Child Maltreatment, Abuse, and Neglect

The NewYork-Presbyterian Child Advocacy Center offers medical and psychosocial consultation of child maltreatment with community partners to improve the safety and well-being of children. In addition, ColumbiaDoctors Child Abuse specialists actively work with a multidisciplinary team to provide education and advocacy to prevent child abuse and to mitigate its adverse consequences. Columbia is a key first responder for child abuse victims in New York City and is Manhattan’s designated referral center for Safe Horizon.

Our pediatricians specializing in child abuse provide sensitive and expert care to children who may have been maltreated, abused, or neglected. The medical evaluation is a complete physical evaluation conducted by a medical provider who has been specially trained in child abuse. The medical evaluation has two purposes: to ensure the health and safety of your child and to identify any evidence of sexual or physical abuse.

The consequences of abuse are devastating. We serve as a resource to children, families, and communities by accurately diagnosing abuse, providing expertise in courts of law, and participating in multidisciplinary teams investigating and consulting with community agencies on child safety.

Our team of specialists is highly trained to meet the needs of vulnerable children and their families. Our nationally recognized pediatricians work closely with social workers, nurse practitioners, law enforcement agencies, child protection services, and the Family Court to ensure the best possible outcome for every child under our care.

The medical team provides a comprehensive evaluation and assessment through a thorough history and physical, appropriate medical work-up and consultation with other expert colleagues. We perform medical evaluations and psychosocial assessments for infants and for children up to the age of 18, whenever there is confirmation or suspicion of physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, or medical child abuse. We offer consultations for children and adolescents who present to the Pediatric Emergency Department or are admitted at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and perform evaluations for patients and their families who are referred to our Child Advocacy Center, our outpatient practice in partnership with the Ambulatory Care Network of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Referrals to the New-York Presbyterian Child Advocacy Center can be made by medical and mental health providers, child protective services, or law enforcement by calling the number below.