New Hampshire

This is a multidisciplinary child protection program involved in diagnostic and treatment services and research in abuse and neglect. The team provides hospital and community wide consultation in all aspects of physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse. In addition the program is in its fourth year of a research project developing a model treatment approach for families already reported for physical abuse. The second initiative is called the C.A.R.E. Network, CARE standing for child abuse referral and evaluation program. This is a statewide program for pediatricians and family physicians who have agreed to meet regularly and to develop standards in quality of care in order for them to be considered regional experts in the evaluation of physical and sexual abuse. The team works cooperatively with the state Child Protection Agency and is used by the Child Protection Agency for evaluations of children who have entered their system. The team meets twice a year to review cases and information. The tertiary center for the team is located at Dartmouth and difficult cases or second opinions are referred there as necessary.