ACA Consulting provides developmentally appropriate support to legal professionals navigating complex cases involving children, families, and vulnerable individuals. Founded by Amanda McVay, a seasoned expert with over 25 years in child welfare and over 3,000 forensic interviews conducted, ACA delivers ethical, objective guidance to help attorneys and courts make informed, child-centered decisions.

ACA Consulting exists to provide trauma-informed interviews, consultation, and expert insight that help attorneys and professionals make informed decisions in legal matters involving children, survivors, and families experiencing high stress.Our mission is to strengthen legal processes through thoughtful, child-centered support across civil, criminal, and family law cases.

I founded ACA Consulting to fill a gap in supportive, child-centered consulting for legal and investigative professionals. As a trained Child Forensic Interviewer and former Child Protection Investigator, I bring over 25 years of experience in child welfare and have conducted more than 3,000 forensic interviews with children.My passion lies in helping children share their experiences in safe, developmentally appropriate ways and ensuring their voices are reflected clearly and ethically in legal proceedings. I also value holding space for adult survivors and caregivers navigating parenting stress, legal involvement, or first time disclosures.Whether I’m consulting on high-conflict custody cases, advising law enforcement & investigators, or preparing expert testimony, I offer grounded and objective insight rooted in best practices and compassion.

Services are available on a flexible basis, including hourly consultation, flat-rate evaluations, and customized support designed to meet your unique needs.While ACA's primary focus is case consultation and expert support, limited speaking or training opportunities are available by request. These sessions offer practical guidance on interviewing practices, trauma impact, or child development in legal contexts.Amanda offers a brief initial consultation to help determine the best approach for your case, organization, or team.

ACA Consulting partners with professionals across legal, investigative, and child-serving systems, including:
• Family law, criminal defense, prosecuting, and juvenile attorneys
• Civil litigators handling trauma or child-involved cases
• Children’s attorneys & custody evaluators
• CASA advocates, parenting coordinators, and mediators
• Law enforcement agencies & private investigators
• Court Systems, Judges, and Child Advocacy Centers

These evaluations provide child-centered insight in cases where:
• A developmentally appropriate, child-led interview is need to gather more information from the child in their own words
•There is a need to better understand the child’s emotional and relational functioning across family systems
•Professionals are seeking timely input to inform temporary parenting plans or transitions
•High-conflict dynamics raise concerns about coercion, alignment, or undue influenceEvaluations include:
•Interview with the child, tailored to their age and developmental level
•Interview with parent(s) to gather relevant contextual and historical information
•A brief written summary of the child's emotional well-being, behavior, and family relationships
•Optional observation of parent-child interaction, when relevant to the case
•Clear findings to assist with interim parenting time, reunification planning, or judicial decision-making
•Designed to support — not replace — a full custody or psychological evaluation when those services are delayed or unavailable

Civil cases involving children or emotionally impacted individuals often require specialized insight to understand behavior, trauma response, or developmental needs. I support legal teams handling complex matters such as personal injury, school-based harm, institutional negligence, harassment, and other cases involving minors or vulnerable adults.Support includes:
•Thorough review of case records, discovery, and multidisciplinary documentation
•Developmentally appropriate interviews with child, teen, or adult plaintiffs, witnesses, or family members to provide context and understanding
•Review of prior interviews for adherence to best practices and procedures
•Input on how trauma or developmental factors may affect emotional responses, behavior, or memory
•Consultation to help organize complex timelines, and relational dynamics
•Neutral preparation support for minors or trauma survivors for deposition or courtroom testimony
•Services tailored to case needs, available as a one-time consult or ongoing supportI provide objective, developmentally informed insight that helps legal teams better understand case dynamics, behaviors, and timelines in emotionally complex matters.

Expert witness support can be a key asset in both pre-trial and courtroom settings. I offer clear, grounded input on issues related to child development, disclosure dynamics and best practices in interviewing.Services include:
•Testimony explaining child development, trauma, disclosure dynamics, memory, and interview standards
•Review of forensic and other interviews for adherence to best practices and procedural soundness
•Review and clarification of opposing expert opinions
•Verbal consultation and written summary, as neededWhether clarifying complex behavior or explaining developmental factors, I provide objective, accessible analysis to legal teams and the court.

I collaborate with investigators and law enforcement to support interviews and documentation involving children, teens, and vulnerable adults. My focus is on neutrality, objectivity, and minimizing traumatization, while maintaining best practices and developmentally appropriate engagement.Support includes:
•Conducting or reviewing developmentally appropriate interviews with minors, and vulnerable adults
•Minimal facts or clarification interviews when timely, non-leading input is needed
•Reviewing interview content for adherence to investigative protocols
•Consulting on how developmental stages or trauma history may affect communication, behavior, or disclosure
•Reviewing and providing input on ODHS screening reports, safety plans, or documentation relevant to investigations
•Providing consultation on developmental or behavioral factors in complex timelines or case dynamics
•Supporting cross-agency communication and alignment with best practicesWhether working behind the scenes or directly with your team, I help ensure investigative processes remain thorough, developmentally appropriate, and objective.

Let's Connect!

Need support on a case involving children or vulnerable individuals?Whether you're looking for expert insight into child development, forensic interview review, or guidance on complex case dynamics - I'm here to help. I work with attorneys, investigators, agencies, and court professionals to offer clear, developmentally informed perspectives that support thoughtful, ethical casework.Feel free to reach out using the form below & I'll respond directly.

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