We conduct trauma-informed, child-focused exams to assess for potential child maltreatment.
Ensuring Safe, Supportive Environments for Children
At Golisano Children's Hospital at University of Vermont Health, the experts in our Child Safe Program offer comprehensive evaluations on urgent and routine bases for children who are suspected to have experienced or be at risk of abuse and neglect. Our board-certified child abuse physician is among the only providers of this specialty in the region.
A trauma-informed approach is at the heart of everything we do. We consider how potential trauma affects each child and focus on supporting, empowering and treating them with compassion. Our goal is to ensure every child has the appropriate care and support to help keep them safe.
Our comprehensive guide, Vermont Child Abuse and Neglect: Guidelines and Resources for Health Care Professionals, is designed to support health care providers in identifying, evaluating and managing cases of child maltreatment.
What Families Can Expect During Assessment
We conduct trauma-informed, child-focused exams to assess for potential child maltreatment. Each appointment looks slightly different, depending on the child’s age and unique situation. Typically, we:
- Meet with the entire family to discuss the goals of the visit. We may meet with one or both caregivers separately from the child, if appropriate.
- Speak with the child separately, if the child is willing and age-appropriate. This is not a forensic interview; rather, it’s a conversation to discuss their health and physical safety.
- Physically examine the child, if the child is willing. Our trauma-informed approach means we always rely on a child’s cues and never make a physical exam mandatory. During the exam, we may identify injuries and diagnose or treat related infections or conditions.
- Recommend further testing, such as imaging or laboratory tests, if needed.
- Connect with our social worker and psychiatrist to provide follow-up care and resources.
- Report findings to the primary care provider and make recommendations for additional care.
It’s important for families to understand that our team isn’t part of law enforcement, Child Protective Services or the Department for Children and Families. We can’t definitively diagnose whether a child has been abused, but we can identify and support children who may be at risk of abuse.