Answers When You Need Them Most
Clear answers. Compassionate guidance.
Whether you’re preparing for a visit to Child’s Place, supporting a child after a disclosure, or trying to understand what comes next, it’s normal to have questions. This page brings together the answers caregivers ask most often – not just about what happens, but why. Our hope is that understanding the process helps you feel more informed, supported, and confident as you care for the child in your life.
Preparing for Your Visit to Child’s Place
A little preparation can help everyone feel more comfortable.
A forensic interview is a one-on-one conversation between a child and a specially trained forensic interviewer. The interview takes place in a child-friendly setting designed to help children feel as comfortable as possible.
Rather than feeling like a series of questions, the interview feels more like a conversation. The interviewer follows the child’s pace, allowing the child to share information in their own words.
While the child is meeting with the interviewer, the professionals involved in the investigation observe the interview from another room. This allows everyone to hear the same information at the same time, helping reduce the need for the child to answer the same difficult questions multiple times.
Every child is different, and every interview is different. The interviewer adjusts the conversation based on the child’s age, developmental level, and individual needs.
Keep the conversation simple, honest, and reassuring.
Let the child know where they are going and why. You might say something like:
“We’re going to Child’s Place to meet with someone whose job is to talk with kids. They’ll want to talk with you about what happened, and while you’re meeting with them, I’ll be meeting with someone who will help answer my questions, too.”
Knowing what to expect can help children feel less anxious. Without an explanation, some children worry they’re going to a doctor’s appointment or aren’t sure why they’re there. Others may not realize it’s okay to talk about what happened.
If the child wants to talk before coming to Child’s Place, it’s okay to listen. You don’t need to stop the conversation, but try not to ask follow-up questions or encourage the child to repeat details. Let the child know you’re glad they told you, thank them for talking with you, and reassure them that they did the right thing.
The child should come with a caregiver or another trusted adult who can provide support during their time at Child’s Place. While the child is meeting with the forensic interviewer, caregivers remain at Child’s Place and meet with an Advocate, who can answer questions, provide support, and discuss available resources.
Some children come with one caregiver, while others are supported by two parents, a grandparent, another trusted adult, or another important person in their life. Every situation is different. We encourage those attending to be people who can support the child or caregiver throughout their time at Child’s Place.
If possible, we recommend arranging childcare for siblings who are not participating that day. This allows caregivers to focus on supporting the child and gives them uninterrupted time to meet with their advocate. If that’s not possible, please let us know. We’ll work with you to find the best solution.
If you’re unsure who should come, we’re happy to talk through your situation beforehand and help you decide what will best support the child during their time at Child’s Place.
Child’s Place is located at 302 E 3rd Street in Redwood Falls, directly across from the Law Enforcement Center and Redwood County Justice Center.
When you arrive, at the top of the steps you will see our private entrance on the left, marked with the Child’s Place logo. Ring the doorbell, and a member of our team will greet you and welcome you inside.
For directions, parking information, and details about finding our entrance, visit our Visiting Child’s Place page.
Every child’s needs are different, so there’s no set length for a visit to Child’s Place.
Your time with us will include meeting with an Advocate, helping the child become comfortable before the interview, the forensic interview itself, and discussing next steps before you leave. How long each part takes depends on the child’s age, developmental level, individual needs, and the circumstances of the referral.
Some children are ready to begin the interview right away, while others need more time before they’re ready. At Child’s Place, we don’t rush children through the process. We follow the child’s pace and allow the time they need to feel comfortable and talk in their own words.
During your orientation call, we’ll discuss what to expect during your time at Child’s Place and answer any questions you have. If you have scheduling concerns, let us know. We’ll do our best to work with you whenever possible.
No. All services provided by Child’s Place are offered at no cost to children, caregivers, or the agencies we serve.
As a nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Center, Child’s Place is made possible through grants, donations, community partnerships, and public support. Because of that support, children and caregivers can receive services without worrying about cost.
During & After Your Visit to Child’s Place
Understanding the process can help you support the child – and yourself.
No. The child meets one-on-one with the forensic interviewer during the interview.
While this can feel difficult, there are important reasons for it. Children often care deeply about the important adults in their lives. They may worry about hurting someone they care about or making them sad, which can make it harder to talk openly when that person is in the room. Meeting one-on-one with the interviewer gives children the space to talk openly, at their own pace, and in their own words.
While the child is in the interview, you’ll spend time with your Advocate. This is your opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, learn about available resources, and receive support. Caring for the child also means caring for the people who support them.
We understand why caregivers ask this question. When something may have happened to your child, it’s natural to want to understand what they experienced.
Caregivers are not able to watch the forensic interview live or receive a copy of the recording. Only professionals directly involved in the investigation observe the interview. This gives the child space to talk openly, in their own words, without worrying about how someone they care about might react to what they share.
It also helps reduce the need for the child to answer the same difficult questions multiple times. The interview can be observed by the professionals who need the information, rather than having the child repeat their experience separately to each person.
After the interview, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with members of the investigation team. They’ll share what they’re able to, answer questions, and help you understand what comes next. They may not be able to share every detail while an investigation is ongoing.
Because the forensic interview may become part of an investigation or court process, families are not provided with a copy of the recording. The recording becomes part of the investigative record and is handled according to applicable procedures.
There isn’t one path that every child or caregiver follows after a forensic interview. What happens next depends on the circumstances of the case.
Before you leave Child’s Place, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with members of the investigation team. They’ll share what they’re able to about the interview, explain the next steps in general terms, and answer any questions they can at that stage of the investigation.
It’s important to remember that the forensic interview is often just the beginning of the investigation process. There may be additional witnesses to interview, evidence to review, or other investigative steps that need to take place before decisions can be made. Because every case is different, it’s often too early to predict what will happen next or whether criminal charges will be filed.
Child abuse investigations often take longer than caregivers expect. Waiting for answers can be frustrating and emotionally exhausting. While we can’t speed up the investigation, your Advocate can help explain the process, answer questions when possible, communicate with the professionals involved, and help you understand where things stand throughout the case.
Many caregivers also wonder whether they or the child will have to testify in court. At this stage, it’s usually too early to know. If your case does move forward through the court system, your Child & Family Advocate will be there to help prepare you, answer questions, and support both you and the child throughout the process.
It’s also important to remember that the child’s healing doesn’t have to wait for the investigation to be complete. Counseling, advocacy, safety planning, school support, and other resources can begin long before a case reaches a conclusion.
Every situation is different, and so is the support we provide. Caring for the child also means caring for the people who support them. Our Advocate can continue connecting your family with resources, information, and support as you navigate what comes next.
Yes.
There is no single “right” way to feel. Learning that a child may have experienced abuse can bring many different emotions, and those feelings may change from one moment or day to the next.
You may experience shock, sadness, anger, guilt, helplessness, fear, confusion, numbness, denial, betrayal, or even moments of relief that someone finally knows what happened. You may feel several of these emotions at once, or your feelings may change from day to day or even hour to hour.
Many caregivers wonder if they should have known sooner or blame themselves for not recognizing signs of abuse. Others worry they’re not responding “the right way.”
Please know this:
Many different emotional responses are common in an incredibly difficult situation like this.
While your feelings are normal, you don’t have to carry them alone.
Our Advocate is here for you, too. We provide a safe, confidential space where you can ask questions, process what you’re experiencing, express your emotions without judgment, and receive guidance as you support your child through the days and weeks ahead.
Caring for the child also means caring for the people who support them. We believe caregivers deserve support, information, and compassion every step of the way.
Reporting Concerns
Not sure where to start? These answers can help.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
If you’re concerned about a child’s safety but aren’t sure what to do next, Child’s Place has resources to help you understand the signs of abuse, how to respond to a disclosure, and how to make a report.
Visit our Report Child Abuse page to learn more about reporting suspected abuse and finding the appropriate contacts for your area.
No. Forensic interviews are scheduled through law enforcement or child protection as part of an official investigation.
If you’re concerned about your child but haven’t yet spoken with law enforcement or child protection, visit our Report Child Abuse page for guidance on what to do next. If you’re unsure where to start, we’re happy to help connect you with the appropriate agency.
Support for Caregivers
Abuse affects more than the child. These answers are here to support the people who care for them, too.
Learning that a child told someone else before telling you can be heartbreaking. Many caregivers immediately wonder, “Why didn’t they tell me?” or “Did I do something wrong?”
Not necessarily.
Children don’t usually plan a disclosure. They don’t wait until they’ve found the “perfect” person to tell or carefully decide who they trust the most. Disclosure is often a process. Children may tell when, in that moment, they finally feel safe enough to use the words out loud.
The first person a child tells is often simply the person who happened to be there when they were ready.
Many children tell another trusted adult before telling a parent or primary caregiver. That might be a teacher, coach, grandparent, school counselor, friend’s parent, or another adult they feel safe with. This isn’t a sign that they love or trust their caregiver any less.
In fact, children often protect the people they love most. They may worry about making a caregiver sad, angry, worried, or overwhelmed. Some children are afraid of how the information will affect their family. Others want time to understand what happened themselves before telling the people closest to them.
Sometimes children tell one person first because they’re trying to understand what will happen next. They may be watching that person’s reaction to see if it’s safe to tell someone else or to share more about what happened. It’s not unusual for children to disclose a little at a time as they begin to feel safe.
There are many other reasons children may not tell right away. An abusive person may have threatened them or convinced them that no one would believe them. Children may feel ashamed, embarrassed, afraid of getting someone in trouble, worried they’ll be blamed, or unsure how to describe what happened. When the person who caused the harm is someone the child knows or cares about, those feelings can become even more complicated.
What matters most isn’t who heard the disclosure first. What matters most is that the child is now surrounded by safe, supportive adults who believe them, care for them, and are helping them move forward.
After concerns about abuse come to light, it’s natural for other people to have questions. Family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or even other parents may ask what happened or want updates about the investigation.
It’s okay to protect the child’s privacy.
You don’t have to answer every question or explain details that the child may not want shared. A simple response like, “We’re working through a difficult situation right now, and we’re respecting their privacy,” is often enough.
If siblings have questions, answer them honestly in an age-appropriate way without sharing details that don’t involve them. Children often need reassurance, but they don’t need information that belongs to someone else.
If you’re unsure how to respond to questions from family members, friends, schools, or others, your Child & Family Advocate can help you navigate those conversations.
As much as possible, children deserve privacy around their experience and a voice in who is told personal details. Respecting that privacy can help preserve a sense of choice during a time when many decisions may be happening around them.
Still Have Questions?
Every child and every situation is different. If you didn’t find the answer you were looking for, we’re here to help. Whether you’re preparing for a visit, concerned about a child, or simply unsure what comes next, you don’t have to navigate it alone.