What is a Forensic Medical Exam?
For more than 12 years, the One Place Child Advocacy Center has provided hope and healing to children from birth to age 17 who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, serious neglect, and/or violence.
When a child is a suspected victim of sexual abuse, a forensic medical exam typically takes place. This is a non-invasive, comprehensive medical exam conducted by a trained medical service provider with specialized knowledge in the medical evaluation of child abuse.
How Forensic Medical Exams Work
The purpose of a forensic medical exam is to collect any evidence of abuse, diagnose and treat any injuries or sexually transmitted infections, assess for the possibility of pregnancy, and identify any other medical conditions.
However, in addition to its functional purpose, a forensic medical exam also serves as a supportive experience for a child, reassuring them that their body is okay and that they will be able to heal from the experience.
Forensic Medical Exams at the One Place Child Advocacy Center
All forensic medical exams at the One Place Child Advocacy Center are performed by our team of highly-trained and warm-hearted staff. We use a gentle, compassionate, and empathetic approach to ensure that every child is treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Our medical providers are rostered as trained child abuse experts through the Child Medical Evaluation Program at UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Pediatrics and are the only two rostered providers in Onslow County.
If your child has a forensic medical exam scheduled with us, here are some tips to prepare them:
- Talk about the exam in advance if your child is interested. Reassure them that this type of exam will be non-invasive and will help them feel confident that they are healthy.
- Reinforce the possibility that your child can ask any many questions as they’d like—both with you and with the medical provider before, during, and after the exam.
- Share with your child that no shots or needles will be used.
- Remind your child that they are in charge of their own body at every stage of the process.
Our child-focused approach is based on a nationwide model of child advocacy centers and we are accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. In addition to forensic interviews and forensic medical exams, we also offer resources and referrals to evidence-based mental health services to reduce trauma and improve the lives of children and their families in Onslow County.