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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

Child Abuse

By Leah Jacobson, MD, 2017 BCMS President

This month I focus my article on a very serious topic — child abuse. April is Na-
tional Child Abuse Prevention Month and it reminds us that it affects us all in some way — whether we know
someone who was abused, have been abused ourselves, or care for patients that have been affected by this horrific
issue. Currently there are more than 700 legislative bills under consideration in the State Legislature that relate
to child abuse. I want to highlight two entities in San Antonio and Bexar County that are available as important
resources for physicians when it comes to this topic.

The Center for Miracles located at Children’s Hospital of San “Interacting with Sexually Abused Children.”
Antonio (CHOSA) is the primary child abuse assessment center Cardboard Kids is a local child abuse prevention campaign. In
in our area (http://www.chofsa.org/centerformiracles ). At the
Center for Miracles, they provide complete medical and psy- 2015, there were 4,941 confirmed cases of child abuse and neg-
chosocial assessments for children who are referred by Child Pro- lect in Bexar County. And while that number is staggering, it’s
tective Services, law enforcement or medical professionals and just as shocking to learn that only 1 in 10 sexually abused chil-
who are suspected victims of abuse or neglect. The assessment dren ever make an outcry, meaning thousands more children in
may include any of the following: complete physical examina- and around San Antonio are victims of abuse, typically by some-
tion, forensic photo-documentation, psychosocial evaluation, di- one the child knows, loves, and trusts.
agnosis/report, court testimony, and additional services,
including short-term counseling, physician consultations, mental To bring awareness to this incredibly urgent issue, ChildSafe
health staffings, physical abuse and neglect case staffings, and in- created the Cardboard Kids Campaign. Cardboard Kids are 2-
patient consultations at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. foot tall cardboard figures shaped like children that represent one
of the thousands of children that are abused and neglected at the
ChildSafe is the only children’s advocacy center in Bexar hands of adults in our community each year.
County. As they describe it, ChildSafe’s mission is to restore dig-
nity, hope and trust to children traumatized by abuse and neg- This is ChildSafe’s fourth year to partner with local businesses,
lect. At ChildSafe, they collaborate, advocate for children, raise clubs, organizations and individuals to decorate and display a
community awareness and raise money for services. Some of the Cardboard Kid representing one of the thousands of children
services they provide are CARE (Child Abuse Resource Enhance- who suffer from abuse and neglect at the hands of adults in Bexar
ment), FEAT (Family Enrichment Adventure Therapy), forensic County every year. Community members, businesses, and fam-
Interview services, referral to medical services, family support ilies are encouraged to decorate and display their own Cardboard
services, and counseling. Kids on “Reveal Day” on April 6, to create awareness about child
abuse and neglect and our mission of ending child abuse in Bexar
ChildSafe provides in-person training to children and teens, County.
professionals, parents and adults, and licensed mental health
providers and clinicians both on and off-site. Some topics of What to do if you suspect child abuse
these seminars include “Brown Bag workshops,” “Child Sexual or neglect:
Abuse: victims and offenders,” “What is child abuse?,” “Sexual Report to Child Protective Services if:
Behavior Problems in Children,” “Out and About Safety,” and • You don’t know who may have abused the child or you suspect

a family member.

8 San Antonio Medicine • April 2017