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Abuse and Neglect

Child's Voice
Child's Voice is an outpatient evaluation center for children who have possibly been physically and/or sexually abused. The Child's Voice team of specialists provides comprehensive medical services, including a forensic interview, upon referral from child protection and law enforcement agencies. This team is trained in the medical assessment and treatment of physically and sexually abused children.

Part of the evaluation process involves case consultation with the referring agencies to determine the safety of the child. The goal of Child's Voice is to minimize trauma by limiting the child's exposure to numerous and potentially traumatic interviews and medical examinations. This regional facility evaluates children from a four-state area. Approximately 30-35 children are evaluated each month.

As a part of Child's Voice, SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) Team reviews reported cases of suspected abuse which are referred by other healthcare professionals. The interdisciplinary SCAN Team consists of healthcare professionals, law enforcement and child protection personnel.

History
Child's Voice was developed in 1998 to provide expert medical and forensic evaluation of children who are alleged to have been sexually and/or physically abused. Child abuse - both sexual and physical - is an all too common problem in our region. Sadly, many cases of child sexual abuse are never identified.

Sanford Chidlren's Hospital and Children's Home Society are committed to providing expert medical evaluations of children who have been allegedly abused. The program would then enable them to receive appropriate treatment for their injuries, both emotional and physical, and to protect them from further injury.

Sanford Children's Hospital and Children's Home Society are natural partners for this program. Children's Home Society has been a refuge for abused and neglected children since before the turn of the century and has been a leader in our state in caring for, protecting and helping injured children begin to heal. Child's Voice is housed at the Sanford Children's Specialty Clinic and is designed to meet the needs of these children and their families.

For more information, please contact Child’s Voice at 605-333-2226 or email.

Child's Voice is a program of Sanford Children's Hospital. Child's Voice is co-sponsored by Children's Home Society of South Dakota.