What to Expect at the CACIt might feel scary to come to the CAC with your child. Not knowing what will happen might be part of what makes it scary. Below you will find information about what happens before, during, and after your time at the CAC. We also have answers to questions we get a lot. We are here to answer your questions so please call if you have them!
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Setting up the appointment
We will call you to set up a time for you to come in. We will ask you if your child has special needs or if there are things we need to know about your child before you get here. We will make sure you have good directions to the center and are sure of where you are going. Our office is at the Thayer Center for Health at MaineGeneral. We can answer questions over the phone, too. When you get here You will be be greeted in the lobby of the Thayer Center for Health at MaineGeneral by volunteers. They are usually wearing blue jackets. They will bring you to our office. Then you will spend a few minutes with our Family Services Coordinator getting settled in the family room. Soon after you arrive, another staff member called a Forensic Interviewer will bring you into another room. Your child (or children) will stay in the family room with our staff. You will have a chance to meet the team that will work on your child's case. You can see where your child will be interviewed and ask any questions. Then you will go back into the family room. |
Click on the handbook to download it. The handbook is full of information that can help answer any questions you might have.
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The interview
Next, the Forensic Interviewer will invite your child into the interview room. Your child and the interviewer are in one room where there is a camera feeding the video into another room. The rest of the team is in the other room watching the interview. The interview is being recorded on a DVD.
You will meet with the Family Services Coordinator while your child is being interviewed. You can talk about your family's needs and our staff can make referrals you might want or need. Referrals can be for medical follow up, mental health services, or other services. You may not watch the interview but you will be told about anything that you need to know to keep your child safe. We may not be able to tell you everything your child says because sharing the information might be a risk to the investigation.
Meeting with the team
After the interview, the child is reunited with you in the family room. The team will meet for a few minutes and then invite you to meet with them. You will talk about what happens next and they can answer your questions. The team members will also give you their contact information. While this meeting is happening, the child is with the Family Services Coordinator doing child-friendly activities.
Next steps
You will leave the CAC with a packet of information and copies of any referrals we made for you. We will follow up with you in a week and again in a month. You can also follow up with our Client Support Services Manager for support during the rest of the case and beyond. She will call within a few days of the interview to see if you have any questions and ask if you want to set up a meeting to support you or your child.
Next, the Forensic Interviewer will invite your child into the interview room. Your child and the interviewer are in one room where there is a camera feeding the video into another room. The rest of the team is in the other room watching the interview. The interview is being recorded on a DVD.
You will meet with the Family Services Coordinator while your child is being interviewed. You can talk about your family's needs and our staff can make referrals you might want or need. Referrals can be for medical follow up, mental health services, or other services. You may not watch the interview but you will be told about anything that you need to know to keep your child safe. We may not be able to tell you everything your child says because sharing the information might be a risk to the investigation.
Meeting with the team
After the interview, the child is reunited with you in the family room. The team will meet for a few minutes and then invite you to meet with them. You will talk about what happens next and they can answer your questions. The team members will also give you their contact information. While this meeting is happening, the child is with the Family Services Coordinator doing child-friendly activities.
Next steps
You will leave the CAC with a packet of information and copies of any referrals we made for you. We will follow up with you in a week and again in a month. You can also follow up with our Client Support Services Manager for support during the rest of the case and beyond. She will call within a few days of the interview to see if you have any questions and ask if you want to set up a meeting to support you or your child.
Questions you might have
Will this be the last time my child has to talk to someone about what happened?
We do what we can to make sure your child doesn't have to talk about what happened more than they need to. Sometimes children have to be interviewed again at the CAC or in follow up interviews with DHHS or law enforcement.
Can the DVD be used instead of my child testifying in court?
No. The DVD is evidence. It does not take the place of your child’s testimony if your child is needed during a trial.
What happens to the DVD?
The DVD is evidence. It goes with the law enforcement and/or DHHS investigators. The evidence is held to the highest level of confidentiality (it will only be seen by people who need to see it). We do not keep a copy.
Will the person who abused my child see the video?
The DVD may be viewed by the alleged offender and their lawyer during the investigation. They will not get a copy of it.
Will the forensic interviewer introduce words or things to my child that they don’t know about?
No. The forensic interview is led by your child. The interviewer will only use words your child uses.
Can I sit with my child or see the interview?
No. It is our policy that family members cannot be in the room during the interview or see the interview.
Will I know what my child talked about in the interview?
Yes. Our team will share information with you to help you keep your child safe. They may not be able to share everything right after the interview because sharing might be a risk to the investigation.
What is the medical follow up exam?
The exam is child-friendly and sometimes part the investigation. The exams are done by child abuse evaluation experts at the Spurwink Child Abuse Program. The exam does not hurt and is an external exam only. The exam is very child-friendly. You can be in the room for the entire exam.
We do what we can to make sure your child doesn't have to talk about what happened more than they need to. Sometimes children have to be interviewed again at the CAC or in follow up interviews with DHHS or law enforcement.
Can the DVD be used instead of my child testifying in court?
No. The DVD is evidence. It does not take the place of your child’s testimony if your child is needed during a trial.
What happens to the DVD?
The DVD is evidence. It goes with the law enforcement and/or DHHS investigators. The evidence is held to the highest level of confidentiality (it will only be seen by people who need to see it). We do not keep a copy.
Will the person who abused my child see the video?
The DVD may be viewed by the alleged offender and their lawyer during the investigation. They will not get a copy of it.
Will the forensic interviewer introduce words or things to my child that they don’t know about?
No. The forensic interview is led by your child. The interviewer will only use words your child uses.
Can I sit with my child or see the interview?
No. It is our policy that family members cannot be in the room during the interview or see the interview.
Will I know what my child talked about in the interview?
Yes. Our team will share information with you to help you keep your child safe. They may not be able to share everything right after the interview because sharing might be a risk to the investigation.
What is the medical follow up exam?
The exam is child-friendly and sometimes part the investigation. The exams are done by child abuse evaluation experts at the Spurwink Child Abuse Program. The exam does not hurt and is an external exam only. The exam is very child-friendly. You can be in the room for the entire exam.
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The Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center is funded in part by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, United Way of Kennebec Valley, and your generous public and private donations.
In accordance with federal regulations, the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center does not discriminate in the access to or provision of its services. |
Helpline: 1-800-871-7741.
Administrative Office: 207-377-1010 P O Box 417 Winthrop, ME 04364 Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center serves Kennebec & Somerset Counties. 
SAC&SC is committed to providing support to anyone impacted by sexual violence, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, ability, or any other identity.
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