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It’s Not Just You tells the story of two youth—Nishan and his family, when caseworkers visit their home; and Lila, when she is placed at her grandmother’s home by caseworkers after an incident.
To illustrate the common occurrences in child welfare cases, both stories showcase Nishan and Lila interacting with caseworkers, advocates, and counselors. Lila’s story also...
Brave Maya tells the story of what happens to a little girl named Maya after caseworkers visit her home.
To illustrate the common occurrences in child welfare cases, the story follows Maya as she meets with caseworkers, goes to court and meets her advocate, engages with a counselor, and receives support from external family members.
Throughout the...
These materials were specifically designed to appeal to children ages 12–18.
The goal of these materials is to provide effective, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate information and support to children in a way that they can more easily understand, so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered.
Learn more and view the guides below.
This guide, designed for practitioners...
I Am Malik tells the story of what happens to a young boy named Malik after he becomes a witness to and victim of a criminal incident involving his neighbor.
To illustrate common occurrences in criminal cases in which a child is a victim or witness, the story follows Malik as he talks to a counselor at school, goes...
Child and youth victims of trafficking have unique needs and experiences, both in terms of the dynamics of their exploitation and their potential interaction with the criminal justice system as a victim-defendant.
Unlike most other child victims and witnesses, trafficking survivors may have different roles within the justice system, including as a defendant in a criminal case. It is vital that they...
Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society and are widely held as needing greater care and protection. However, despite this, children are frequently victims of or witnesses to violence, abuse, and other crimes, including domestic violence, community violence, physical assault, sexual assault, commercial sexual exploitation, and child maltreatment.
Resulting from these high rates of exposure to violence, crime, and abuse...
Use these materials with children and youth who may have involvement with the justice system as the victim of or witness to a crime. The materials teach children about how the justice system works, what their rights are, and how they can cope with the difficult feelings they might have during the process.
Character booklets about criminal court roles and tips for coping are available...
Maya’s Homes—a companion piece to Brave Maya—tells the story of what happens to Maya after she is removed from her home and placed with another caregiver, her auntie.
To illustrate common occurrences in cases of child removal, the story follows Maya as she has questions about and adjusts to life in her new home; regularly...
These materials were designed for youth aged 12−18 who have experienced sex and labor trafficking, to help inform and empower them as they navigate through the justice system.
Funded by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), these materials were created with the input of those with similar lived experiences, and expert practitioners working in the anti-trafficking field.
While the materials...
Who Is Everybody? In Criminal Court is a brief guide in the I Am Malik series that explains the different roles of people that a child may interact with or hear about throughout their criminal case and in criminal court. It includes practical tips for preparing for court and information on some rights to which children are entitled.
Zoe’s Story shares the experiences of a young girl who was sex trafficked and presents in court as a defendant.
This graphic novel follows Zoe as she—
These materials were specifically designed to appeal to children of different age groups (ages 2–6, ages 7–12, and ages 13–18). However, you can use whichever set of materials seems most appropriate, given the child’s stage of development.
For each age group, there are materials about the criminal justice system and the child welfare system.
The goal of these materials is to provide...
Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials includes materials for young children ages 2 to 6 years old, school-age children ages 7 to 12 years old, and youth ages 13 to 18 years old. However, you can use whichever set of materials seems most appropriate for each child, given their stage of development.
For each age group, there are materials about the...
What Is Your Job? In Family or Dependency Court is a picture book in the Brave Maya series that explains the different roles of people that a child may interact with or hear about throughout their child welfare cases and in family or dependency court. It includes information on the role of the child in court and...
These materials were designed for youth aged 12−18 who have experienced sex and labor trafficking, to help inform and empower them as they navigate through the justice system.
They were created with the input of those with similar lived experiences, and expert practitioners working in the anti-trafficking field.
While the materials are intended to be relatable to the broadest...
Who Is Everybody? In Family or Dependency Court is a brief guide in the I Am Isabella series that explains the different roles of people that a child may hear of or interact with throughout their child welfare case and in family or dependency court.
It includes practical tips for preparing for court and information on some...
Sergio’s Story describes the experience of a young boy who was a victim of labor trafficking and is part of a federal case.
The story follows Sergio as he shares his experiences with a trusted adult, meets with a victim advocate in the prosecutor’s office who supported him as he navigated the criminal legal system, and receives support...
Use these materials with children and youth who may have involvement with family and dependency court as the victim of or witness to a crime. The materials teach children about how the child welfare system works, what their rights are, and how they can cope with the difficult feelings they might have during the process.
Character booklets about court roles...
Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials includes materials for young children ages 2 to 6 years old, school-age children ages 7 to 12 years old, and youth ages 13 to 18 years old. For each age group, there are materials about the criminal justice system and the child welfare system, so you can choose the materials that will be...
There’s More To Me is a graphic novel that tells the stories of five different youth—Alex, Jamal, Jesse, Amy, and Ari. Each character has their own experience as a victim or witness in a criminal case.
To illustrate the common occurrences in criminal cases in which youth are victims or witnesses, the stories showcase the characters interacting with victim...
Brave Oscar tells the story of what happens to a little boy named Oscar after his father is arrested.
To illustrate the common occurrences in criminal cases in which children are victims or witnesses, the story follows Oscar as he meets with a victim advocate and receives counseling, goes to court and testifies (this section is optional and may...
What’s Going On?—a companion piece to the Sergio’s Story, Zoe’s Story, and Jamie’s Story graphic novels—provides information about—
I Am Isabella tells the story of what happens to a young girl named Isabella after a caseworker visits her home.
To illustrate common occurrences in child welfare cases, the story follows Isabella as she meets a caseworker, talks to a counselor at school, goes to court and meets her advocate, and builds a network of support...
The Center for Court Innovation’s Child Witness Materials Project is a collaborative effort between the Center for Court Innovation, Center for Urban Pedagogy, and Alternate History Comics and is supported by cooperative agreements #2016-VF-GX-K011 and #2018-V3-GX-K069, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these...
Who’s That? In Family or Dependency Court—a complementary piece to It’s Not Just You—is a brief guide that explains the different roles of people that a teenager may interact with or hear about throughout their child welfare case and in family or dependency court. It includes practical tips for preparing for court and information on some...
