ANDERSON — When a child must testify in court concerning abuse or neglect, the experience can often be traumatic.
The goal of the local Kids Talk program is to alleviate that stress.
Typically, following reports of abuse or neglect, a child is interviewed by police officers, Indiana Department of Child Services caseworkers, and attorneys representing the prosecution and defense. Eventually they may have to testify during a court hearing.
Madison County has one of the highest rates of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect per capita in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Child Services.
For the past year, through a collaboration between Aspire Indiana, the Indiana Department of Child Services, local police agencies and the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, some of the trauma for youngsters has been mitigated.
The mission for Kids Talk is to provide a child-friendly location and comforting environment where children can report sexual or physical abuse, neglect or discuss a violent incident.
In the first year of operation more than 300 children were interviewed through the Kids Talk program and since Aug. 1 of this year 60 children have been interviewed.
A child is usually interviewed in a room by a forensic investigator. In an adjoining room representatives from Aspire Indiana, the prosecutor’s office and law enforcement watch the proceeding.
The forensic investigator wears a walkie-talkie so that those observing the interview can ask questions.
Kelsey Green has been a child forensic interviewer since February after receiving a degree from Purdue University.
“I didn’t know it existed as a job,” she said.
Green said it’s difficult in some cases, especially with older teenagers, to make them feel comfortable during the interview process.
“We don’t go on a fishing trip,” she said of the interview process. “We know that the case involves physical neglect, sexual abuse or they may have witnessed a violent episode.”
Green said the prosecutor attending the interview session will wait until the end to ask additional questions.
“I’m one person and I follow a protocol,” she said. “Everyone else on the team may have different questions.”
Green said that normally she interviews a child only once, unless new allegations are raised.
Steve Koester, chief deputy in the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, said the formation of Kids Talk started in 2012 when discussions began about opening a child advocacy center.
“It had been tried before in Madison County,” he said. “I told the organizers that the prosecutor’s office would be supportive.”
There are 24 advocacy centers in Indiana.
Koester said Kids Talk provides a better interview because the entire investigative team is together and watches the interview as it takes place.
“We only have to interview the child one time,” he said. “It’s less traumatic for the child.”
Koester said if a defense attorney requests an interview with the child, the video recording is made available.
“The forensic interviewer is trained to get the truth,” he said. “They’re not looking for a certain answer. Instead of a number of people conducting interviews, there is one interview.”
Denise Valdez, manager of Kids Talk, said the program operates on approximately $150,000 per year with finds coming from the Department of Child Services, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Madison County Community Foundation and private donors.
In conjunction with Community Hospital Anderson and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Aspire Indiana is conducting a fundraising event called “Stand Up for Kids."
Comedians Heywood Banks and Dave Dugan will be performing on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Paramount Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event includes a silent auction and refreshments.