Child Advocacy and Protection
Corewell Health Children's has long recognized the importance of a multidisciplinary response to the problem of child maltreatment. By forming the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Team in 1980, the physicians and staff at Corewell Health Children's expressed a commitment to protect the children in our communities and to fulfill the requirements of the Michigan Child Protection Law. In 1995, the team name was changed to the Child Advocacy and Protection team (CAP) to reflect a broader mission - advocating on behalf of all children.
Services
Experts from many backgrounds contribute to comprehensive evaluations and individual action plans. Child advocacy and protection services provided on behalf of children from newborns to 18 years of age include:
- Medical consultations with physicians and other health care professionals
- Specialized medical evaluation and documentation requested by parents, health care professionals, Children's Protective Services, law enforcement, or the court system
- Referrals to community agencies and services
- Education and training about child welfare issues for health care professionals, child welfare workers, and people in the community
- Participation in child abuse and neglect prevention programs
The CAP team members participate in many professional and community organizations, and team coordinator Linda Caurdy-Bess, LMSW, has been honored with the Lisa Putnam Excellence in Child Welfare Award. In April, team members observe Child Abuse Prevention Month by recognizing Children's Protective Services employees who work in the community.
Corewell Health, in collaboration with Defender Association, Inc., offers legal aid for children as well.