The Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children
The Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children provides services to abused and neglected children and their families. Located in the Sabin Education Building at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Center has state-of-the-art facilities for the forensic and medical evaluation of allegations of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and medical neglect. In addition, the Center provides training programs for physicians, social workers, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and law enforcement personnel. The Center’s research program includes projects improving forensic evaluations including enhancing child interviews, refining diagnostic measures for sexually transmitted diseases in children and better identification and improved outcome for inflicted head injuries in children. In addition, the Center evaluates a series of training programs ranging from forensic interview training, pediatric sexual assault evaluations, and community adoption of evidence-based treatment models. The Center has three main components: 1) The Mayerson Advocacy Center (MAC); 2) The Trauma Treatment Training Center (TTTC); and the Child Abuse and Neglect Do Project (CAN DO). In addition, the Center collaborates with Every Child Succeeds, The Childhood Trust, and the TIP program in Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics to improve prevention and treatment opportunities for at-risk children.
The Mayerson Advocacy Center (MAC)
The MAC is home to the Child Abuse Team and the front door through which many children and families present for services. The Child Abuse Team currently consists of CCHMC pediatricians, nurses and social workers and a child psychiatrist and psychologist together with 7 Hamilton County Department of Jobs and Family Service child protection workers and their supervisor from the ‘in-home’ sexual abuse investigational unit. This year, we have been joined by an additional 4 Hamilton County Department of Jobs and Family Service child protection workers and their supervisor from the ‘medical neglect’ unit. In addition, the Center houses 4 law enforcement officers, 2 from the Personal Crimes Division of the Cincinnati Police Department and 2 from the Hamilton County Office of the Sheriff. The team also includes a full-time Victim’s Advocate from the Office of the Hamilton County Prosecutor. Other professionals from within CCHMC or county investigational agencies join the Child Abuse Team as appropriate for specific investigations. In the past year, the MAC has evaluated 1,530 children, peformed 1,424 forensic interviews and conducted 716 medical examinations.
The vision of the MAC is to assure safe, healthy, and nurturing families and communities where all children can achieve their full potential. The Center’s Mission is to be the national leader and resource in the development and validation of best practices for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of child maltreatment.