Readers, as I wrote in a previous post, I've been taking another look at the Tonya Craft trial. To that extent, I have researched extensively. Primarily, checking qualifications for hiring, and standards and protocols from various state agencies, as well as specific cases involving law enforcement testimony.
Specifically, I'm looking at the actions and testimony of Suzie Thorne, Stacy Long, Laura Evans and Detective Deal. Having finally read through the various trial reports of their testimony, I do have several questions of my own which I will explore throughout these posts.
Job Qualifications
To begin with, while reading through the court testimony reports, what really surprised me, was the incredible lack of expected qualifications Suzie Thorne had for the job she said she was "given." She stated she didn't apply for the position. Who in the real world doesn't have to apply for a job?
I've worked in my field for 35 years, and if I am interested in a particular job advertised, I have to go through the whole hiring process just like everyone else. I have to submit an application along with my CV and references.
Prior to being hired by the state, I also had to submit my college transcripts. I had to go through two interviews and submit writing samples. A background and criminal check was done. No one has ever just handed a job to me. I got to where I'm at today with the plain old blood, sweat, and tears of experience. Like most people should.
Who among us in the real world doesn't have to show our qualifications? Especially, when that job entails working with the most vulnerable of our society: abused children.
While I truly mean no offense to anyone, I have to admit that my first thought was, who in the world would "give" an important job like that to someone with no real education, training, or experience?
It's great if a person continues on with additional training (which they should) but why start that kind of position out with no training, other than a seminar, and no actual experience whatsoever? That makes no sense to me.
My second thought, of course, was to wonder to whom Ms. Thorne was related, or who was she friends with? I'm being serious. Did she have an aunt or uncle in the system? Was she friends with people there? Was she perhaps a volunteer before jumping to being a Forensic Interviewer?
Why would any good employer risk either further traumatizing young children, who truly may have been sexually abused, or permanently harming an innocent person's reputation, not to mention possibly eradicating their freedom?
And as to the truly guilty, who would want to risk having the convictions being overturned on appeal because their staff didn't follow accepted guidelines and protocols?
Due to, maybe, just maybe, the fact that the staff member never had the qualifications or adequate training to begin with?
That's not to say that people don't make mistakes. We all do. Even if we've worked in a field for many years, we can still make mistakes. We're only human after all. I would certainly never claim to have never made any mistakes.
But, it seems to me, that what happened in this particular case goes way beyond just making a few innocent mistakes. While I'm not really into jumping on the conspiracy theory bandwagon, and I strongly do not believe in publicly shredding people's reputations online, I can't help but question the competency on several levels.
To start with, I compared myself to Ms. Thorne, and asked myself if I would have been qualified for that position. Since I'm getting up there in age and retirement is getting closer by the minute, I'm looking back at over three decades of nursing experience, including both pediatric and adults, for one thing.
Over the years, I have also worked (between staff and agency) in Neonatal ICU, Pediatric & Adult ICU, and our local Burn Unit, and even worked for a short time, through agency, in a juvenile facility.
This was all before I ever went into forensics. It gave me a good, broad background upon which to rely. I've completed advanced FNE training and also took the pediatric FNE course a few years back, although I've continued to work with adults.
I've trained as a paralegal, a medico-legal death investigator, attended multiple conferences and seminars, researched child abuse extensively for years, audited pediatrician's offices for the government, and have been a foster parent; at one time, caring for two of our county's worst child sexual abuse cases of the time. They were siblings ages three and four and it was heart-breaking.
Now would I consider myself qualified for that position? No, I would not. Nor do I believe any prospective employer would find me qualified either. Why?
Because, for the purpose of these posts, I researched various CAC's across the country, as to their job requirements for the Forensic Interviewer position.
What I found was that a few CAC's (very few) required a minimum of a BS degree, with experience. However, the majority of CAC current job openings I saw required a minimum of a Master's degree and that the applicant must be a licensed social worker with anywhere from 2-8 years experience.
Here are some examples with links:
Company: Northern Arizona Healthcare
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
http://www.job.com/my.job/jobdisplay/page=jobview/pt=2/key=63728057/
" ... Qualifications:Education:*Master's Degree in Social Work or related field - required. Experience:*5 years experience in children's services, with at least three years experience working in the field of child maltreatment. Certificate/Licensure:*CPR certification within 3 month introductory period - required. *LMSW or LCSW at or within two years of hire - required for individuals with a Social Worker master's degree..."
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DETAILS
| Location: | New York City, NY, 10021 |
|---|---|
| Employee Type: | full time |
| Pay Type: | Hour |
| Experience: | 2 - 5 years |
| Education: | Master degree |
| Travel Required: | none |
DESCRIPTION
Responsibilities
Life-Changing Health Care - Social Workers Make It Possible
At NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, social workers step into an environment of hope and healing built on a history of clinical achievement. It's a place where talented professionals find the resources, and respect they need.
Join us and experience a culture of high esteem for our discipline. Social work rounds, internships, seminars and professional recognitions all contribute to an advanced practice environment.
We're changing lives and transforming our field. You can help make it possible:
Full time opportunities available in the following areas:
Child Advocacy / Forensic Interviewer - Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
http://www.ecentralmetrics.com/onlinedisplay/jobdisplay.cfm?posting=93394&bid=326
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Philadelphia Children's Alliance
Position: Child Forensic Interviewer/ Social Worker
Masters degree in social work, psychology, or related field required.
Experience with the child welfare system strongly preferred ...
http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=90724877&from=indeed
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Forensic Interviewer
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Additional Qualifications:
- Part time position available
- MUST BE A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER IN MARYLAND (LCSW OR LGSW)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Knowledge of child development
- Experience in the field of child sexual abuse
- Successful completion of Finding Words and BCAC’s forensic interview training
- Successful completion of training in trauma and child development
- Bilingual English/Spanish (helpful but not necessary)
http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/398017-269
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Child Forensic Interview Specialist/Social Worker
Family Services is seeking applicants for a Child Forensic Interview Specialist/Social Worker for the new Willow Tree Child Advocacy Center in Green Bay, responsible for evaluation and direct services to children suspected of having been abused. Must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field (Master’s Degree preferred), plus two years of field experience working with children and families who have experienced violence or abuse. Must also possess a minimum basic level certification in a recognized forensic interview protocol (i.e. Step Wise, Child First, and/or Cognitive Graphing).
http://www.familyservicesnew.org/careers/
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As you can see, from the above examples, while many CAC agencies in this country require a minimum of a BS degree, most require a Masters. So, I have to question again just how is it that Ms. Thorne just happened to be "given" the job of Forensic Interviewer without meeting even the most basic educational/experience requirements?
Center Piece: The Official Newsletter of the National Child Protection Training Center
Article: Setting Course: The Case For Credentialing of Forensic Interviewers
Intermediate forensic interviewing credential.
"In addition to the completion of a state or nationally recognized forensic interviewing course, a forensic interviewer applying for this credential must complete an additional 40 hours of advanced course work on forensic interviewing, have conducted at least 25 forensic interviews, and participated in at least one peer review process in which one or more of the applicant’s interviews were critiqued."
"The forensic interviewer must again sign an acknowledgment of ethical guidelines pertaining to this work and their agreement to abide by these guidelines. Finally, the interviewer must take and complete a nationally accepted examination documenting the interviewer has acquired basic knowledge relevant to forensic interviewing."
Advanced forensic interviewing credential.
"In addition to the basic forensic interview training, an applicant for this credential must have completed a minimum of 80 hours of advanced course work on forensic interviewing, must have conducted at least 100 forensic interviews and participate in a quarterly peer review process.The
forensic interviewer must again sign the acknowledgment pertaining to ethical standards."
Diplomate in forensic interviewing.
"In addition to the completion of basic forensic interview training, an applicant for Diplomate status must have completed a minimum of 160 hours of advanced training on forensic
interviewing. The applicant must have conducted a minimum of 1,000 forensic interviews.The applicant must document continued participation in a quarterly peer review process.The
forensic interviewer must continue to acknowledge an understanding of and adherence to ethical guidelines. Finally, and most importantly, the applicant must submit three transcripts or videotapes of forensic interviews conducted in at least three different years, for blind review by an expert panel."
I don't recall reading anywhere among the news reports that Ms. Thorne has obtained any further official training beyond the basic course. If I have somehow missed it, please correct me.
" In cases of child sexual abuse, the competence of forensic interviewers may be more important than the competence of any other member of the multi-disciplinary team."
Next Post: Detective Deal
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