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General Pediatrics

Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic

Child sexual abuse is defined as:

• Any sexual contact between an adult and a minor or between two minors when one uses power over the other.
• Forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act. This can include rape, fondling, exhibition, voyeurism, exposure to pornography and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.

The Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessments of children who may have been sexually abused. Services provided by the Clinic include:

• Forensic Interviews: Specially trained social workers interview children to obtain information regarding the sexual abuse allegation. Interviews are conducted in a room with a one-way mirror so that representatives from the Police Department and/or the Department of Children and Families can observe the interviews.
• Medical Interviews & Examinations: Medical examiners including specially trained pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners obtain a full medical history and perform complete physical examinations that may include colposcopy and/or photographic documentation.
• Child Life: A child life specialist trained in child development provides age-appropriate preparation for the forensic interview and medical examination. The child life specialist may also provide direct support of children during the physical examination.
• Family Advocacy: The family advocate is a trained social worker who gives immediate support to families of children who are evaluated at the Clinic. The family advocate also provides referral for ongoing services in the community.

To make a referral to the Clinic, or for more information, please call 203-688-2392.

There is no charge for the services provided by the Clinic.

Clinic Staff: