It is the goal of investigators to lessen a child’s trauma by having only one full interview conducted. Melody of Hope's Forensic Interviewers are specially trained to interview children disclosing abuse and to sensitively gather all of the necessary information so investigators can complete a thorough investigation.  It is important to remember that your child is being interviewed, not interrogated. Your child is not in trouble. This is your child’s opportunity to share their experience, in their own words, in a child-friendly setting.

Your child will talk with a Forensic Interviewer. The Interviewer has special training and experience in talking with children about difficult subjects. The Interviewer's goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible while gathering the necessary information for the investigation. Questions are asked in a non-threatening and non-leading manner. The Interviewer moves at a pace that is comfortable for your child and never forces your child to talk.

No, The forensic interview does not replace court testimony. It is the first step in allowing your child to provide information about the reported incident(s) to determine next steps in an investigation.

There is no cost for a forensic interview.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you can contact our office at 563-200-1102 and our staff will be happy to reschedule your child's appointment. You can also contact the detective or caseworker who initially called to schedule the appointment.

After the forensic interview, law enforcement and/or protective services will inform you about what will happen next. Melody of Hope's Child and Family Advocate is available to offer referrals and resources and help with questions you might have.

No, The interview environment is designed to be a safe space for children to openly talk about something they experienced or witnessed without concern of what someone might feel or think towards a situation. Additionally ,the forensic interview is reserved for investigative purposes; therefore only the assigned agencies are allowed to observe the forensic interview.

No, Melody of Hope Advocacy Center is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Melody of Hope accepts referrals from DHS and local law enforcement for forensic interviews and medical evaluations on children with allegations of abuse.

By focusing first on the needs of children and their families, Melody of Hope ensures that important services and information are provided for you. Utilizing a team approach and a recorded interview improves the quality of the investigation and minimizes further trauma by reducing the number of times your child has to talk about their experiences. On-site medical providers allows your child to remain in a familiar, child-friendly environment.

We want to respect the confidentiality of all families who are present for appointments so we ask that a supportive parent(s) or caregiver bring the child(ren) to their appointment. Alleged adult sexual offenders are never allowed on Melody of Hope premises.  

When allegations of abuse are made, law enforcement and child protective services have a mandate to look into these concerns. All sources of information are considered and reviewed to ensure the safety of your child. Team members will keep you informed about the status of the investigation. Melody of Hope staff, law enforcement and child protective services will be available to provide you with support and answer any questions you might have about the process.

It is important to let your child know they are going to a safe place to talk about what happened. The most important thing your child should know is to tell the truth and that you support them.

Tell them that you really don’t know what will be asked, but that it’s very important for them to be honest. Assure your child that this person works with children every day talking about difficult things. Tell them you want them to answer all the questions the best they can and to tell the truth. Let your child know that you support them and they are not in any trouble.

Give the child permission to talk about what they have disclosed. Be general in what you tell the child (i.e. “It’s okay to tell the interviewer what you told me (or whomever they told) about what happened to you”). Do not repeat the details of what they have disclosed or ask them any additional questions.

You can certainly ask about how things went but don’t press the child for specifics, as the goal of the interview is that the child doesn’t have to keep repeating the details. Asking things like what the room was like, if the interviewer was nice, or how they are feeling are perfectly acceptable questions; it shows you’re interested in their experience, but respect they may be uncomfortable giving you too many details.

No. All interviews are part of an official investigative process and are scheduled through law enforcement or child protective services. If you suspect your child is being abused, please call the Iowa Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-362-2178.

Your child needs to know that you believe them and will support them .  Children who have someone supporting them suffer fewer or long term effects than do children without help.  Your role as a parent is to support your child in recovery by providing reassurance, safety, and love.  Children need reassurance that they didn’t cause your anger, upset, and sadness.  Some children’s belief that they are the cause of everything may make this difficult for them to understand.

Additional things to say:

I believe you.

I’m sorry this happened to you.

I’m glad I know.

You will be taken care of.

I’m not sure what will happen next.

This has happened to other children: your age, younger and older, boys and girls.

Nothing about you made it happen.

I will do my best to protect you, now that I know.

You don’t need to take care of me.

I know it wasn’t your fault.

We will all get through this, just like we recover from illness or an accident, but it may take a long time.

I am upset, but not with you.

I’m angry with the person who did this

I’m sad. You may see me cry. That’s all right.

I will be able to take care of you.

I’m not mad at you.

Reassure your child they are not in trouble.

Try to keep your emotions in check.

Thank your child for telling you.

Children need to know they are not the reason for your anger, sadness, or disbelief.

Don't expect or tell your child to forget it.

Don't say, "it can't be", or, "I don't believe it".

Don't restrict your child's activities or movements more than necessary. For example., if you refuse to allow them to play in the yard, they may feel they are being punished.

Keep calm. Your child may sense the emotional stress and anger you may be feeling about what has happened to them. This may cause a child to feel responsible for upsetting you and may cause them to wish they had never disclosed.

Use comforting statements such as “I’m proud of you for telling” or “What happened to you wasn’t your fault”.

Listen to your child if they feel like talking, but do not let your desire to make sense of what has happened lead you into asking probing questions about details of the abuse. Sometimes if a child feels uncomfortable they won’t give details and may even say they “don’t remember” the incident.

Do not make any promises about what will happen to the offender or promise that the child will never have to see the offender again. It may not be true (e.g. court proceedings). Your child needs to trust your word. It is better to tell a child that you don’t know the answer to a question.

The role of the Child and Family Advocate is to offer support for you and your child. Melody of Hope's Advocate works with agency service providers to make referrals based on the needs of your child and family. Our Advocates are also available to answer questions and offer resources for your and your child.

If you suspect a child is being abused, please call the Iowa Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-362-2178.