Directions

What to Expect

When you arrive at our child-friendly center a staff member will greet you and help you to get settled in our living room. The Center is located in a red, brick house which was built in 1890, and we have done our best to make it a warm and welcoming environment. In our living room we have toys, games, and books for children of all ages. We also provide drinks and snacks for you or your child.

Once you are settled, the forensic interviewer and other professionals involved (Department of Human Services and/or law enforcement officer) will meet with you to explain the process and answer any questions you might have.

While your child is being interviewed you will receive support from a Family Support Worker who will provide emotional support, information about the system, education, referrals to therapists and any other services needed, including information about victim’s compensation.

LCCAC Forensic Interviewers have advanced training and are experts at interviewing children of all ages. The interviews proceed at the child’s pace and are conducted in a non-threatening and developmentally appropriate manner. The interviews take place in a comfortable and child-friendly room, which minimizes the stress to the child and allows the interviewer to gather accurate information regarding the allegations.

You will have a post-interview discussion with the investigators involved. At this time, they will outline the next steps. They will answer your questions, address your concerns, and let you know what you need to do next. Your Family Support Worker will follow up with you and continue to support you as needed.

All interviews are recorded on DVDs. This is done in an effort to minimize the number of people your child has to speak with regarding the concerns. The information obtained is kept by Social Services and law enforcement. The average length of a visit to the Center is approximately two hours.

How to prepare your child

DO

Tell your child they will be visiting a house and talking to a woman whose job it is to talk with kids/teenagers.
Give your child permission to talk with the interviewers
Tell your child it is a safe place to talk about anything, even if they have never told you

DON’T

Ask your child questions about the allegations
Tell your child what to say
Promise treats or rewards to your child for talking
Try to answer questions you don’t have the answers for

If your child brings up the allegations to you, let them know that what they have to say is very important, and you will be taking them to a house to talk with a woman more about what happened and it is OKAY to tell that woman everything. Although as the child’s caregiver, it is natural to want to ask your child questions about the details of the alleged incident, please try to refrain. Sometimes it can be more difficult to talk to a caregiver about the details of sexual abuse because the child may worry about making you upset, disappointing you, etc. In addition, speaking with young children about alleged incidents in a leading way has the potential to contaminate their statements.

For Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Members

The Larimer County Child Advocacy Center assists the Department of Human Services and law enforcement agencies in child abuse investigations. In addition, we are willing to assist in interviewing adults with developmental delays. We can only schedule an appointment with the caseworker or law enforcement; we cannot schedule appointments directly with the family.

In addition, you are responsible for coordination with any other agencies involved. In an effort to coordinate the investigation as much as possible to minimize the stress on the child and family, it is STRONGLY preferred that all investigating agencies be present for the interview. At a minimum, those agencies need to have been contacted and invited to participate.

To schedule an appointment, please call the Center at 970-407-9739. Our interview slots are 9:00am, 11:30am, and 3:00pm Monday – Friday; however, we will do our best to accommodate other requests.

We conduct victim/witness interviews of children, regardless of their offender status. In an effort to protect the rights of each and every child, if a child is both an alleged victim and offender, we ask that any offender interviews take place prior to alleged victim interviews. Furthermore, when there is alleged sexual contact between siblings, they are not allowed to be at the Center at the same time. Adult alleged offenders are never allowed on the premises.

Please have the following information when scheduling your appointments:

Child’s name, date of birth, any developmental delays and whether or not they have been to the Center before
Who will bring the child and are they cooperating with the investigation?
Reason for the interview/outcry
Name and relationship of the alleged offender
Any special accommodations needed (i.e. child or child’s family is Spanish speaking only, child is in a wheelchair, etc.)

How we work with you

Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to meet and staff the case with the Forensic Interviewer, Family Support Worker and other MDT members. Once this meeting is complete the group will briefly meet with the non-offending caregiver present and then the interview will begin. Any investigators present view the interview from the observation room. We ask that you meet with the non-offending caregiver after the interview to let them know your next steps, and provide closure to this part of the process.

Training

We offer child interviewing and Minimal Facts training to law enforcement and the Department of Human Services. Please visit our Education and Training page under the Programs and Services tab, or contact Sarah at sarah@larimercac.org for more information.

Staff & Board Members

Staff

Laura Hunt: Executive Director
Laura started with the LCCAC as executive director in May 2002. Previously, she was the executive director of CASA/Harmony House for 10 years. Laura’s duties include the day-to-day operations of the facility, fundraising, managing staff and reporting to the board of directors. Laura has a B.S. from the University of Wyoming. You may reach Laura at 970-407-9739 or laura@larimercac.org

Sarah Ascienzo, MSW: Forensic Interviewer & Program Support Coordinator
Sarah started as the program coordinator in May 2005. Sarah's primary job responsibilities include forensic interviewing and training, providing emotional support, resource referral and advocacy to the children and families visiting the center; acting as a liaison between the multiple agencies involved with the center; facilitating case coordinations and coordinating community trainings. Sarah holds a Masters of Social Work degree from Colorado State University. You may reach Sarah at 970-407-9739 or at sarah@larimercac.org

Kit Harden,MSW: Forensic Interviewer
Kit started with the CAC as a forensic interviewer in July 2005. Kit has a professional background in child welfare and her primary job responsibilities are forensic interviewing and training. Kit holds a Masters of Social Work degree from Colorado State University. You may reach Kit at 970-407-9739 or at kitharden@comcast.net

Shannon Yockey, LCSW: Prevention Specialist
Shannon is a licencsed clinical social worker with over 16 years experience working with children and families in mental health agencies, church communities, and overseas military. She specializes in parenting issues, child and family conflict, and childhood trauma. She is also a prevention specialist in the area of childhood sexual abuse. You may reach Shannon at 970-407-9739 or at shannonyockey@comcast.net

Ana Sluss: Family Support Coordinator
Ana holds a part-time position at the LCCAC serving as the Family Support Coordinator. Primary duties for Ana include assisting the director, volunteer coordination, fundraising planning, and providing support services to families. Ana earned a B.S. Degree in Spanish from the Colorado State University. You may reach Ana at 970-407-9739 or at ana@larimercac.org

Liz Rowe, MSW: Family Support/Volunteer Coordinator
Liz began working full-time at the LCCAC in June of 2008. Liz's primary job responsibilities include providing resource referrals, emotional support, and advocacy to the children and families who come to the center.
She also coordinates volunteer recruitment, volunteer training, and fundraising opportunities/events. Liz facilitates professional trainings and assists the Executive Director with various tasks. Liz earned a Masters degree in Social Work/Child Welfare from University of Denver. Contact Liz at (970) 407-9739 or liz@larimercac.org

Board of Directors:2010

President: Ian Menzies -- RC Special Events

Vice President : Nick Stevens — Community Member

Secretary: Tammy Tracy

Treasurer: Bob Rabson— Sergeant, Crimes Against Persons, Loveland Police Department

Immediate Past President: Doug Larson — Sage Marketing Group, Inc.

John Feyen — Investigator, Larimer County Sheriff's Office

Deborah Crawford — Pediatrician

Ken Walker

Diane Gross

Val Macri-Lind — Therapist, ChildSafe

Emily Humphrey — Deputy District Attorney

Jim Comer — Broker, Allstate Insurance

Greg Miller — Attorney-at-Law, Guardian Ad-Litem