Disclosure and Recantation: A Journey To Be Understood

Please join us for this important training being offered FREE to MDT members within the state of Minnesota. MDT members include any Child Advocacy Center (CAC) staff, law enforcement/peace officers, Department of Children and Families, attorneys and advocates within a county attorney’ office, medical providers and educators who serve/work with their local Child Advocacy Center. Please email if you have questions regarding the MDT requirements.

This training covers:

Children who experience abuse or neglect may describe what happened to them in many ways. When a child talks about abuse, it is called disclosure. Disclosures can be purposeful or accidental.

Disclosing abuse or neglect is a process or a journey not a destination. Part of the journey often includes recantation or taking back the disclosure. Understanding the dynamics of the process a child may go through when disclosing, including recantation, can help us understand how to better conduct our investigations, forensic interviews and therefore help in the healing journey. Additionally, we need to understand this process, including what the research tells us is "normal" to speak effectively on the subject in the courtroom.

This training will help learners better understand the disclosure process, including recantation. Learners will gain knowledge and resources- including the most updated research- along with practical solutions on incorporating the information into practice.

Objectives:

At the end of this training, learners will be able to:

1. Identify the disclosure process based on recent research
2. Recognize the specific types of disclosures and how common each is
3. Understand various factors which may impact a child in recantation
4. Learn how to support a child through the disclosure process