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Statewide Training Team

Our statewide training faculty includes some of the most knowledgeable and experienced forensic interviewers in Oregon. Our faculty is an essential component of our efforts to train Forensic Interviewers and multidisciplinary team (MDT) members through:

  • Oregon Child Forensic Interview Training (OCFIT)
  • Collaborative Child Abuse Response (CCAR)
  • Project Ability: Interviewing Children with Disabilities
  • Use of Tools During the Forensic Interview
  • Trauma Informed Interviewing

Every OCAS training program is collaborative, utilizing the skills and expertise amongst CAC staff and partnering with other statewide entities to develop, revise, manage and promote the programs. Our Statewide Trainers are an essential part of meeting our vision of each training program. 

In this role, they are able to share not only their expertise, but also regional needs, resources, and the most up to date research. Their dedication, experience and skills help improve the field and ensure children take their first steps toward healing through their interactions with trained and qualified interviewers and first responders in their communities.

 

Regional Trainers

Cari Allen

Forensic Interviewer, Jackson County CAC

Cari Allen has been the Program Director and Child Forensic Interviewer at Jackson County Children’s Advocacy Center since 2007. She has been a member of the statewide training team for OCFIT, advanced trainings since 2012. Cari is a member of the Regional Service work group that was responsible for developing curriculum for numerous state wide trainings. In this role she also supported the development of the 3rd-5th editions of the Oregon Interview Guidelines. Cari has presented nationally at the APSAC Colloquium, and the Dallas Crimes Against Children Conference. 

Aly Golditch

Forensic Interviewer, Kids FIRST

Aly stepped into her role as a Forensic Interviewer at Kids FIRST in Eugene, OR in 2021. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon. Aly is a member of the state training team for CCAR, trains new Lane County multidisciplinary team partners on the forensic interview process, and regularly participates in both regional and national peer review. She also has experience in LGBTQIA+ training and programming. Aly has worked with child victims of abuse and their families since 2014 through her experience as a former Victim Advocate and Child Protective Services caseworker.

Katie Greathouse, MSW, LCSW

Forensic Interviewer/Regional Trainer, Mt. Emily Safe Center

Katie Greathouse is the Program Manager, Regional Trainer and Child Forensic Interviewer at Mt. Emily Safe Center in La Grande. Katie has been a member of the state training team for OCFIT, advanced child forensic interviewer trainings, and other statewide trainings since 2012. She is a member of the Regional Service work group that is responsible for developing curriculum for numerous statewide trainings and supported the development of the 3rd-5th editions of the Oregon Interviewing Guidelines. Katie has presented nationally at the APSAC Colloquium, the Dallas Crimes Against Children Conference and the San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment.

Rachel Petke, LCSW

Forensic Interviewer Supervisor, CARES Northwest

Rachel has been working with children and families for over twenty years. Her experience includes both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, as well as program supervision and development. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1998. Rachel has been a forensic interviewer at CARES Northwest in Portland since 2004 and has been the supervisor since 2018. She facilitates peer review for center based forensic interviewers and provides trainings for multidisciplinary professionals working in the field of child abuse. Rachel has been a member of the statewide training team for OCFIT since 2017.

Nichole Schumann, MS

Forensic Interviewer/Regional Services Coordinator, Kids FIRST Center

Nichole is the Lead Forensic Interviewer and Regional Trainer at Kids FIRST, in Eugene. Nichole has been practicing as a forensic Interviewer since 2006 and has worked in the field of child abuse for over twenty years. Since 2012, she has been a member of the statewide training team presenting and creating curriculum for OCFIT, CCAR, and other advanced training topics. In her role she has helped develop the 3rd-5th editions of the Oregon Interviewing Guidelines.

Jennifer Wheeler, LPC

Child Abuse Interviewer, CARES Northwest

Jennifer Wheeler has been a forensic interviewer at CARES Northwest in Portland since 2004. Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked with children and families in a variety of settings prior to interviewing.  Since 2013, she has been a member of the statewide training team and is a regional service provider responsible for updating and developing curriculum for various statewide trainings, including OCFIT.  She also supported the writing of the 4th and 5th editions of the Oregon Interviewing Guidelines.

Non-Regional Trainers

Samantha Fenner, MS

Lead Child Forensic Interviewer, Klamath-Lake CARES 

Samantha Fenner has been the Lead Child Forensic Interviewer at Klamath-Lake CARES since 2006.  She has been a member of the statewide training team for OCFIT and other statewide trainings since 2014.  Samantha is a member of the work group that developed the Oregon Interviewing Guidelines, 5th Edition.

Esther Friedman

Staff Interviewer, Liberty House 

Esther Friedman has been a forensic interviewer since 2009 and currently works at Liberty House in Salem serving Marion and Polk counties. She has been a member of the statewide training team for OCFIT since 2014 and has presented other statewide and local trainings on topics such as trauma, memory, interviewing and use of tools. Esther moderates peer review for the Midwest Regional CAC and specializes in interviewing children and adults with disabilities and children with mental health issues. Esther has Masters Degrees in Bilingual Education and Special Education as well as doctoral training in clinical psychology. She was trained as an interviewer by the American Professional Society on the Abuse. She has worked with children since 1992 in various roles and is a licensed special education teacher as well as a trained interpreter. She has been training adults since 2005.

Julie Siepmann, LCSW

Clinical Services Director & Lead Forensic Interviewer, Juliette’s House

Julie started working as a forensic interviewer in 1999 at CARES NW in Portland, Oregon.  She joined the staff at Juliette’s House in 2007.  In 2016, Julie was named Clinical Services Director, overseeing the administrative aspects of the assessment program, ensuring quality, trauma-informed evaluations for children and teens, maintaining strong relationships with community partners, and providing community outreach and education. Julie is the facilitator of the Yamhill County Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team and is the Clinical Supervisor for the Trauma Recovery Services Program. She also oversees the Facility Dog program at Juliette’s House as primary handler to Courthouse Facility Dog, MacDougal “Mac.” She holds a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University and a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.