Introduction to Developmentally Appropriate Interviewing using the Revised NICHD Protocol
Presented by: Michael E. Lamb, PhD, Irit Hershkowitz, PhD, Mireille Cyr, PhD, and Carlos Eduardo Peixoto, PhD
15 Hours / 15 CEs
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on Introduction to developmentally appropriate interviewing using the Revised NICHD Protocol is presented by Michael Lamb, PhD; Irit Hershkowitz, PhD; Mireille Cyr, PhD; Carlos Eduardo Peixoto, PhD.
The Revised NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Protocol, developed over the last three decades, provides detailed research- and evidence-based guidance for structured forensic interviews of young and vulnerable alleged victims of abuse. Effective use of the Protocol demands both (1) a thorough understanding of the underlying research and principles and (2) extended supervision and guidance as a trainee works to translate principles into effective practices.
This program reviews the underlying research that guided the development of the NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol and informed its structure and content, particularly child, event, and interview factors. This program is the first of a 4-program certificate program for users and consumers of the NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol and serves as a prerequisite.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe the underlying research that guided the development of the Protocol and informed its structure and content: child and event factors
- 2 Describe the underlying research that guided the development of the Protocol and informed its structure and content: interview factors
- 3 Describe the pre-substantive phase of the interview
- 4 Describe how following the Protocol enhances the value of forensic interviews with children
- 5 Describe the substantive phase of the interview
- 6 Describe how following the Protocol enhances the value of forensic interviews with children
- 7 Describe how children’s developmental capacities, event characteristics, and interviewer practices influence the quality and quantity of information provided in forensic interviews
- 8 Describe strategies for preparing children for substantive questioning through rapport-building, ground rules, and episodic memory retrieval practice
- 9 Describe techniques for managing reluctance and supporting disclosure during the transitional phase of a forensic interview
- 10 Describe questioning strategies used to explore incidents in the substantive phase while maximizing free recall and minimizing suggestive questioning
Training Instructors:
Michael E. Lamb, PhD
Michael E. Lamb is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1976 and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Goteborg (1995), East Anglia (2006), Abertay (2015), and Montreal (2019). Until 29 June 2016, he was a member of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry Panel.
Irit Hershkowitz, PhD
Irit Hershkowitz is a Professor of Social Work, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. Irit is one of the original developers of the NICHD Protocol and, more recently, of the Revised NICHD protocol. For three decades, she has conducted field research on best practice concerning child interviews and has specifically focused on the value of protocol-guided interviews.
Mireille Cyr, PhD
Mireille Cyr is a licensed psychologist and a professor in the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal. Among other research in child sexual abuse, she has conducted studies on the French version of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Protocol, that is now taught in Québec, Canada, and in many French-speaking countries in Europe. In the last 20 years, she has trained police officers and other psychosocial and judicial professionals, mostly in Europe and Canada.
Carlos Eduardo Peixoto, PhD
Carlos Eduardo Peixoto has a PhD in Psychology. He is a Forensic Psychologist in private practice and Invited Auxiliary Professor at ICBAS-University of Porto and the Catholic University of Portugal (Oporto Regional Centre). He has served as a trainer and consultant on forensic interviewing to international organizations (e.g. UNODC), police departments, child protection services, courts, public prosecution offices, law firms, and insurance companies, especially in Europe and South America.
Earning a Certificate
This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
CE Sponsorship Information
Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.
American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).
Sponsorship Approval Statements
Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.