Current Environment:

Consultation Team

The Child Protection Team is a group of social workers, nurse practitioners, and physicians available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for consultation on issues of child abuse and neglect. Members of the Child Protection team provide consultation to hospital providers working in any of our clinical settings.

Child Protection Clinical Services

Child Protection Clinical Services (CPCS) includes medical, developmental and psychosocial services provided by physicians, social workers and nurse practitioners in the outpatient setting. Currently, CPCS provides these services in two specific clinics: the Crisis Response Clinic and a Foster Care Clinic. Whether referring a child to the Crisis Response Clinic or the Foster Care Clinic, one of our CPCS social workers will complete an initial Intake and, together with our Child Protection medical providers, determine the most effective and efficient response route.

To make a referral to either the Crisis Response Clinic or the Foster Care clinic, please call 617-355-7979 and ask to speak with the CPCS intake social worker.

Crisis Response Clinic

The Crisis Response Clinic offers medical examinations and psychosocial screening and assessment when a concern for possible sexual abuse or physical abuse has been raised and an urgent evaluation is not indicated. Our clinic includes medical and psychosocial services provided by physicians, social workers and nurse practitioners. Our services include triage, psychoeducation and support. In addition, further testing or referrals may be recommended as needed. We also assist families in connecting to other hospital programs or community-based agencies.

Foster Care Clinic

The CPCS Foster Care Clinic provides medical examinations, immunizations, developmental and behavioral screenings, and referrals for children and youth who have newly entered the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. These services are provided using a two- appointment model, with an appointment intended to be scheduled 7 and 30 days after the child has entered DCF custody to comply with the DCF policy.

AWAKE

Since 1986, Advocacy for Women and Kids in Emergencies (AWAKE) has offered comprehensive, ongoing domestic violence services for patients, their parents, as well as employees of Boston Children’s Hospital main campus, satellite locations and affiliated programs. Focused on empowerment, AWAKE is committed to supporting a diverse population of survivors of domestic violence including individuals of every age, race, sexual-orientation, religion, economic status or gender.

AWAKE defines abuse as a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviors by one partner over the other in an intimate relationship. The abusive behavior is used to maintain power and control over the mind, body and wellbeing of the significant other. Abuse may be physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual and can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, sexual-orientation, religion, economic status or gender.

AWAKE offers:

  • Initial and ongoing risk assessment and safety planning
  • Individual counseling in person and by phone
  • Assistance with emergency housing needs
  • Advocacy and referral to various community agencies including housing, welfare, immigration, and others as needed
  • Referrals for legal services, supportive counseling and child witness to violence services
  • Provider consultations on risk assessment and safety planning

AWAKE services are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 617-355-6000 and asking to have AWAKE paged.

Other resources

For 24/7 emotional support and resources in Massachusetts call SAFELINK at 877-785-2020

For all other states, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

If you are in a domestic violence emergency and need immediate assistance call 911.