Forensic Interviewers

Purpose of the Forensic Interview

 

             A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child that is designed to elicit accurate accounts of events.  The goals of the interview are to collect information that will either corroborate or refute allegations or suspicions of maltreatment, and to determine the identities and behaviors of all persons involved.  An interview may be conducted with a child when there are concerns that he/she has been a victim of physical or sexual abuse or when a child has been a witness to a violent or abusive act perpetrated on another victim.  The interviewer should adopt a hypothesis-testing approach and maintain objectivity throughout the conversation.

 

             The Morgan County Child Advocacy Center currently utilizes two trained forensic interviewers.  One of which is also a trained forensic evaluator.  All of the interviews are recorded, observed by a law enforcement investigator, and becomes evidence in the investigation.  Please call the intake worker (256) 340-5941, at the Department of Human Resources to set up an interview or to report abuse.

 

 

Kelly Gates

Email:             skgates3@yahoo.com

Phone:            256-654-4992

 

Kelly Gates grew up in Birmingham, AL and presently

resides in Priceville, AL.  In 1999, she earned a

Bachelors Degree in Psychology.  She worked at

Morgan County Department of Human Resources for

six years as a child abuse investigator.  Her work history also includes a year at the Morgan County Mental Health Center Children’s Program.  She has been trained through the National Children’s Advocacy Center as a Forensic Interviewer/Evaluator, allowing her to serve as a Graduate Counseling Intern at the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center.  She also interned at the Morgan County Mental Health Center in the Adult Day Treatment Program and graduated in July of 2007 with a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology.  Ms. Gates is currently conducting forensic interviews of children under the age of six who are referred to the CAC by law enforcement and DHR.  She also provides forensic or extended evaluations for children who are referred by DHR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POSITION NOW OPEN

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The Morgan County CAC is currently looking for a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker to employ as a forensic interviewer/ counselor to work with younger children.  Please call Teresa Young 256-355-1909 extension 10 if you are interested in applying for the position OR send resume to P.O. Box 2006, Decatur, AL 35602.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layla Niemann

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Layla contracts with the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center to provide forensic interviews of primarily older children and adolescents. Her background is child protective services and she has completed forensic interview training through the National Children’s Advocacy Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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