Child Abuse and Prevention

More than 3 million American children are reported as abused or neglected every year. That’s just what’s reported – imagine how many cases never reach an agency. On any given day, three to five percent of Children’s inpatient population are here because of abuse or neglect. From 2004 to 2006, 34% of children under the age of one entering our trauma program were non-accidental traumas. Another 30% were listed as falls, many of which were suspected as abuse or neglect.

We have had the SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) Team in place since 1999. This is a multi-disciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, law enforcement, Child Welfare, public health and other individuals and groups (as necessary).  It's designed to help identify and act upon suspected cases of abuse.
 
Our Child Advocacy Program addresses abuse in a different way. The program currently operates a clinic one day a week and sees follow-up patients and outside referrals. Staff are trained in both the physical and psycho-social aspects of child abuse. Their focus is specifically on elements of abuse, neglect and endangerment – not completely on injury treatment.

Another ambitious element of the program is prevention. Our team is partnering with organizations like the Child Abuse Prevention Councils of California, Comprehensive Youth Services, Child Welfare Services, Exceptional Parents Unlimited and county health departments to provide education to parents and caregivers. We truly hope to offer significant knowledge capital for child abuse prevention in the Valley.

There are many agencies in our region who address this horrifying problem and do their best to help kids every day. We are a regional powerhouse when it comes to pediatric care, and we work very hard to leverage that strength in child abuse prevention. We have lofty goals, but we want to make sure that if children are harmed, Children’s Hospital – and everything we have to offer – will be there to treat and defend them.