Two upcoming training opportunities can help law enforcement officers enhance their ability to speak to and for abused children. The trainings, provided by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in coordination with the National Child Protection Training Center, also can benefit prosecutors, victim advocates, and social workers.
When Words Matter is the largest annual conference for forensic interviewers in the United States. It is designed to extend the concepts taught at five-day forensic interviewing courses. The conference is ideal for child protection professionals, forensic interviewers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, social workers, and medical or mental health professionals who work with maltreated children.
Dates: July 29–Aug. 1, 2013
Location: Hilton Columbus Downtown
Fees and Scholarships:
- $300 — Early Bird Registration (through June 30)
- $350 — Standard Registration (through July 26)
- $375 — Late Registration (after July 27)
Finding Words Ohio: Interviewing and Preparing Children for Court
This five-day course gives participants a chance to learn the necessary skills to conduct a competent investigative interview of a child abuse victim. The training includes lecture and discussion, review of videotaped interviews, skill-building exercises, and an interview practicum. It is appropriate for investigative teams of child protection professionals, forensic interviewers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and social workers.
Dates: Oct. 21–25, 2013
Location: Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus
Fee: $100
For more information: visit the
Ohio Attorney General's website. If you have additional questions, contact the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services, 614-644-8694, or at
VictimServiceProviderTrainings@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.