Meet the Forensic Interviewer for the Cortland County Child Advocacy Center, Geri Brooks

John Harrison: [00:00:00] Good morning everyone. It’s John Harrison in the Cayuga Health System sponsored studios for another edition of Meet Cortland County. And joining me in the studio this morning is Geri Brooks, the assistant director and forensic interviewer for the Cortland County Child Advocacy Center. Geri, thanks so much for joining.

Geri Brooks: Thanks for having me.

John Harrison: Of course. Glad to have you in the studio. Just kind of looking over, I guess, I have a little bit of a report on you. Looks like your, your job is, is very interesting and, and very beneficial for the community. Why don’t you tell people a little bit about.

Kind of what you do. We’ll, we’ll get started there.

Geri Brooks: I am an assistant director at the Court and Child Efficacy Center. Like you had said, I’m also a forensic interviewer. For years I worked in Rochester, New York at the Bona Child Efficacy Center as a forensic interviewer. I’ve interviewed a lot of children, that have been trafficked or exploited.

Coming here into the Cortland County, I am doing the same work in addition to being the assistant director.

John Harrison: Wow. How that. That move from Rochester, how’d that come about? How how’s the transition been and

Geri Brooks: I actually grew up here in Corland County. Oh, awesome.

In Cincinnati, New York. Went to college in the Rochester area, and that’s where I stayed and made [00:01:00] my career for 35 years.

John Harrison: Yeah.

Geri Brooks: And then coming back to my hometown now.

John Harrison: Yeah. Awesome. Great, great to have you back in your, your hometown and, doing this, this awesome work.

Forensic, interviewer, what exactly is that for the people who, who don’t know what? I guess a little more specific about what you do if, if you’re, kind of able to go into that. A

Geri Brooks: forensic interviewer is somebody who actually talks to children who’ve disclosed sex abuse, physical abuse.

Or perhaps have been a witness to a violent crime. So my job would be to elicit the details of whatever they disclosed for law enforcement or CPS for them to take the next step.

John Harrison: That’s, that’s great. And, a really great, resource to have. And I’m, I’m, I’m sure the job isn’t.

The easiest most days. But it’s definitely something that’s, that’s super important and really beneficial for the community. Yes. Are there any, resources, where, where do people go, maybe if they need to get in touch with you or if maybe they, they think, maybe they are a victim of, of something or they suspect somebody they know, maybe a victim, just, what are some of the resources and, and outlets they should look for?

Geri Brooks: Sure. There are some things online that parents or caregivers can [00:02:00] go look at. There is. The Nacmec National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There’s some good resources on there. There’s also, department of Homeland Security, there’s called the Blue Campaign. They also have some good resources.

Locally, they can always call the Child Advocacy Center as well. And we can give those numbers at the end. If they have found some information and they feel they’re immediate danger, definitely call 9 1 1 for the local authorities as well. Of course. And part of my job too is, when I, I hear these disclosures and I’m working with the youth, I’d like caregivers and parents to know in the area that.

It’s really important to watch, your child’s social media, or at least have those conversations with them. Talking about, the unsafe people that are trying to sort of trick them. And that’s part of being exploited is they’re finding ways to kids through gaming sites.

John Harrison: Yeah. And that’s something, I, I kind of, I, I feel like I take it a little bit for granted that I. Was raised in an era where the internet and video games and stuff were just starting to kind of come out and, and start [00:03:00] to be prevalent. So we were kind of able to, to. Learn and be a little bit more cautious take.

But kids today are, are, are growing up and it’s just part of their lives from the, the get go. And they Exactly. They don’t even think twice about, oh, this person followed me on TikTok or Instagram. For me, I’m like, well, who is this person? I don’t know them, but. I, I’m seeing it.

I’ve got nieces and nephews and, and everything. For parents out there, maybe with younger kids who are starting to get interested in the internet or maybe that they don’t know different ways to kind of monitor or, or help their kids, stay away from the certain, danger people.

What are, what are some of the things they should look for?

Geri Brooks: And that’s what we’re seeing actually, a lot of, like you said, just more and more kids are having phones earlier in ages. They’re gaming all the time at a very young age, which is fine. It’s just basically making sure they have those privacy settings set for parents.

Right. Talking to their kids about not adding people who they don’t know. All these gaming sites, if you’re gaming with somebody that you don’t know, don’t share any information with them. Don’t tell them where you live. And that’s where the, the grooming starts on these sites. Which is very [00:04:00] dangerous, getting to know the child and then they’re asking them privacy things or information that they shouldn’t be asking about, and then the next step possibly would be sending pictures or videos of their body, and that’s what’s very dangerous.

John Harrison: Yeah. And that’s definitely, something. Huge to lookout for, especially, parents, out there listening. Make sure that you’re aware of, of who your kids are interacting with and, and what they’re doing. Maybe, you don’t have to necessarily helicopter monitor, if, if your kid’s like, Hey man, you’re cramping my style, whatever.

But definitely be aware of what’s going on in their lives. And, and kind of be present with them. Correct. And the, the internet space is, is a huge, kind of a, a weird area now where we, we’re still kind of learning about it. Any, anything else, specifically with that, with, with internet and gaming, that maybe people should look out for?

Or are there specific resources, that you kinda know of for. Specifically like internet safety.

Geri Brooks: And I always tell parents too, when you have those conversations with kids to tell them, if they’re feeling weird about something whether they’re asking [00:05:00] them questions, somebody’s asking them questions, or asking them to do something that nobody else has ever done.

Trust your instincts. Know that that doesn’t feel right. And go find a trusted adult to tell, and understanding that you’d rather them tell you, and they’re not gonna be in trouble than have something happen and then, now be in a situation.

John Harrison: Trust those in instincts, if something seems weird, it probably is weird.

Probably is weird.

Geri Brooks: And, and these people, they’re, they’re finding new ways to connect with the kids and dangerous, whether it’s a new app all the time or somewhere in another gaming platform.

John Harrison: Of course. It’s, it’s ever evolving and, just staying ahead of the curve.

Geri, thanks so much for, for joining me. We’re running a, a little outta time here. Any last minute things you want to add? I just wanna

Geri Brooks: share you, like I said, I’ll give you the phone number for the Cortland County CAC. Go ahead. That number is 6 0 7 7 5 3 5 0 8 7. And of course they can also email if needed to or go on our, website.

That’s stop Child abuse Cortland at.org.

John Harrison: Awesome. Hey Geri, thanks so much for joining me. You’re welcome. This morning. You’re welcome. And, for folks listening at home, it’s been [00:06:00] John Harrison on X 1 0 1.