Medical providers at Children’s Center are specifically trained in evaluating children when there are concerns for abuse and neglect. These medical examinations are comprehensive head-to-toe exams aimed at evaluating a child’s health and wellbeing. Medical providers may also perform or order testing for the child, such as urine testing, hair testing, or x-rays.
Medical Examinations
As the providers at the center are trauma-informed, considerations are made to ensure that a child is comfortable and has control of his/her exam and body. The medical team uses the information gathered during the evaluation to state findings and guide recommendations for caregivers and partner agencies.
Medical Record Reviews
Medical providers will review a child’s medical records and make recommendations for treatment or follow-up in cases of medical neglect, child abuse, and Karly’s Law cases.
Karly's Law
From the time when Karly’s Law was first set in motion in 2008, thousands of Oregon children have received medical evaluations and support as a response to suspected physical abuse. The catalyst for this law was Karly Sheehan, a three-year-old girl from Corvallis, Oregon who died from physical abuse and neglect in 2005 after several allegations went unheeded.
Since 2008, children in Oregon who display questionable physical injuries in the course of a child abuse investigation must receive medical assessment within 48 hours.
Karly’s Law imposes specific statutory requirements on law enforcement, Department of Human Services, and medical providers who have received specialized training to assess injuries that may have been caused by child abuse.
At Children’s Center, we strive to fulfill the mandates of Karly’s Law and continue her legacy by offering a safe, supportive atmosphere and providing medical assessments to children who are suspected victims of abuse or neglect. Children’s Center is the designated medical provider for Clackamas County. Children must be seen within 48 hours when injuries are suspected to be the result of physical abuse. Because of this, the Center maintains a number of open appointment times in order to accommodate these urgent assessments.
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