enfants qui font l’examen anogénital à la suite du dévoilement d’agression sexuelle sont différents de ceux qui n’en font pas ainsi que de documenter les variables, notamment les caractéristiques de l’enfant, de la famille, de l’agresseur et de l’agression, qui pourraient prédire le fait de compléter cet examen. L’échantillon est composé de 211 enfants âgés de 6 à 13 ans recevant des services au Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent. Une régression logistique binaire révèle que l’absence d’emploi de la mère (RC = 6,15), être victime d’une agression sexuelle très sévère (RC = 6,02), être victime d’un agresseur adulte (RC = 3,43) et provenir d’une famille monoparentale (RC = 2,89) contribuent à prédire si l’examen anogénital est réalisé ou pas à la suite du dévoilement. Les résultats confirment que les enfants complètent l’examen surtout afin de trouver des éléments de preuves et que parmi ceux qui pourraient en bénéficier pour leur bien-être, plusieurs ne sont pas rencontrés. / Following the disclosure of sexual assault, the medical examination is one of the most important steps recommended for child victims, but only some of them undergo the examination. The objective of this study was to determine whether children who undergo an anogenital examination following a disclosure of sexual assault are different than those who do not, as well as to document the variables, particularly, the characteristics of the child, the family, the aggressor and the assault, that could predict whether or not an anogenital examination is conducted. The study group was composed of 211 children within between the ages of 6 to 13 years old receiving services at the Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent. A binary logistic regression reveals that when the mother is unemployed (RC = 6.15), being a victim of a very violent sexual assault (RC = 6.02), being a victim of an adult aggressor (RC = 3.43) and coming from a single-parent family (RC = 2.89) contribute to predicting if the anogenital exam is given or not following the disclosure. Results confirm that the primary goal of the anogenital examination is to find elements of proof and that many children who could benefit from this test for their wellbeing are not being examined.

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