How Colorado Is Creating a Network to Prevent Child Abuse

News Article Summary

Whenever there is a suspicion of child abuse, the caseworker needs the opinion of a pediatrician who will examine the child to certify the suspicion. Common forms of child abuse include a bruise on a child who does not crawl, an injury near the ear, and a broken bone from a suspected fall. From all the six physicians certified in child abuse pediatrics, only one is in Colorado Springs (Brown, 2019). The welfare department has been paying Kempe Centre to provide in-person examinations and consultations over the phone to caseworkers in Colorado. According to the legislature that was passed this year, Colorado will spend $646,000 to create a program called Colorado Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Network. The program will set up a training platform for future pediatricians over a wide geographical area and even online consultations.

The doctors will also be trained in ways of preventing abuse of children by identifying factors that bring about child abuse. Such factors are poverty, life stressors, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Under the law, the physicians are reporters, and they have to report any form of child abuse to child protection authorities. The physicians must carry out clinical diagnosis and lab tests to ascertain any form of child abuse. Colorado wishes to have doctors spread across the state in order to provide an easier examination and timely consultation to caseworkers. The state will incur the training cost and pay the doctors who become part of the network.

Reflection on the Article

Just like Colorado has created a network of doctors to help in preventing child abuse, every state must follow suit. There is the need to train more physicians that will be spread in many parts of the state so as to eliminate the many forms of child abuse. Every member of the state is required to report any form of child abuse to relevant authorities. The many child protection departments should outline their goals clearly so that each and every member of the state contributes towards inhibiting child abuse.

Reference

Brown, J. (2019 June 10). Colorado is creating a network of doctors to diagnose child abuse and keep kids from slipping through the safety net. The Colorado Sun. Retrieved from https://coloradosun.com/2019/06/10/colorado-child-abuse-medical-network/.