Your Appointment

TO OUR FAMILIES AND PARTNERS:

As health care providers, we are dedicated to providing the best possible care for every family. As COVID continues to exist, the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other public health agencies are responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness, called COVID-19 caused by a novel (new) Coronavirus.  The Children’s Center is carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving information around the COVID-19 outbreak.  We know you and others in our community have been impacted by this virus, and the staff at Children’s Center would like to share information with you about the steps we are taking to help keep you, our employees, and our communities safe and healthy.

PRECAUTIONS WE ARE TAKING:

It is critical to us that we keep our patients, staff, and community members as healthy as possible so that our clinic can continue to conduct its essential services of child abuse assessments. Currently, the Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County Public Health Department require health clinics to maintain masks and distancing when possible. We are following these mandates and guidelines.

PREPARING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM:

We are here to answer any questions you may have when scheduling an appointment for your child.

• If you have concerns about COVID-19, please discuss them with our intake staff when scheduling.
• We will try our best to answer any questions and explain the precautions we’re taking to keep you and your child safe while at the Center.
• If you or someone in your household have recently been exposed to COVID or are experiencing a cough, sore throat, fever, or shortness of breath, please contact our office at (503) 655 – 7720 prior to your appointment.

WHILE YOU ARE AT THE CENTER:

As a healthcare provider, all staff and visitors to Children’s Center are required to wear a mask for the duration of their visit. Please wear a mask and socially distance when possible and/or appropriate. If you do not have a mask, we will gladly provide one for you.

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the guidelines of public health officials. Any changes in this policy will be updated here on our website. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Karen Rush, Executive Director, at karenrush@childrenscenter.cc.

Often, the first contact a family has with Children’s Center is with our Intake Specialists, who work with families and professionals in the community to gather relevant information to ensure a thorough child abuse assessment. Intake Specialists can explain every step of the assessment and answer questions, so that children and families know what to expect when they walk through our doors.

Please bring your completed paperwork to review with our evaluation team. Paperwork may be mailed or emailed to you. Please bring an insurance card with you at the time of your appointment, if you have one. While medical insurance reimbursements and government funds (including the Oregon Crime Victim’s Compensation Program) account for approximately 60% of our funding, the remaining costs associated with medically assessing and supporting children who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect are covered by generous community members. Families are never billed for services at Children’s Center.

Our private waiting rooms are designed to be comfortable and welcoming – spaces where families can be together, and where children can relax while they read, watch movies, play or draw while awaiting their appointment. Our goal is to help you and your family feel as comfortable as possible throughout your visit.

Our evaluation team consists of a medical provider, forensic interviewer, and a family support specialist. The team will meet with you as a caregiver in order to gather medical and social history for your child and family.

Children are offered a comprehensive head-to-toe exam 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. Children are in control of their assessment, and we encourage the child to feel empowered to make their own decisions.

Specially trained forensic interviewers provide developmentally-appropriate interviews for children in a safe and neutral environment. The interviews are digitally recorded and are often observed by child protective services and law enforcement. This process minimizes the trauma of duplicative interviews for children.

Our family support team can help you understand how this experience will impact your child and what you as a caregiver can do to help your child cope and recover. The Family Support Specialists are Master’s level clinicians who offer emotional support, education and referrals to additional resources in the community for ongoing services.

After the medical exam and interview, the clinical team uses the information gathered during the evaluation to state findings and guide recommendations for caregivers and partner agencies.

Your Family Support Specialist will continue to support your family’s needs and can connect you with counseling, domestic violence resources, early intervention, and other services to help your family begin the healing process.