Every child deserves a skilled medical exam when abuse is suspected. Yet, sexually abused children in New York State are not getting adequate medical examinations or treatment. Vulnerable children must travel as far as 200 miles to see an expert in child abuse. Some children are seen by untrained professionals because there is no standard of care or quality assurance. A 2007 study by Drs. Brown and Hoffman-Rosenfeld demonstrated that experience alone did not equip clinicians with the knowledge to correctly perform and interpret child sexual abuse examinations. Continued CHAMP funding assures that more medical professionals will be trained to diagnose and treat child sexual abuse.
Ann S. Botash, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Educational Affairs at SUNY Upstate Medical University and a nationally-recognized expert in child abuse, founded the CHAMP program in 1997 with the help of a grant from the State Department of Health. She created a collaborative Network of 11 experts from across the state to mentor medical professionals who had completed specialized coursework in child sexual abuse evaluations.
In April 2006, the NYS Senate passed a bill to amend the social services law in statute to support the expansion of CHAMP. The CHAMP Network now has 10 Centers of Excellence headed by Mentors who are child abuse medical experts. You can view a map of these Centers by visiting www.champprogram.com/champ-centers-excellence.shtml .
The CHAMP Program is currently working to enable New York State Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) meet the new National Children's Alliance (NCA) Standards for medical evaluation of sexual abuse. To meet the requirement of quality assurance, CHAMP Mentors must submit anonymous cases for educational peer view. CHAMP Providers will begin submitting cases in the fall of 2008. A 2007 MDT/CAC survey demonstrated Multi-Disciplinary Team recognition and support of CHAMP's work to educate and train medical providers and indicated interest in education for the non-medical members of the MDTs.
With funding through the Office of Children and Family Service, CHAMP created a website, www.CHAMPprogram.com and a communication and information infrastructure to support the work of the Network. In September 2007 the website launched a public area to provide unrestricted access to information about child abuse. In February the website had over 2,000 visitors. CHAMP is now offering a free, online course Child Abuse Reporting: The Basics. Dr. Botash and other CHAMP Mentors are developing additional coursework for medical professionals and non-medical MDT members.
Continued funding will enable CHAMP to expand the role of the Centers of Excellence and provide online education and quality assurance to improve New York State’s medical response to child abuse.
