Shannon Wood, LCSW-C
Shannon Wood, LCSW-C, is a Forensic Interviewer and the Operations Supervisor of the Forensic Interview Research & Education (FIRE) Program at Center for Hope, where she has been working since 2011. Shannon’s career began in 1995 as a Clinical Social Worker working with child survivors of abuse and non-offending caregivers. This led her to recognize the difficulties faced by children as they move through the forensic interview process as well as the criminal justice system. She utilized her clinical skills and an abiding interest in linguistic development to assist children and make broad changes in the services they receive.

To that end, she began working as a Forensic Interviewer in 1998 at the Baltimore Child Abuse Center. In 1999, she joined the Felony Family Violence Division at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, as a Clinical Social Worker and Forensic Interview Specialist. In addition to coordinating physical abuse investigations, she broadened the forensic interview program to include survivors and witnesses of sexual and physical abuse, child witnesses of homicide, domestic violence, and arson, as well as other felonies. Shannon also prepared child witnesses for the challenging process of testifying in criminal court.

Shannon has been a Field Instructor and Adjunct Faculty member for the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, co-teaching Introduction to Forensic Social Work. She was a member of the Core Training Team of ChildFirst Maryland and is trained in numerous forensic interview protocols accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. Shannon continues to conduct forensic interviews and provides interview training and supervision locally, nationally, and internationally.

Back to Team Page