Interview Planning and Credibility Assessment in Child and Adult Protective Service Investigations
A research-based, instructor-led training program that teaches interview planning, rapport-building, strategic evidence use, and credibility assessment for CPS and APS investigations.
Designed for child and adult protective service caseworkers and investigators interviewing adult subjects, this program provides systematic tools to enhance investigative decision-making and support defensible outcomes.
Course 1: Interview Planning Fundamentals
This 8-hour instructor-led course covers key topics in interview planning. Key Course 1 Topics include:
building rapport
eliciting a free narrative
questioning strategies
information funnels
Course 2: Evidence Planning and Strategic Disclosure
This 8-hour instructor-led course covers topics related to evidence planning and challenging credibility using evidence. Key Course 2 Topics include:
evaluating evidence
assessing credibility
evidence disclosure strategies
challenging statement-evidence inconsistencies
SCIENCE-BASED INTERVIEWING
Program techniques reflect the state-of-the art in science-based interviewing and allow for increased information gain and an enhanced ability to identify and challenge deception.
CASE STUDY-BASED
Course 1 and 2 center around multiple case studies to allow context relevant application of training.
IN-PERSON FORMAT
The program includes a mix of lectures and video-based exercises in a classroom setting. The program is taught by experienced instructors.
PLANNING TOOLS
Participants will use proprietary interview and evidence-planning tools to support their application of course techniques.
ON-THE-JOB APPLICATION
Participants are provided the opportunity to apply program techniques to a current case, facilitating immediate application of techniques and a team learning environment.
CPE & CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
Completion of this course provides 16 CPE credits to maintain APP, CPP, PCI, and PSP credentials. Second Sight will provide hosting organizations necessary information to obtain continuing education credits for participants.
GOVERNMENT-RESEARCHED
The Rapport-based Evidence Presentation (REP) Model was developed starting in 2020 through collaboration between the Second Sight team and Dr. Christopher Kelly of Saint Joseph's University.
Through extensive research, including literature reviews, focus groups with experienced practitioners from law enforcement, corrections, intelligence, and child protection fields, and systematic field studies using actual interviews, the model addresses critical findings about effective evidence use in investigative interviews.
Tailored for Child and Adult Protective Services Investigations
Investigative interviewing for those in social work, child welfare, and adult protective services requires a nuanced blend of relationship-building, evidence-gathering, and structured communication.
The Rapport-Based Evidence Presentation Model and interview, and evidence planning approaches are relevant to cases involving multiple contacts, and where interviews are not driven solely by criminal elements, each conversation is still an investigative task carrying its own legal, ethical, and safety implications.
Based on end-of-program surveys, 94.7% of trainees agreed or strongly agreed that program techniques will assist them in their job. They also report this training left them better prepared to…
to plan for an interview (92.7%),
to plan for the use of evidence during an interview (93.0%)
Why do you need training?
Listen to some of our customers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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This program is designed for child protective services (CPS) and adult protective services (APS) investigators whose work requires structured, legally defensible investigative interviews with vulnerable populations.
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This program equips protective services investigators with a structured, research-validated process for interviewing adult subjects of investigations. Participants learn to apply the Evidence Framing Matrix (EFM) and the Rapport-Based Evidence Presentation Model to plan interviews strategically, disclose evidence in a structured sequence, and assess credibility to produce defensible outcomes.
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Yes. This program is available for multi-session delivery for agencies, including scheduling across multiple cohorts. Contact us to discuss your department's needs and timeline.
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Yes. The program is grounded in validated behavioral and investigative research and incorporates evidence-based principles consistent with current best practices in investigative interviewing. It goes beyond technique to teach a structured planning process that supports consistent, defensible interview outcomes.
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The core structured interview methodology is consistent across all three versions. The CPS/APS version addresses the specific operational context, documentation requirements, and population considerations relevant to protective services investigators, including interviews with children and vulnerable adults.