Appointments are scheduled through a coordinated process with police and child and family services. Speak with the police officer and/or child and family services worker who is involved with your family about whether your child will be interviewed at Toba Centre.
Toba Centre is a charitable organization. Our employees are not police or child and family services staff. Police agencies and child and family services agencies are partners in the multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse investigations at Toba Centre. Police are present for all child victim interviews at the centre and child and family services may also be present.
Typically, you can tell your child the day prior to the interview, or even on the way to the interview so that they are aware of the interview, without causing them too much anxiety. If you have questions about when to tell your child about going to Toba Centre, contact us to speak with one of our Case Navigators.
Explain to your child that it is the interviewer’s job to listen to kids and that they talk to many children every day. Let your child know that it is alright for them to talk about everything that has happened to them. Tell your child that they are not in trouble and that it is important for them to tell the truth. If you have questions about what to tell you child about the interview, contact us to speak with one of our Case Navigators.
Upon arrival at our centre, you and your child will be greeted by one of our staff members who will show you to our family room. A team of professionals that includes police, a child forensic interviewer, case navigator, child and family services workers may be present at Toba Centre during your appointment. Your child will be interviewed by the child forensic interviewer and one or more of the other professionals may meet with you during or following the interview.
The interviewer will speak with your child alone. It may actually be more difficult for children to talk about details of a traumatic event with their parent present. The presence of a parent in the room may also distract or inhibit children during an interview. In addition, children are likely to expect parents to answer questions for them however, it is best if children can provide information on their own.
You may wish to reassure your child that during the interview, you will be close by, waiting in the family room, and that you will be there when the interview is complete.