Silver City, New Mexico, March 28, 2014: Southwest New Mexico is creating a stronger safety net of services to better respond to child victims of crime. The effort aligns existing services, expands needed services and trains professionals in key positions to help children when they need support most, after a traumatic event so they have a better of chance of recovery and for justice to be served.

Early this month, the District Attorney Francesca Estevez selected 15 people who participated in National Children's Advocacy Center's (NCAC) Child Forensic Interviewing Program held in Silver City. Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) sponsored the training with a grant from the Community Enhancement Fund from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation and the Grant County Community Health Council.

The NCAC program hones participants' interview skills, especially with children who have experienced sexual and/or physical abuse. The 40-hour training focuses on best practices so the interviewer can get as much information from the child with the least negative psychological impact. This investigative process gathers evidence to better prosecute criminal perpetrators who victimize our most vulnerable population, children.

SASS Executive Director, Catherine Olmstead said, "The fact we increased capacity to respond to sexual assaulted and abused children is the greatest outcome for our community. It also opened up the community conversation on trauma and its effects on children. "

District Attorney Estevez praised the training, "The community came together; we had the best trainers in the nation. We have a better understanding of sexual assault and how to approach it regarding children."

NCAC Trainer Andra K. Chamberlin has 23 years of experience in the child abuse field and has conducted over 1000 recorded forensic interviews of children. Chamberlin was part of the community organization that established the NCAC in Midland Texas and served as the Program Director/Lead Forensic Interviewer for 14 years.

Grant County and New Mexico's 6th Judicial District, which also includes Hidalgo and Luna Counties, has been making a coordinated effort to better address child sexual assault and physical abuse. Earlier this year, the District Attorney's office initiated a protocol for response to sexual assault and child physical abuse in the region to align investigative, medical, advocacy, support and recovery services for victims.

Also, services have expanded for child victims of sexual assault and abuse in the last year. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) now offers pediatric exams for child victims of sexual assault at Gila Regional Medical Center. Prior to this child victims and their families traveled to Las Cruces for evidence collection and to receive medical services. The SANE program has conducted 12 pediatric exams since offering services in August 2013.

The sexual assault exam and forensic interview are linked for many reasons, and it is critical to have enough trained professionals to ensure the investigation occurs as it should, and ensure the victims receive critical services to better their recovery.

District Attorney Estevez says the coordinated community response "will help make law enforcement more specialized, and make recovery services readily available to victims, thus impacting justice and accountability for perpetrators and increases our community safety."

For more information call Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services at (575) 313-6203 or the After Hours Crisis Hotline toll-free at 1-800-750-6474.