When those who commit crimes against children are not held accountable for their actions due to lack of evidence and disclosure from a child, it can negatively affect the child and the perpetrator is free to sexually abuse other children. In a true collaborative effort of the Alaska Children’s Alliance, Department of Public Safety and Department of Law, the Office of Children’s Services, the UAA Child Welfare Academy and Child Advocacy Center staff and Multidisciplinary Team members, it took approximately 5 years to determine that ChildFirst™ was the best forensic interviewing protocol for Alaska and our myriad of cultures. Through the ChildFirst ™ protocol, children from different cultures—no matter what their degree of readiness to disclose–have the opportunity to talk to a forensic interviewer at their own pace. The protocol guidelines can be intertwined throughout the interview, but most importantly, the cultural aspect of Alaskan children is respected and this respect plays a major role in how the interview is conducted.
This project was also supported through funding from The Rasmuson Foundation, the Western Regional Child Advocacy Center and the National Children’s Alliance.

After acceptance of Alaska’s application to become a ChildFirst™ state, the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC) began the initial process. The first five day training session was held February 25 to March 1, 2013 at the Child Welfare Academy at the University of Alaska Anchorage. In January 2014, Alaska joined 19 other states as well as Japan and Columbia in becoming certified as a ChildFirst state.

Since the beginning of Child First™ in Alaska approximately 214 child protection professionals have been trained, representing state and local law enforcement, OCS, CAC staff, and Criminal & Civil attorneys from the Department of Law.

These individuals hail from around Alaska, including Nome, Barrow, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Kenai, Homer, Bethel, St. Mary’s, Aniak, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, Copper River Basin, Dillingham, Fairbanks, North Pole, Juneau. Seward, Soldotna, Anchor Point, Selawik, Wasilla, Palmer, Valdez, Craig, Unalakleet, McGrath, Sitka, Cordova, Aniak, Galena, Delta, Ketchikan and Anchorage ChildFirst™ Alaska Faculty and National Child Protection Training Center Staff celebrate Alaska receiving certification as a ChildFirst state L to R: Rita Farrell, NCPTC; Susanne Walters, NCPTC; Ginny Moring, Lori Markkanen, Lee Bruce, Johana McMahan, Tisha Simmons, Brittany Dunlop, Amy Russell, Executive Director NCPTC; Milton Bohac, Deven Cunningham, and Pam Karalunas, Chapter Coordinator, Alaska Children’s Alliance. Not pictured: Jessica Lawmaster, CFA faculty