Ms. Fortin received her BS in Criminology from University of La Verne in 1986 and her MSW from San Diego State University in 1989. In 1993, Ms. Fortin became licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in California.

Ms. Fortin has specialized in the area of child sexual abuse since 1990. She began her career working as a Protective Service Worker for the Department of Social Services from 1989-1991. From there, she transitioned to a residential treatment facility for juvenile sexual offenders providing individual, group and family therapy. Ms. Fortin went on to work with adult sexual offenders at the Navy Family Advocacy Program's, Child Sexual Abuse Division. She provided assessment, treatment and monitoring of active duty alleged sexual offenders.

In 2000, Ms. Fortin decided to return to work with the victims. She has been a forensic interviewer since that time, employed by the Chadwick Center

at Children's Hospital, interviewing alleged victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, and witness to homicide. She interfaces on a daily basis with medical personnel, law enforcement, district attorney's and CPS workers.

Mrs. Fortin has been considered an expert witness in the area of child sexual abuse in military, juvenile, and criminal court proceedings. Likewise, Ms. Fortin has presented and trained on the topic of child sexual abuse throughout the State. She also serves as a consultant and mentor to students, practitioners, and professionals in the area of child sexual abuse.

She is a member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist (CAMFT), American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), and California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO). Her article entitled "The forensic interview of child victims: Listening to what they can tell us about offenders behavior" was published in CCOSO Quarterly Newsletter, Perspectives (Winter 2005).