THE Division of Youth Services’ certified child forensic interviewers completed a four-day advanced training at the Aqua Resort Club last week.
The virtual forensic child interview training was attended by 15 forensic interviewers who were certified after completing basic training in 2019. They include DYS Child Protective Services’ Julian Camacho, Christine Joy Aldan, Mariah Barcinas, Marge Mendiola, Quaid Ngirchongor, Melycher Sablan, Jaylynn DLG Torres, Juanicia Villanueva and Benylin Mettao.
Attending the training via Zoom from Rota DYS were Quindy Maratita and Mildred Sikebert, and from Tinian were Augusta Famaw and Cindy Alo.
Also attending the training were DYS Director Vivian T. Sablan, DYS administrative staff member Marvin Palacios; Kiki Benjamin, Audrey Ada, and Maisie B. Tenorio of the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence; Shannon Dela Cruz, Jocelyn Park, Sheyvonne Aldan and Christine Kim of the Department of Public Safety; and James Houston and Dixie Camacho of the Office of Attorney General.
With Caitie Dhal of First Witness Child Advocacy Center as the presenter via Zoom, the advance training discussed an overview of ChildFirst protocols and question types; advanced topics on interviewing children and adolescents, reluctant children, witnesses to domestic violence, LGBTQIA + youth, victims of trafficking and internet crimes; and defending the forensic interview in court.
They also discussed the roles and responsibilities of a multi-disciplinary team, its experiences, the benefits of utilizing it, and what the islands want from it.
DYS Director Vivian Sablan said the advanced training provided certified interviewers with the necessary tools or resources so they can perform their tasks better.
Division of Youth Services Director Vivian Sablan, second right seated, and the other participants of the DYS advanced child forensic interview training pose with presenter Caitie Dhal, on the screen, who conducted the training via Zoom, at the Aqua Resort Club.
