The Forensic Interview Research and Education (FIRE) Internship

Center for Hope, Baltimore’s Child Advocacy Center, is an affiliate of Lifebridge Health that provides comprehensive services to child victims of maltreatment and their families. As part of the experience at Center for Hope, the child will partake in a forensic interview. A Forensic Interview is a neutral and fact-finding conversation between a child and a specially trained Forensic Interviewer to explore allegations of maltreatment. Allegations may include but are not limited to physical or sexual abuse/assault, human trafficking, or witnessing of violent crime. The semi-scripted and flexible forensic interview must be legally defensible and formulated with specific question types to ensure that it is non-leading in nature.  

Additionally, Center for Hope offers medical evaluations, family advocacy services, and clinical mental health services. We work closely with other agencies including law enforcement, Department of Human Services, and the State’s Attorney’s Office.  

Center for Hope aims to intervene after a traumatic event with these comprehensive services in order to best serve the children affected by maltreatment, minimize re-traumatization, and mitigate the long-term effects of trauma. 

The Forensic Interview Research and Education (FIRE) Program at Center for Hope is conducting ongoing research on the efficacy of Tele-Forensic Interviewing (Interviewing via video) 

While Tele-Forensic Interviewing initially began in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, it has the potential to deliver high quality services to people without access to on-site services post-pandemic, ensuring equitable access to this service for children and their caregivers.  

FIRE interns will have the opportunity to participate in this exciting research by conducting scripted surveys following forensic interviews to gather data about the experiences of interviewees as it pertains to speaking through the computer, or face to face with a Forensic Interviewer. Special training will be given on how to conduct clinical research in a trauma-informed setting, how to work closely with the forensic interviewers, and how to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support best outcomes for everyone who comes through the doors of Center for Hope. 

Expectations 

  • Communication: In a trauma informed setting, clear communication helps us protect our own well-being so that we may continue to support one another. We know that students have a lot of responsibilities and ask that open communication be maintained any time an issue arises.  

  • Professionalism: A trauma informed workplace requires a high degree of sensitivity to evolving needs as well as professional demeanor, punctuality, and courtesy.  

  • Research: Attend weekly research meetings, assist in administration of surveys and resulting data entry according to best practices to support client confidentiality and research outcomes.  

  • Bilingual Spanish speakers is a plus but not required. It would allow us to better engage our Spanish speaking families in our study  

  • This opportunity is unpaid, but eligible for academic or course credit if approved by your educational institution. 

Duties 

  • Asist the research team by administering caregiver and child surveys with children of all ages, learn how to work in a trauma-informed field 

  • Conducting child, and caregiver research consent and assent  

  • Learning research data entry, quality control, and transcription  

  • Assist with coordinating projects, and capturing and communicating project information back to the Center for Hope 

  • Attend weekly research meetings, and help collaborate with the team to better our program 

  • Assist the FI team with forensic interview tasks including learning our client database system, and transcribing forensic interviews 

  • Other duties as assigned