Victims of child abuse and neglect and sexual assault should be handled carefully by healthcare providers due to the sensitivity and severity of what happened to them. Dr. Sarah Brown joins us in this episode to talk about the difficult questions we must ask children and families in order to keep kids safe. We also discussed when and where to ask them and when to call authorities, if needed. Timing is as important as the questions themselves.
Let’s listen to Dr. Brown and learn how to ask the hard questions to victims of child abuse and neglect!
[00:01 – 04:45] Opening Segment
- Welcoming today’s guest, Dr. Sarah Brown
- Her path to child abuse and neglect and pediatrics
[04:46 – 14:54] Let The Child Talk
- How to build a safe space for children and adults
- Our role as healthcare providers
- The power of small words
- The first step in asking about abuse from children
- What are the right questions to ask?
- Introducing things that are NOT okay
[14:55 – 26:17] Talk About Abuse Somewhere Else
- The protocols in handling sexual assaults for healthcare providers
- How to efficiently report sexual assault
- What Dr. Brown does not recommend on talking about abuse
[26:18 – 38:44] Be Careful with Telehealth Services
- The overlap between domestic violence and child abuse and neglect
- Hear Dr. Brown’s thoughts about telehealth services
- Don’t miss Dr. Brown’s insights about the Safe and Together model
[38:45 – 43:52] Relax and Take One Day At a Time
- How healthcare providers can take better care of themselves
- Listen to Dr. Brown’s advice
- Dr. Brown’s message for her resident self
[43:53 – 50:06] Closing Segment
- Finals takeaways
- Believing the child is important
- Asking when you suspect child abuse
- Having an exam as soon as possible
- Informing the Child Protective Services
- Remembering that domestic violence and child abuse
- Being mindful with telehealth services
- Taking care of yourself
Tweetable Quotes:
“That goal of not interrupting as long as the child is narrating is important.” – Dr. Sarah Brown
“Relax and take things one day at a time.” – Dr. Sarah Brown
Resources Mentioned:
- Safe and Together Institute
- National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- CUES: an Evidence-Based Intervention
- Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
- National Children’s Alliance
- Effective Discipline to Raise Healthy Children
- The Evaluation of Suspected Child Physical Abuse
- Understanding the Behavioral and Emotional Consequences of Child Abuse
- The Evaluation of Children in the Primary Care Setting When Sexual Abuse Is Suspected
- Pediatric Meltdown episode: Provider Wellness: Are You Taking Care of Yourself?
Email [email protected] to connect with Dr. Brown and know more about her space here.
If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me at LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter or email me at [email protected]. To learn more about me visit https://www.medicalbhs.com/
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