What We Do - Dove House
What We Dodovehousedev2020-07-30T07:56:51-04:00	
Dove House provides a wide array of services to child victims of sexual assault as well as their non-offending family members. ALL of our direct services are provided at NO COST to the client.
As a Child Advocacy Center fully accredited through the National Children’s Alliance. Dove House believes in and operates under the national Child Advocacy Model, which concludes that the least traumatic intervention for child victims of abuse, as well as the most efficient and cost effective community response, is for all involved agencies to work together, as a Multidisciplinary Team, in responding to all reports of child sexual abuse. Dove House’s multidisciplinary partners include the six law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction in Iredell and Alexander Counties, the District Attorney’s office, Department of Social Services in both Iredell and Alexander Counties, Guardian ad Litem program, medical and mental health personnel, and the Dove House staff. Since Dove House opened in September 2002, our MDT has operated under a jointly developed Protocol in response to reports of child sexual abuse.
Appropriate members of our MDT are gathered at Dove House each time a new report of child sexual abuse is received. The child is interviewed at Dove House by our Forensic Interviewer, while the MDT observes the interview via closed-circuit TV. It is a “team” interview. The child only meets with the Forensic Interviewer; however, the MDT can communicate via an earpiece worn by the Interviewer should they need additional clarification. Every interview is digitally recorded; the recording is available to be used in court if the case eventually goes to trial.
MDT Case Reviews: Our MDT meets bi-weekly to review all open Dove House cases. These meetings keep all team members informed on individual case status and development, and allows for updated strategic direction on each case. The information on each case shared across all disciplines helps to reduce the amount of times family members’ lives are disrupted by investigative activities, since all team members are informed about what information has already been obtained. Our case review meetings also ensure that no case, therefore no child, “falls through the cracks”. Our MDT also receives continuing training about the multidisciplinary approach and other topics pertinent to addressing all aspects of a child sexual abuse intervention / investigation.
Beyond the obvious and significant benefits of reducing trauma to child victims and their non-offending family members, the CAC multidisciplinary approach has also been proven to enhance prosecution against perpetrators, as well as being extremely cost effective for the community. These are direct results and benefits of the multidisciplinary process of Children’s Advocacy Centers!
A forensic interview is a neutral, fact-finding interview that is legally defensible in court. The Dove House Forensic Interviewer is a highly trained professional who interviews children to help authorities and partner agencies gather facts regarding the case. This approach produces evidence that will stand up in court if the investigation leads to criminal prosecution. Forensic interviews are legally sound because they ensure the interviewer’s objectivity, employ non-leading techniques, and emphasize accurate documentation of the interview via digital recording. The purpose of the interview is to gather facts, and if a disclosure is made, then to obtain details of alleged crimes, while maintaining the dignity and well-being of each child. Although the child must eventually testify in court if the case goes to trial, video recording allows the jury to view the child at his/her age and developmental level at the time of the alleged incident or disclosure, and lends credibility to disclosures made through the forensic process.
Who is the Forensic Interviewer?
Our Forensic Interviewer is a Dove House staff member who has become highly skilled in forensic interviewing through her extensive training, as well as having almost 20 years of direct job experience. She has had formal training in forensic interviewing at “The Childhood Trust” in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she participates in ongoing, annual training to keep her skills current with the proper interview strategies used during the forensic interview process.
Who participates in the Forensic Interview?
All child victims who are developmentally capable (typically starting at age 3) are interviewed by the Dove House Forensic Interviewer. This interview is recorded. Our Forensic Interviewer has had formal training at “The Childhood Trust” in Cincinnati, Ohio and completes extensive ongoing training annually. All Interviews are observed in our MDT Team Room via closed circuit TV by the assembled MDT members involved in each case. The MDT has the capability to communicate with the Interviewer via an earpiece should the need arise during the interview.
Dove House has two full-time Victim Advocates who work with client families, assisting them through the investigation process as well as the court process, providing emotional support and making appropriate referrals. Each child / family is greeted by the Victim Advocate assigned to their case at the front door when they arrive at Dove House. As the interview with the child victim is taking place, our Victim Advocate uses this time to get to know the non-offending family members and assesses the overall needs of the family. She remains with the family throughout their visit to Dove House, providing comfort and information. After the family’s visit to Dove House, the Victim Advocate will remain in constant communication with the family.
Encouraging and referring child victims and non-offending family members to follow through with appropriate counseling is an integral part of the Victim Advocate’s role. Depending on case complexities, our Victim Advocates work with many of our client families for up to three years, providing continual emotional support, case information, and helping to navigate through the very intimidating court process.
Our Victim Advocates constantly receive training that enhances their skills and knowledge, enabling them to be highly effective in helping our families with a variety of needs.
Dove House has a child-friendly medical examination room that is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology for efficient and effective collection of physical and photographic forensic evidence. Non-emergent forensic exams take place on a case-by-case basis. Medical examinations of our child clients include a full wellness exam, testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) when appropriate, and use specific exam techniques for alleged sexual assault. In the case of an emergency or if the alleged assault has occurred within 72 hours, families will be referred to Levine Children’s Hospital or Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, where evidence collection kits are emergently administered by appropriately trained medical professionals.
Dove House partners with two local physicians who volunteer much of their personal time working with child victims and their families that visit Dove House. These physicians are certified in conducting pediatric sexual assault exams and undergo annual training to keep their skills current. And, they are available to testify in court when necessary.
Our Victim Advocates refer 100% of our clients into appropriate mental health therapy. Some of our children and families are referred to an onsite mental health counselor, made possible through a collaborative agreement with Children’s Hope Alliance, one of our many mental health agency partners. In addition to this onsite option, we have several linkage agreements with off-site providers to whom we refer our clients. All of our mental health providers specialize in trauma-focused mental health services, designed to meet the unique needs of each child and their non-offending family members so that their healing process may begin. (Mental health therapy is a referral service; any cost associated with counseling is between the client and their provider. Consideration is given to client insurance information, possible sliding scale options, etc.)
“Safety First” is an age-appropriate educational program offered by Dove House that focuses on body safety and autonomy. It teaches children that they have the right to control what happens to their own bodies. It teaches them to identify their own “safe adults”, and to run to or talk to a “safe adult” if they feel uncomfortable or threatened in any situation. One of many concepts and tools that “Safety First” highlights is the “bathing suit rule”, which teaches children the importance of keeping body parts that are covered by bathing suits private and safe. In the 5thgrade curriculum, “Safety First” also teaches the importance of internet safety, specifically protection against predators and cyber bullies. ​
“Safety First” was implemented into the Iredell-Statesville Schools in 2016 and has since been added to Alexander County and Mooresville Graded schools. “Safety First” consists of two short sessions per school year for all 1st and 5th graders. Dove House is honored to have the opportunity to offer this program to the children in our community in hopes of preventing some of the abuse we encounter at our center.