The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy is currently undergoing a scheduled review by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This includes an opportunity to receive comments from the public.
You may submit comments directly to CALEA at https://cimrs2.calea.org/232

Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy
A Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Training Academy
Child First
Course length
40
About the course
ChildFirst™ Virginia is an intensive five day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct an investigative, forensic interview of a suspected victim of child abuse. This interactive course includes lectures; skill-building exercises; the review of recorded interviews; homework reading assignments; and a written examination at the end of the course. Participants also must conduct a 25-minute interview of a professional actor portraying the role of an abused child. Upon completion of the mock interview, the interviewer receives constructive feedback from a professional forensic interviewer and a group of fellow students. Successful participants will receive a Certificate of completion.
This program is specifically designed for investigative teams of law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, child protective attorneys, and forensic interviewers.
ChildFirst™ brings the field into the classroom to enhance the education of front-line child abuse professionals.