Kids’ FIRST Forensic Intervention Response & Support Team Tina J. Morgan Director Kids’ FIRST

Mission The mission of Kids’ FIRST is to help lessen the trauma experienced by children who have alleged physical or sexual abuse or witnessed domestic violence and are involved in the investigation and judicial processes. Kids’ FIRST strives to make sure the child’s well-being is the top priority.

The nation’s first children’s advocacy center was created in Huntsville, Alabama in 1985 in an effort to change the way cases involving child abuse victims were handled by investigators and the court system. The program was the first of its kind to provide comprehensive support and services for abused children in a child-friendly environment. Kids’ FIRST Kids’ FIRST was established as the Child Advocacy Center in 1994, a private non-profit working in partnership with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office. The Center is a charter member of the National Children’s Alliance and among the first 100 centers in the nation. Over 8,000 children in Lane County have been seen at Kids’ FIRST since 1994, nearly 700 of those in History

 Lane County Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Intervention Team (MDT)  Forensic Video Interviewing  Medical/Colposcope Exams  Grand Jury Hearings  Victim Assistance  Parent/Guardian Educational Support Group  Domestic Violence Witness Project Services

 Specially-trained interviewers  Two age-appropriate interview rooms  Conversational interview between interviewer and child only  Limited access to recorded interview: DVDs of interviews are generally provided to law enforcement only – the defendant receives a copy through discovery once he is charged  DVD-recorded format to limit the number of times a child victim must talk about his or her experience The recording does not eliminate the need for a child to testify in court!  Video control room allows law enforcement and DHS to monitor interview progress without interrupting  No secrets – children know they are being recorded and watched from the control room Forensic Video Interviews

When a child discloses sexual abuse including penetration, a colposcope exam is recommended to:  Document any physical evidence  Screen for sexually-transmitted diseases  Check overall health and well-being of the child  Document additional disclosures to medical personnel (medical hearsay)  Establish a baseline for use against subsequent offenders Medical/Colposcope Exams

 Kids’ FIRST houses Lane County’s specially- convened grand jury for child abuse cases (Panel C)  The Panel C grand jury is on call to Kids’ FIRST to hear all child victim and potentially child witness cases  The grand jury consists of a 7-member panel of citizens who review evidence presented by district attorneys to determine whether or not a defendant should be indicted (true bill or not true) Grand Jury Hearings

Volunteer victim advocates provide support and guidance to child victims and their non-offending family members throughout the investigative and judicial processes. Services include:  Explanation of each step of the process  Access to counseling referrals for children as well as Crime Victim’s Compensation and other resources for parents  Criminal justice support  Notice of victims’ rights and how to assert them  Transportation to interviews, medical exams and grand jury  Witness preparation  Court accompaniment  Crisis intervention Victim Assistance

Kids’ FIRST has a free 12-week educational support group for parents of children who have been sexually abused. Center advocates provide childcare at no charge while parents attend group meetings. Topics addressed include:  Grief, loss and self care  Legal system  Reality of child sexual abuse  Non-offending caregiver’s experience  Anger and forgiveness  Victims and survivors Parent/Guardian Education Group  Family systems  Adult and juvenile offenders

The Domestic Violence Witness Project began in 1999 as a 60-day pilot project created in response to changes in Oregon laws and practice that upgraded domestic violence from a misdemeanor to a felony if witnessed by a child. The Project was so successful that it is now a permanent component of services at Kids’ FIRST and includes:  DVD-recorded interviews of child witnesses to domestic violence, Monday-Friday, 1:30 p.m. (or as scheduled)  Crisis intervention  Information and referral resources  Criminal justice support and advocacy  Assistance with Crime Victim’s Compensation  Safety-planning assistance, restraining order advocacy Domestic Violence Witness Project

Functions:  Law enforcement agencies (EPD/SPD/LCSO/OSP)  Kids’ FIRST  Department of Human Services Child Welfare Program  Standardize child abuse investigations  Case review Members:  District Attorney’s Office  Public Health  Department of Youth Services  Womenspace Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Intervention Team (MDT)  Parole and Probation  Lane County Mental Health  Local hospitals and schools  Victim Services Program  EC Cares

Statistics Kids’ FIRST Statistics

 Child Fatality Review Team  Professional Training  Public Education Reviews all traumatic child deaths in Lane County, determines preventability and makes recommendations to the state. Center staff provide general and specific training regarding interviews, medical examination, victim services, MDT issues and other legal information to police, social services, mental health providers, medical providers and school personnel. Center staff provide prevention education to the general public, service clubs, university and community college audiences, and other interested groups. Other Services

Paid Staff Positions  Director – Tina Morgan  Interviewer (contract) – Ray Broderick  DV Witness Coordinator/Case Manager – Nell Brown  Administrative Aide – Anne Ziller Volunteer Positions  Victim Advocate  Childcare Volunteer Kids’ FIRST Staff  Office Assistant – Eileen Morin  Volunteer/PESG Coordinator – Erica Shawan

Kids’ FIRST is not funded by county taxpayer dollars. We are funded solely through:  CAMI: Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Intervention dollars, derived from offender fines collected within the county and distributed by the State of Oregon Department of Justice  Grants: Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) and Nat’l Children’s Alliance  Fundraising Activities and Local Private Dollars: Center supporters include the Active 20/30 Club, Emerald Valley Quilter’s Association, Kiwanis, The Great Rotary Duck Race, Springfield Lion’s Club, and numerous private donors  Volunteers: Help alleviate the need for paid staff Funding Kids’ FIRST receives no state or local government dollars!

 National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA)  National Children’s Alliance  Oregon Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers (State Network)  American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC)  Crime Victim Assistance Network (CVAN) Affiliations

Kids’ FIRST 2675 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Eugene, OR (541) (541) (fax) Tina J. Morgan, Director Contact