Cynthia Urzua-Acosta
San Bernardino,CA
Summary
Seeking a Forensic Interviewer position where I can use interpersonal skills and develop new proficiencies in the field.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Forensic Interviewer
County of Riverside DPSS
01.2023 - Current
- Responsible to conduct interviews with children who are victims and witnesses of child abuse and neglect.
- Interview witnesses to violent crimes.
- Interview vulnerable children and adults with disabilities.
- Complete forensically sound, neutral and legal interviews.
- Gather information that can aide Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement Investigations.
- Work with Multi-Disciplinary Team members.
- Help train Law Enforcement agencies, Child Protective Services and other mandated reporters as to collecting Minimal Facts during an initial interview.
- Help facilitate Multi Disciplinary Team meetings, where the goal is to discuss child abuse cases with MDT partners; Law Enforcement, Social Workers, Loma Linda Forensic Pediatrics Team, Advocates, District Attorneys Office and Clinicians.
- Facilitate weekly, internal Case Reviews and provide feedback as to each family/interviewee to verify services for each.
- Facilitate intimate Case Reviews between Child Protective Services, Law Enforcement, Forensic Pediatrics medical team and County Counsel to discuss concerns and next steps as to specific investigations of child abuse and neglect.
- Schedule forensic interviews.
- Schedule medical exams for children with physical abuse and sexual abuse concerns.
- Consult emergency referrals with Loma Linda Forensic Pediatric Team.
- Attend ongoing training through National Criminal Justice Training Center, Calico Center, Children's Advocacy Center of California (CACC) and Riverside County, to gain further knowledge and stay updated with forensic research.
- Attend quarterly Peer Reviews with Riverside County Forensic Interviewer's.
- Attend ongoing English and Spanish Peer Reviews with National Children's Advocacy Center.
Social Service Practitioner III
County of Riverside, DPSS, Children’s Services Division-Investigative Services
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Carry a caseload of the more difficult types of social service cases requiring a high degree of technical competence
- Respond to referrals within the appropriate time frame
- Attend Forensic Interviews
- Submit referrals for forensic medical exams on referrals with physical and sexual abuse
- Conduct joint investigations with Law Enforcement
- Knowledge and navigation of CMS/CWS data system
- Run criminal background and CWS case and referral history on clients
- Maintain casework records and prepare reports and correspondences for court
- Frequently conduct field visits
- Carry out safety plans
- Observe and assess client needs
- Provide information and social work services
- Write and obtain warrants for detention
- Write Detention Reports and Addendums to the Juvenile Dependency Court
- Obtain Minute Orders and act on Forthwith orders
- Assess family's environment in order to determine potential or imminent risk to the safety of children residing in the household; when safety needs dictate, remove children from home and transport them, complying with all safety regulations, including the use of age appropriate California safety mandated equipment, during initial removal or facilitating a placement change
- Maintain up-to-date electronic records of all aspects of client case management in a centralized database
Social Service Practitioner I-II
County of Riverside, DPSS, Children’s Services Division-Investigative Services
07.2020 - 01.2022
- Prepare reports and correspondence; Interpret public social service regulations and policies to clients and the public
- Knowledge and navigation of CMS/CWS data system
- Complete opening and closing summaries for referrals
- Run criminal background and CWS case and referral history on clients
- Obtain police records and document the information
- Obtain school records and document the information
- Perform saliva drug tests on parents or caregivers and document the information
- Conduct follow-up contacts with children and their families and provide SSPIII with an update
- Assist with placement and placement changes
- Attend forensic interviews and exams relevant to sexual abuse
- Serve as a liaison for a specialized sexual abuse investigation unit
- Knowledge and expertise in sexual abuse, forensic interviewing and CAN procedures
- Transport children to CAN and RCCAT examinations
- Attend Court
- Assist with Court report delivery
- Assist with follow up calls with collaterals
- Assist with contact notes entries for the case carrying social worker
- Assist with investigations and interviewing with a trauma-informed approach
- Community outreach and partnership with community partners
- Assist in implementation of safety planning
- Provide resources and referrals for ongoing support
- Conduct unbiased field investigations and present facts during the course of the investigation
- Review case information, police reports, medical reports and forensic interviews
- Gather information to complete an investigation
Senior Judicial Assistant
El Mirage City Court
12.2016 - 05.2019
- Sentence Criminal Misdemeanors
- Sentence Civil Traffic cases
- Issue Injunctions Against Harassment/Orders of Protection
- Assist the Judge in Civil and Criminal Proceedings
- Explain oaths, affirmations and sentencing documents to defendants
- Issue/Clear Arrest Warrants
- Train new employees and verify their work for accuracy
- Monitor and manage trainees work for efficiency
- Personalize training plans
- Thoroughly review cases ready for closure
- Verify defendant's counseling compliance
- Case carrying social service actions
- Public Service
- Community partnership
- Research
- Documentation
- Assisting families
- Manage complex cases
DCS Specialist II
State of Arizona-Department of Child Safety
11.2014 - 07.2016
- Investigate allegations of abuse/neglect in children services, to assess safety concerns and determine appropriate action and method of service delivery concerning safety and risk for children
- Write/obtain warrants, detain children and facilitate appropriate placement in out of home care
- Perform difficult social service casework dealing with highly complex and difficult families and outcomes in such areas as; sexual abuse, general neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse investigations, placement, preventative services, Court ordered services, and home studies
- Attend Child Family Team Meetings (CFTM) and Court hearings for dependency cases
- Diffuse crisis situations
- Extensive interviewing of children and families to assess for safety
- Develop intense long or short term treatment plans to improve or restore individual and/or family functioning
- Identify clients’ specific needs, their ability to benefit from community resources and provide referrals aimed to stabilize the family unit
- Work in conjunction with external agencies, law enforcement, community partners, substance abuse, domestic violence resources, mental health, CSEC, and ICWA
- Wrote detailed petitions and Court reports
- Knowledge of juvenile Court and proceedings
- Attend meetings and trainings, provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers
- Culturally competent
- Interpret public social service regulations and policies to clients and the public
- Trained mandated reporter
- Provide crisis intervention services for crime victims
- Trauma-informed approach when conducting investigations
- Conduct joint investigations with law enforcement
- Review case information, police reports, medical reports and forensic interviews
- Conduct unbiased investigations and present facts during the course of the investigation
- Review prior child welfare history for each family
- Work in close cooperation with County Counsel
- Run criminal background checks for all caregivers
Eligibility Worker II
San Bernardino County-Transitional Assistance Department
05.2010 - 11.2014
- Interview clients who seek government assistance
- Determine eligibility for public assistance programs such as: CalWORKS, Food Stamps, and Medi-Cal
- Interpret and explain program regulations
- Instruct clients in the completion of forms
- Compute and authorize grant amounts
- Discuss employment opportunities and available resources with clients
- Complete work within established deadlines
- Manage a complex caseload
Education
Child Forensic Interview Training
03.2023
Induction Training -
Department of Social Services
07.2020
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
ITT Technical Institute
San Bernardino, CA09.2013
Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- Outlook
- PowerPoint
- Analytical skills
- Organizational skills
- Time management skills
- CWS/CMS database
- Bilingual
- Strategic thinking
- Solution focused
- Customer engagement skills
- Collaborative problem-solver
References
References available upon request
Certification
Child Forensic Interview Training
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Forensic Interviewer
County of Riverside DPSS
01.2023 - Current
Social Service Practitioner III
County of Riverside, DPSS, Children’s Services Division-Investigative Services
01.2022 - 01.2023
Social Service Practitioner I-II
County of Riverside, DPSS, Children’s Services Division-Investigative Services
07.2020 - 01.2022
Senior Judicial Assistant
El Mirage City Court
12.2016 - 05.2019
DCS Specialist II
State of Arizona-Department of Child Safety
11.2014 - 07.2016
Eligibility Worker II
San Bernardino County-Transitional Assistance Department
05.2010 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
ITT Technical Institute
Child Forensic Interview Training
Induction Training -
Department of Social Services
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