The Frances L. Loeb Child Protection and Development Center Opens

Child abuse has become the leading cause of trauma for children age 4 and under -- more than car accidents, fires or other accidental causes. New York's children are at significant risk and, when violence occurs, Children of Bellevue and Bellevue Hospital are resolved to help them.

In November 2000, Bellevue Hospital Center will publicly open the Frances L. Loeb Child Protection and Development Center, a $390,000 capital renovation undertaken by Children of Bellevue. Bellevue's Child Protection Program has offered comprehensive medical and psychosocial intervention to children and families for more than 30 years. This new Center provides a dedicated environment focused on the unique needs of children who have been victims of crimes.

The new Center creates a secure and private environment for children far away from the bustling clinic area where patients had formerly been seen. State of the art exam rooms and interview rooms, more advanced computer equipment and the close proximity to Pediatric Emergency Services give staff the resources needed to be more focused and effective.

Margaret T. McHugh, M.D., M.P.H., and Child Protection Team Medical Director for Bellevue Hospital, developed and initiated practices that have become New York's statewide protocols for the identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect in hospital settings. Under her direction, Bellevue has successfully practiced a multidisciplinary approach to the investigation of child abuse, coordinating law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office, Administration for Children's Services, state and federal agencies, and numerous community resources.

Nearly three-quarters of the patients served by the Center are victims of sexual abuse. Other cases include victims of physical abuse, assault and robbery. The Center's goal is to provide comprehensive services and advocacy specific to this patient population while attempting to minimize trauma to children and families and reduce long-term effects.

What moves Dr. McHugh most about the children with whom she works are their lost opportunities. "We lose them as functional adults if there's no intervention and support to give these kids self-respect. That's why the word 'Development' is so important to the Center's name."

A recent case involved the evaluation of a 7-year-old girl by the Child Protection Team. The child disclosed to her mother that she had been sexually abused by her 17-year-old uncle. The patient and family were seen by a social worker for a full psychological assessment, by a child life specialist for a forensic interview and by the medical team. Supportive crisis intervention therapy was provided to the non-offending family members. In her short-term treatment group, the child revealed her additional trauma because many close relatives did not believe that the abuse had occurred. Further individual treatment for the child was recommended.

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