Pediatric Forensic Medicine Program

ABSTRACT Kentucky leads the nation in cases of child maltreatment for third year in a row, at a rate over two 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. Serving over 600 child victims of all forms of maltreatment each year, 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; 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 provide brief psychosocial interventions to non- offending caregivers to stabilize initial symptoms as well as group education and support through a non-offending caregiver group; the division’s CSW bridges services and referrals from the initial evaluation to follow up appointments and beyond. Ongoing support of this project will allow the continuation of these established services, as well as expand to provide needed social worker services in the evenings and on weekends to address complex psychosocial needs during after hours consultations.