In Movement: 7 Questions with Drs. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett and Jillian Carden | Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services | Elizabethtown, Kentucky
June 3, 2026
Welcome to In Movement! In this segment of our blog, we interview thought leaders from within our own organizations – from CACs and MDTs and partner agencies – to gain insight into how they have furthered the movement, and how the movement has changed them. We look forward to benefiting from the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and the future they envision for themselves, our centers and teams, and the children and families we serve.
In the summer of 2024, in the lush green hills of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, an idea was taking root.
Kimberly Mudd-Fegett, DSW, MSSW, LSW who is a Forensic Interviewer at Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services and an Associate Professor of Social Work at Campbellsville University, had been researching resources to help prepare children for forensic interviews but she could not find age-appropriate materials created specifically for children. So, she approached Silverleaf’s Executive Director Jillian Carden, Psy.D with her idea. Dr. Carden serves as the Executive Director of Silverleaf, which provides free services to victims of sexual violence in our communities. She has been a forensic interviewer since 2019 and a clinical psychologist since 2008. Silverleaf is the regionally designated Rape Crisis and Child Advocacy Center in Elizabethtown, KY.
Together, Drs. Carden and Mudd-Fegett created My Brave Voice. This book is for every child and caregiver who comes to a forensic interview at Silverleaf, and provides them with basic information on what they might experience. Since its publication, copies of My Brave Voice have been distributed to law enforcement and the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) in Silverleaf’s 8-county service area. While the book is published and available on Amazon, the books being distributed to community partners are at no cost to them or families.
We asked Drs. Carden and Mudd-Fegett to participate in our Member Spotlight Interview Series. We invite you to read on and get to know more about these remarkable women.
Why did you choose this as a career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: I did not choose forensic interviewing; rather, I was called to social work as a young teenager. Over the years, my education and professional experiences have shaped the interviewer I am today. It is both an honor and a privilege to be trusted with the stories children share with me each day.
Dr. Jillian Carden: When I was 6 years old, I had an uncle who was having significant struggles with depression. As a child, I didn’t realize that he was suffering from PTSD from war and his divorce had triggered a spiral. What I did know is that I loved him, he lived with us for a year, and slowly he got better. At the dinner table, I told my parents that I wanted to grow up to be the person who helped him. And thus, my dream of being a mental health therapist was born.
What’s something interesting you’ve learned recently?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: There is great comfort in being still and truly hearing others. Too often, we as individuals are concerned with being first—being heard, being seen, and always staying busy. Yet there is great power in slowing down. As Lila Bennet once said, “Stillness is where the magic happens; allow yourself the time to be quiet and reflective.” As forensic interviewers, it is essential that we appreciate the importance of silence within interviews, allowing space for children to share their experiences in their own time and in their own words. Silence is not emptiness; it is an opportunity for trust, courage, and truth to emerge. It is equally important that we seek moments of stillness outside of our work. Taking time for silence and reflection allows us to find peace, solace, and self-care preparing our hearts and minds for the next child who will need our support.
Dr. Jillian Carden: The smallest gesture can have a significant impact. A genuine smile and “good morning.” A small compliment – “I love that coat.” A cup of coffee for the detective who has worked through the night or a package of crackers to a hungry child. The comfort of a quiet space to shut out the noise, for just a few minutes. It’s the little things that help us feel connected and human.
What’s a challenge you and your colleagues feel proud of solving?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: There is no greater professional accomplishment or source of pride for me than My Brave Voice. I first recognized the need for this book in 2017 when I noticed the overwhelming number of children arriving at our center for interviews feeling confused, scared, and overwhelmed by the process. My pride in this book does not come simply from the fact that my co-authors and I created a children’s book. Rather, it comes from the moments when I see children arrive at the center with our book in their hands, or when community partners excitedly share how they used this tangible tool to help explain the forensic interview process to a child.
Dr. Jillian Carden: Sexual trauma should never happen. Period. When it does, it creates a storm of issues for the victim and their loved ones. The systems can be overwhelming and are often not set up to support victims. We are proud that we can focus on the victim, with a servant’s heart, trauma-focused lens, and excellent customer services. We are honored to walk alongside victims in their healing journey.
What about your work inspires you and keeps you going?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: My greatest inspiration comes from knowing that forensic interviewing is not just what I do, it is what I am called to do. Like the starfish along the shoreline, each one matters. In the same way, there will always be children whose stories need to be heard. As long as those voices exist, I will continue to show up and listen.
Dr. Jillian Carden: The survivors. Their resilience in spite of the evil that has been done to them. Their courage to say what happened. The strength to face their perpetrators. Their willingness to keep going. Their sheer grit to hang on to joy and determination to find safety in a world that has been anything but. I am inspired every day by survivors.
What’s the biggest need for kids you think we can meet in the next five years?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: The greatest need for children facing trauma will always be to feel believed, heard, supported, and empowered. Ensuring that children know their voices matter remains at the heart of effective services and advocacy. Over the past twelve months, however, there have been notable shifts in service needs. One significant change is the increasing need for immediate electronic evidence collection so that this information can be incorporated into forensic interviews. At our center, we have experienced a significant rise in human trafficking interviews, many of which involve electronic sources and devices. Without the ability to quickly access and review electronic evidence, the quality and completeness of information gathered before, during, and after the forensic interview can be significantly impacted. Timely access to this evidence is critical to ensuring that interviews are informed, thorough, and supportive of the child’s experience while also strengthening the investigative process.
Dr. Jillian Carden: Their need to be heard. By truly listening to what they are saying, how they are struggling, who they need and how they need them to show up. And then responding with kindness, knowledge and resources to help…. while offering to be an advocate when, as children, they do not naturally have the power to get their needs met. If a child walks out of our center and feels heard and seen, we can offset trauma and teach them that there are safe people who believe them and will help them grow.
What do you think the ideal future looks like for kids?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: Although I cannot erase the pain or trauma that many children may experience. My vision for ideal future is one where every child feels empowered, hopeful, and supported, and understands that their Voice holds the power to create meaningful change.
Dr. Jillian Carden: Ideal – a safe world. Safety from abuse and violence. Feeling safe going to school, to practice and home. No fear of the night or what might happen. The ability to be a child without worry of having to protect others.
What’s next for you?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett: To create the next book within the My Brave Voice series – one that uplifts, empowers, and supports children as they heal from experiences of trauma. There are additional areas within the center that would greatly benefit from a tangible tool like a children’s book. As we developed My Brave Voice, the need for additional resources like this became increasingly clear.
Dr. Jillian Carden: I’m in a season where my children are growing rapidly and will soon leave the nest (oh my heart!). So, on the horizon, transformation is coming. As far as work, I’m leaning in, continuing to learn, and always looking for ways to elevate what we do and who we serve. And, Dr. Mudd-Fegett already has a second and third book in mind!
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