Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Pediatric Forensic Medicine VOCA Abstract and Goals
Kentucky is now ranked 14th in the nation for child maltreatment but our rate still remains just
over 1.5 times the national average. Kentucky also has higher than average rates of co-occurring
parental substance misuse and intimate partner violence, further complicating the needs of the
children and families who arrive at University of Kentucky Pediatric Forensic Medicine (PFM)
for services. PFM is one of only two specialized child maltreatment teams in the
Commonwealth. During the last complete VOCA grant cycle, PFM served over 884 child
victims of all forms of maltreatment. PFM plays an integral role in evaluating, identifying and
treating childhood physical and sexual abuse and neglect.
PFM provides highly specialized services through specially trained medical and social work
clinicians who work collaboratively with child protective services, law enforcement, medical
providers and other service agencies to keep Kentucky’s children safe. An interdisciplinary
approach to these most vulnerable victims is necessary to provide comprehensive services that
can ensure access to evidence based medical treatment, safety for the child and support for the
non-offending caregiver. Forensic nurses and child abuse pediatricians provide evidence based
medical evaluation and treatment recommendations at initial consults and follow up evaluations;
social workers provide evidence-based psychosocial interviews to gain a full picture of the
family dynamics and the presence of risk and protective factors in the family, making clinical
recommendations for interventions for the child and caregivers. Licensed clinical social workers
(LCSWs) provide brief psychosocial interventions to non-offending caregivers and provide
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to child and caregiver dyad to improve attachment and
attunement, repairing relationships and reducing risk of maltreatment. LCSWs also provide
support and intervention at follow up appointments. Ongoing support of this project will allow
the continuation of these established services in a State that is deeply impacted by childhood
maltreatment.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 10/1/24 → 9/30/25 |
Funding
- KY Justice Cabinet: $257,151.00
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