This two-day foundational training for new CAC Directors equips leaders with a clear understanding of core CAC functions, roles, and responsibilities. Participants gain practical knowledge in governance, finance, staffing, MDT coordination, and compliance—establishing a strong operational baseline to lead confidently and effectively from day one.

This course will orient multidisciplinary team (MDT) members to the dynamics surrounding child abuse cases. These dynamics include ways to appropriately respond to trauma behaviors in the field, how to question children in a manner that is developmentally appropriate without interfering with investigation and/or prosecution, and applying strategies to set children  up for success in the process.

In this 3-day course, multidisciplinary teams respond to a report of child maltreatment involving abusive head trauma, child sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and animal cruelty. Working as a team, students process a crime scene in a mock home, interview witnesses, interrogate suspects, conduct a forensic interview, apply for search warrants, and make decisions as to charges. The course also includes workshops on topics including interrogating suspects, investigating polyvictimization, and processing a crime scene.

This training is for experienced Advocates. It provides insights and exercises to develop skills in complex case management, address special issues in advocacy, and increase collaboration with MDT.

This training explores what happens after a report is made to the Child Abuse Hotline. It explains the multidisciplinary (MDT) response to child maltreatment investigations in Arkansas' unique, divided child protection system, exploring how these systems intersect with other MDT members, and explains how the child advocacy center (CAC) serves as a resource to the victim, family, and MDT as part of those child maltreatment investigations.

The Conflict Resolution training includes building understanding of conflict, giving examples of how to have hard conversations and begin the process of resolution. It covers assumptions vs true communication, sharing challenges, role play and practice, and practical takeaways for daily use.

This intensive, week-long training aimed at new Advocates develops foundational skills needed for victim service and agency collaboration as part of the multidisciplinary response. Students receive holistic training on subjects including crisis intervention, sexual abuse dynamics, court and the criminal justice system, coordinated MDT response and much more. This training incorporates lecture and discussion, mock case review, skill-building exercises and an opportunity to meet and work with MDT members from across the state.

The ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol brings the field into the classroom, enhancing the education of front-line child abuse professionals. This course is designed for professionals in the child abuse field tasked with interviewing victims of abuse as part of a multidisciplinary team response. Students receive training on the ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol which includes child development, memory and suggestibility, testifying in court, legal issues, and preparing children for court. This training incorporates lecture and discussion, review of electronically recorded interviews, skill-building exercises, and an interview practicum.