What to Expect at Your Child’s Place Visit

If your child has been referred to Child’s Place, you may be feeling overwhelmed, worried, or unsure of what comes next. You may have questions you never expected to ask.

• Why didn’t my child tell me?
• What will happen during our visit?
• How do I prepare my child?
• What happens after today?

If you’re asking yourself these questions, you’re not alone.

Every day, we meet caregivers who are feeling many of the same emotions. Some are anxious. Some are angry. Some are heartbroken. Some even feel guilty for having those feelings while their child is going through something so difficult.

Those feelings are normal.

Our hope is that by understanding what to expect before you arrive, you’ll feel a little more prepared and a little less overwhelmed. While no family wants to need Child’s Place, when you do, we’re here to walk alongside you.

Before Your Appointment

A member of our team will contact you before your appointment to schedule your visit, answer your questions, and explain what the day will look like.

It is okay to tell your child why they are coming to Child’s Place. In fact, children often feel less anxious when they know what to expect.

If your child wants to talk about what happened before the appointment, you don’t need to stop the conversation. Listen, be supportive, and let them know there will also be someone at Child’s Place whose job is to listen.

If your child asks questions you don’t know how to answer, that’s okay. We’ll help guide you through those conversations when you arrive.

Preparing for your appointment? See parking, entrance information, and what your visit may look like →

When You Arrive

When you arrive at Child’s Place, you’ll be welcomed by a member of our team and shown into our family waiting area.

We’ll spend a few minutes introducing you to our space, explaining the process, and answering any initial questions you or your child may have.

Before the interview begins, we’ll show your child the interview room. We want children to know where they’ll be, who they’ll meet, and what to expect before the conversation starts.

Our goal is to help children feel comfortable and prepared – not surprised.

Once your child’s questions have been answered and they feel ready, our Advocate will introduce them to the Forensic Interviewer.

The Forensic Interview

Many people imagine the forensic interview room looks like an interrogation room from a crime show on tv. It’s not.  It is designed to be warm, welcoming, child-appropriate and looks similar to a living room. 

It’s not an interrogation.  It’s not answering a series of yes/no questions. It’s a conversation.

Before talking about difficult experiences, the forensic interviewer spends time getting to know your child. They may talk about school, pets, hobbies, favorite activities, or other everyday topics. This helps children become comfortable before moving into more difficult conversations.

The interview is child-led and follows research-based practices that allow children to share information in their own words and at their own pace. The forensic interviewer listens carefully, asks developmentally appropriate questions, and remains neutral throughout the conversation.

Toward the end of the interview, the conversation returns to neutral topics. Children don’t leave the room focused only on difficult experiences. Instead, the interviewer helps them transition back to the rest of their day.

Many caregivers worry that talking about difficult experiences will make things worse. Children respond to forensic interviews in different ways. Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive setting where each child can share what they are ready to share, at their own pace.

During the Interview

While your child is meeting with the forensic interviewer, you’ll meet privately with your Advocate.

This is your opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and talk openly about your family’s unique needs.

Every family is different.

Some caregivers want to better understand the investigative process. Others need help connecting with counseling, understanding victim rights, meeting immediate family needs, or navigating community resources.

This private conversation also gives you an opportunity to discuss concerns that may not be appropriate to have in front of your child.

Your advocate is here to support your family – not just today, but throughout your journey.

Before You Leave

After the interview is complete, members of the multidisciplinary team will discuss the next steps in the investigation.

Before you leave Child’s Place, we’ll answer any remaining questions and help you understand what to expect moving forward.

Whenever appropriate, we also encourage the investigating professionals to meet with you before you leave. This gives you the opportunity to receive updates directly, ask questions, and better understand what comes next.

If meeting together isn’t what’s best for your family’s situation that day, we’ll work with you to determine the most supportive approach.

Questions Caregivers Often Ask

Why didn’t my child tell me?

This is one of the most common questions we hear from caregivers.

Children often tell a trusted adult outside their family first – a teacher, school counselor, therapist, coach, another relative, or another safe adult.

That doesn’t mean they don’t love or trust you.

Sometimes children are trying to protect the people they love most. They worry about making you sad, upsetting you, or causing problems within the family.

Other times, they’re trying to understand how someone might respond before telling the people whose reactions matter most to them.

If your child told someone else first, please don’t assume you did something wrong.

Can I sit in the interview with my child?

We know it can feel difficult to let your child walk into the interview room without you.

Children are interviewed one-on-one so they can speak freely without worrying about protecting or disappointing someone they love.

Children sometimes leave out details—not because they don’t trust their caregivers, but because they worry about how those they love will feel after hearing them.

There’s another reason caregivers aren’t present.

Once you hear your child’s experiences in their own voice, you can’t unhear them. Reading a report or receiving an update later is very different from hearing your child’s exact words firsthand.

While your child is meeting with the forensic interviewer, you’ll have uninterrupted time with your Advocate to ask questions, receive support, and begin planning for what comes next.

What if my child doesn’t want to talk?

Every child is different.

Some children are ready to talk right away. Others need more time.

If your child isn’t ready to talk during the interview, it does not mean nothing happened. It does not mean they did anything wrong, and it doesn’t mean they will never be ready.

Talking about difficult experiences is often a process.

Some children begin sharing information during one interview and return later when they feel ready to continue. Others may become more comfortable after time has passed or after beginning therapy.

Our team works closely with investigative partners to determine what is best for each individual child.

How long will our visit take?

Every child is different.

Some conversations are shorter. Others take more time.

Rather than following a schedule, we follow your child’s pace. Our goal is never to rush a child through the process. We’ll keep you informed throughout your visit and make sure you understand what’s happening every step of the way.

Our Support Doesn’t End When Your Visit Does

Your visit to Child’s Place is often just one step in a much larger journey.

For some families, our support lasts a few weeks. For others, it continues for months or even years. There is no “right” timeline, and there is no deadline for asking for help.

As questions come up, circumstances change, or new needs arise, you are always welcome to reach back out to us.

Your Advocate can help with:

• Understanding the investigative process
• Referrals for counseling and mental health services
• Victim rights information
• Court support
• Connections to community resources
• Assistance with immediate family needs
• Ongoing advocacy as your family’s needs change

Whether you need support next week, next month, or next year, we’re here.