Child Abuse Pediatrics

Child abuse pediatrics is a subspecialty certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, focusing exclusively on the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of all forms of child abuse and neglect. Physicians in this field are committed to addressing the distinct physical, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of maltreated children and their families.

Located at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, The SAFE Clinic provides specialized services to potential victims of child abuse and neglect. Referrals to this clinic may be initiated by:

• Medical providers
• Oklahoma Human Services investigators
• Law enforcement officers
• Parents when maltreatment is suspected

Appointments are required. Scheduling an appointment with the SAFE Clinic ensures timely evaluation by a Child Abuse Pediatrics provider and avoids unnecessary emergency department wait times.

The Child Protection Team

The Child Protection Team comprises medical professionals, a social worker, and a patient care coordinator. The medical team conducts comprehensive medical evaluations for suspected cases of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological maltreatment. These evaluations are provided across all hospital settings, such as inpatient units, intensive care units, emergency departments, and outpatient clinics. All appointments and assessments are coordinated by the team coordinator and patient care coordinator.

Child Protection Team services are available to children from the entire state of Oklahoma. Members of the Child Protection Team also provide education about child maltreatment within the hospital and throughout the state.

Consultations

Child Abuse Pediatrics Providers are available for professionals, including medical providers, law enforcement and Oklahoma Human Services investigators, who have questions regarding the possibility of child abuse or neglect night and day.

You can reach us Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at (405) 271-7233. After hours, please call the hospital operator at (405) 271-3636 and request the child abuse pediatrics provider on call. We can also be reached by email for non-urgent consultation at safe.clinic@ouhealth.com.

Inpatient Consultations

Inpatient consultations can be performed at the request of a medical provider caring for the child. These can be completed at any Oklahoma Children’s Hospital inpatient location, the emergency department and clinic locations. The on-call provider can be reached via the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital operator system, (405) 271-3636. It is preferable that the child abuse pediatrics provider is contacted directly by the treating team to discuss the case specifics.

Forensic Interviews

A forensic interview is a trauma informed, developmentally sensitive, and legally sound method of gathering information regarding allegations of abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence.

Forensic interviews are conducted with children aged 3-17, by a specially trained, neutral professional, utilizing research and practice-informed techniques as part of a larger investigative process. Forensic interviews can be conducted in the SAFE Clinic at the request of law enforcement or Oklahoma Human Services investigators.

Multidisciplinary Team

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Child Protection Team Multidisciplinary Team meets weekly to review cases of possible child maltreatment, evaluating them from medical, legal, child welfare, social, and mental health perspectives. The meetings include child maltreatment medical providers, mental health providers, law enforcement personnel, District Attorneys, and Oklahoma Human Services personnel. Additional Oklahoma Children’s Hospital personnel, students from various disciplines, and representatives from other agencies frequently attend to assess agency responses and decide if further services are needed. Information discussed at the meeting is strictly confidential.