The value of the paper:

There is a debate out in the world of child abuse investigations. It centers on the possiblity of certifying forensic interviewers. At this point, forensic interviewers are trained, but not licensed or certified. The idea of one standard and certification is a hugely complex one.

The issue starts with the fact that there a at least 4 schools of training for forensic interviewing. Each is similar, and yet different. This means there is not one standard for what education a forensic interviewer must have.

Another issue is that of jurisdiction.  Each area of the country has different prosecutors and court systems. What is acceptable in one county may not be used in the next. What is prosecutable with the local juries changes in place to place.

If we contrast the process with the social work process, we find that Social Work has a single national standard that all school of social work adhere to. It is one standard. Also the local social worker might do something different that the next social worker, but there are some uniform ideas of what a social worker is. Also each state licenses social workers. Here in South Carolina, the license is a practice license. It give the social worker the right to practice

In the discussion, an excellent point was made. Is the certification for the Forensic interviewer or for the child. What is the purpose of the piece of paper? Can we care for and help the investigation of child abuse better if we have a piece of paper, or a title?

I don't have an answer to this issue. As a forensic interviewer, I want to help the child tell their story and have to tell it only once. I doubt the children really care what letters are after my name. They are concerned with knowing I can be trusted to share the hard things that have happened to them. No letters behind my name can make my day happier than knowing that a child's life is better because I have done the best interview I know how to do.

If the State of SC chooses to apply a license to forensic interviews, I will apply and get my license. If some self described certification association is claiming to make my work better by my paying them lots of money for letter behind my name, I will pass.