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Dorothy B. Hersh Regional
Child Protection Center Satellite:
Jersey Shore Child Protection Center The Dorothy
B. Hersh Regional Child Protection Center is one of four state-legislated
regional diagnostic and treatment centers for child abuse in New Jersey.
This Center serves central NJ, i.e., the counties of Hunterdon, Middlesex,
Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union. With clinic space in five
of these counties, the Center has a full satellite at the Jersey Shore
University Hospital, in Neptune, NJ, serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Center staff includes pediatricians, social workers, psychologists,
a lawyer and consulting pediatric radiologists. In addition to direct
patient evaluations/consultations, the Center provides crisis counseling,
professional and community education, expert testimony, consultation
to child protective workers and legal investigators, and participates
in numerous regional and state committees on child abuse and child fatalities.
Requests for service are accepted from private and public agencies,
health care providers, teachers, families, etc. CARES Institute (Child
Abuse Research Education & Service) The CARES Institute
is southern New Jersey's only statutorily dedicated facility providing
diagnostic and treatment services for sexually and physically abused
children. The Institute became an expansion of the Center for Children's
Support to assist the State of New Jersey in developing policies and
best practices in the delivery of medical and mental health services
to abused children statewide. The Institute evidenced based Trauma Focused
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been designated by SAMHSA as a standard
of practice for dissemination nationwide through the National Child
Traumatic Stress Network. The Institute is a University Center of Excellence
and a joint program of the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's School of
Osteopathic Medicine. The Institute pediatric faculty provide undergraduate
and graduate level medical education, expert testimony, multidisciplinary
professional training, legislative advocacy and conduct NIMH supported
research. The Institute seamlessly integrates medical and mental health
services providing both psychological and psychiatric care. Mental health
clinicians provide both individual and group therapy to child victims
and their non-offending parents. Specialized programs are provided to
address the needs of children witnessing domestic violence, dialectic
behavioral therapy for adolescent cutters, and bullying prevention.
Institute staff are active participants in county-based multidisciplinary
child abuse assessment and child death teams. The Institute provides
formal pre and post doctoral training for psychology and social work
students. In 2007 the Institute anticipated developing a fellowship
program in CAN. The Institute has over 50 full time staff and faculty
including five full time child abuse pediatricians, 14 child psychologists,
one child psychiatrist, research assistants, social workers and Director
of Policy. The Institute recently launched a comprehensive medical and
mental screening program for children in foster care with a pediatrician,
PNP, psychologists, and staff dedicated to this initiative. Jersey Shore Medical
Center The Child Abuse Diagnostic Center at Jersey Shore Medical Center is a collaborative effort of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, and the Medical Center. It is the first comprehensive child abuse diagnostic center in the State of New Jersey dealing with the broad spectrum of child abuse and neglect. Establishment of the Center puts into place the mechanism for dealing with early intervention of the medical, social and legal components that may be involved in suspected child abuse or neglect cases. The unique coordinated effort of the Child Abuse Diagnostic Center is designed to achieve the earliest possible identification, diagnosis and treatment of the child. It also brings together the three major components in suspected child abuse and neglect case; the social (DYFS), the medical and law enforcement, also they can cooperatively intervene in a way that will minimize trauma to the child and expedite the appropriate disposition of the case. A team approach to care is utilized. The child abuse team includes the physician, nurse, clinical social worker, DYFS child protective services worker, as well as law enforcement, child evaluation and mental health staff when needed. A complete range of professional services are provided to safeguard the health and welfare of the child. All suspected cases of child abuse are evaluated, diagnosed, given emergency treatment and admitted to the hospital if necessary, or referred to a private physician, pediatric clinic, child evaluation center or mental health center for continued care or treatment. Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center (RDTC) The Metro Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center (RDTC) for child abuse and neglect, located in Newark, New Jersey, is the oldest of four state-designated centers established for the diagnosis and treatment of children who are or may have been victims of child physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect. The mission of the center is to provide a sensitive and caring environment for children and their families to receive professional and therapeutic interventions. The RDTC serves Essex County, an urban area with one of the largest child populations in New Jersey. The center is also an affiliating agency with Wynona's House, a co-location Child Advocacy Center. The highly trained RDTC staff consists of an Administrative Director, Director of Mental Health Services, Program Coordinator, physicians, nurse, psychologists, social workers, and secretarial support staff. The Metro RDTC provides medical and psychosocial evaluations of suspected victims of child physical and sexual abuse, comprehensive medical and mental health evaluations of children entering out-of-home placements (CHEC program), medical follow-up, inpatient and outpatient consultations, medical record reviews and expert court testimony. The center also provides education and training of child maltreatment professionals, law enforcement, schools and the community as well as participation in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, a statewide Task Force on Child abuse and Neglect, and a review of child fatalities and near-fatalities. Children and non-offending parents are able to receive individual and group therapy to address trauma related symptoms, socialization skills and other areas. The RDTC also offers parenting skills through its Family Life Education Center (FLEC) program.
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