Clinical Areas
The Kempe Healthcare Core coordinates clinical services, including the integration of health care principles and activities, across the spectrum of all Kempe programs.
We strive to bring a child and family health and wellbeing perspective to all work at the Center. We participate in the planning, administration, and implementation of a variety of health and behavioral health programs, including collaboration with the University Department of Psychiatry for behavioral health services. Our work involves outreach to community groups to address healthcare needs. We collaborate with colleagues on policy, legislative and advocacy issues relevant to healthcare services.
Our providers deliver a diverse array of health education needs spanning from medical education to community requests. Partnering with research experts and by cultivating clinician-researchers, we integrate research and evaluation into healthcare programs to ensure the best outcomes for our patient population. We are committed to delivering high quality care for all, promoting health equity and addressing healthcare disparities that are rooted in historical oppression and bias. We seek to demonstrate empathy, compassion and humble expertise with every child and family that we serve. These core principles are the basis for our commitment to heal the trauma of injustice and maltreatment.
Medical Services
Clinics
Our healthcare team provides outpatient care in a variety of settings. We collaborate with other sub-specialty services to offer comprehensive care.
Telemedicine
We are able to provide virtual care via a telehealth appointment for some types of visits, where appropriate, for patients residing in Colorado. A telehealth appointment is a virtual video-based visit that gives you the same compassionate care you get from an in-person visit, but from the comfort, privacy, and convenience of your own home. This visit is an appointment with a member of our medical team using HIPAA-compliant tools. You will access the visit directly from MyChart, and you can use almost any personal device. Smartphones, tablets and laptops all work well. Language interpretation services available.
Educating, Training & Mentoring
Child Protection Team (CPT)
What is the CPT?
The CPT provides comprehensive medical evaluations in our weekly outpatient clinic and through inpatient and emergency department consultations at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Children’s offers the only hospital based multidisciplinary child abuse program in Colorado and one of the oldest in the nation. We proudly meet the designation criteria of Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) as a Child Abuse Center of Excellence.
In 1977, Children’s Hospital Colorado formed its very own active child advocacy team to comply with mandatory reporting laws and provide a coordinated approach to evaluation and treatment for children. This team later combined with the University of Colorado-based Kempe Center team during the affiliation of our pediatric programs. Over time, our role has greatly expanded. Today, families, human services and law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals and educators throughout the entire Rocky Mountain region turn to the only hospital-based multidisciplinary child protection team in Colorado for consultation and support.
Our department’s physicians are among the first in the country – and among the only ones in Colorado — to be board certified in the field of Child Abuse Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Our experts are committed to responding to, treating and preventing child abuse and neglect.
The Child Protection Team’s mission is to offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary consultation, assessment, treatment and referral services for children and adolescents who may have been physically or sexually abused or neglected. Sensitive care is provided by dedicated clinicians to help the hospital and community identify, treat and console child abuse victims and their families.
Anschutz Campus, Aurora
At the Anschutz Campus, our multi-disciplinary clinic team approach is tailored to meet the needs of our patients and families. Visits may include a child abuse/neglect medical provider, behavioral health specialist, and infectious disease specialist when appropriate, along with a nurse coordinator and hospital social worker as needed. Language interpretation services available.
Briargate Campus, Colorado Springs
At the Briargate Campus, we have a specialized team including our child abuse/neglect medical providers and hospital social worker to serve the needs of our patients and families in the Colorado Springs area. Language interpretation services available.
Prepare for a Child Protection Team Visit
A visit to the Child Protection Team Clinic may cause anxiety for the parents and child. This information sheet will tell you about what to expect during your visit and how you can help prepare your child. Our goal is to provide the best care to you and your child.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program
Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) offers the services of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program to advocate for one of the more vulnerable populations we serve. This joint program through the Pediatric Emergency Department and the Child Protection Team at Children’s Hospital Colorado promotes the specialized care for victims of acute sexual assault. The SANE program provides 24/7 care for survivors of acute sexual assault at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Our SANE program is the only pediatric and adolescent focused program in the region, treating patients less than 22 years of age. Our program promotes a wholistic approach to patient care. The SANE program serves the entire Denver metro area. The care is provided by specially trained pediatric nurses.
Our approach to sexual assault care includes the traditional forensic evidence collection, along with post exposure prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections. What is unique about our program is the specialized focus on child and adolescent development, patient mental health and safety concerns for children and adolescent survivors of sexual assault. Not only do our specially trained SANE nurses complete the medical care necessary, they also collaborate closely with clinical social work in the hospital. This collaborative approach is aimed at not only treating physical injury, but also in assessing mental health and safety. The SANE nurses also have the unique ability to work directly with subspecialists within pediatric medicine and nursing. They have 24/7 access to specialized Pediatric Emergency Medicine providers, Child Abuse Pediatrics providers, and Pediatric Infectious Disease providers when there are questions specific to patient care. This close working relationship demonstrates the utility in creating interdisciplinary teams to provide excellent patient care.
Clinics through Kempe Center
The Child Protection Team (CPT) provides comprehensive medical evaluations in our weekly outpatient clinic and through inpatient and emergency department consultations at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Children’s offers the only hospital based multidisciplinary child abuse program in Colorado and one of the oldest in the nation.
Child maltreatment, including physical or sexual abuse and sexual assault, is traumatic event. Our clinic recognizes the importance of delivering holistic care to promote both physical and emotional healing. Our visits routinely integrate family and child support including education about the behavioral and emotional impacts of child maltreatment. In addition to pediatric social work, we have child life specialists who are specially-trained healthcare professionals to help children and families deal with the acute stress and that may come along with a clinic visit. We also have behavioral healthcare professionals as part of our clinic who help screen for stress and emotional changes that are part of trauma experiences. We may make therapy recommendations specific to each patient’s needs and family situations and can help coordinate behavioral health follow up. This is often in collaboration with a family’s referring primary care provider.
To schedule an appointment or request a consultation (for Anschutz and Briargate/COS locations only), please call 720-777-6919 for the CPT Team Clinic.
The Interdisciplinary Trauma-Sensitive Assessment & Treatment Services for Kids (TASK) Clinic provides comprehensive, culturally responsive, trauma-sensitive, evidence-based, interdisciplinary assessment and treatment services for children ages 3-12 years who are involved or at risk of involvement with Child Welfare and have complex behaviors, psychosocial, trauma, and medical histories. The interdisciplinary assessment includes comprehensive evaluations by a psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, child abuse pediatrician, and an occupational therapist.
TASK Clinic evaluative services include:
- Comprehensive assessment of physical, mental/behavioral health, socio-emotional well-being, cognitive, and developmental functioning.
- Care coordination and referrals to community partners and resources.
- Interdisciplinary communication with community partners and agencies.
- Interdisciplinary review, consultation, and treatment/service recommendations in a written report.
- Care conferences with families and/or community agencies to establish personalized, assessment-informed treatment plans, address service barriers, and facilitate access to services.
- Follow-up assessment of child/family service needs.
Please click here for the TASK Referral Form.
KICS (Kids In Care Settings) Clinic is a multidisciplinary medical home providing trauma-informed, patient-centered, family-focused care. Experts provide services for children, youth, and families involved in out of home placements to support leading healthy, resilient lives with empowerment and hope. KICS is partnering with the UCHealth newborn nursery’s Colorado Hospital Substance Exposed Newborn (CHoSEN) Collaborative to provide ongoing primary care for infants prenatally substance exposed as well as Arapahoe County Department of Human Services. Children’s Hospital Colorado provides this multidisciplinary service to reduce barriers and improve access to children, youth, and families who are historically marginalized and underserved. KICS is affiliated with The Kempe Center, whose pioneering work is in promoting understanding, knowledge, and best practices for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect locally, nationally, and internationally.
KICS appointments integrate medical and behavioral health care. Assessments for medical, developmental, mental health, trauma, family well-being, and resource needs are universally screened for and addressed during the visit. We understand that children in out-of-home placement interact with many systems and may have birth families and foster/kinship families taking part in their care and we welcome that diversity of family unit. Care coordination and interagency communication is managed by our nurse, social worker, behavioral health navigator and community health navigator. Patients and families may meet with some or all of the following:
- Pediatrician
- Psychologist
- Nurse Care Coordinator
- Social Worker
- Behavioral Health Navigator
- Community Health Navigator
- Dentistry
Our goals include helping families understand the care needed for a child who is not living with their family of origin, to offer emotional support, and to help caregivers advocate on behalf of the child. Clinic specialists work closely with community-based agencies, including early intervention services to help meet the needs of the patient and caregivers.
To schedule an appointment at the KICS Clinic, please call 720-777-KICS.
Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic, or NABICC, is a multi-disciplinary clinic providing trauma- informed, family-centered care. Board certified experts provide services for infants and young children diagnosed with non-accidental brain injury or abusive head injury. Children’s Hospital Colorado offers the only hospital-based multidisciplinary child abuse program in Colorado and is affiliated with The Kempe Center, whose pioneering work is in promoting understanding, knowledge, and best practices for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect locally, nationally, and internationally.
NABICC appointments are coordinated with expert medical, cognitive, and developmental assessment and psychosocial services, all in one location at one time. Patient may meet with some or all of the following:
- Case Management
- Child Protection Team
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Occupational Therapy
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation Psychology
- Rehabilition Medicine
- Social Work Support
- Speech Language Pathology
Our goals include helping families understand the outcome and care needed for a child diagnosed with abusive head trauma, to offer emotional support, and to help caregivers advocate on behalf of their child. Clinic specialists work closely with the patient’s primary care physician and community-based agencies, including early intervention services to help meet the needs of the patient and caregivers.
To schedule an appointment at the NABICC Clinic, please call 720-777-8260.
The Stress, Trauma, Adversity Research, and Treatment (START) Center is dedicated to providing treatment for people of all ages suffering from the effects of loss, trauma, chronic stress and adversity. Licensed Clinical Psychologists and counselors from START provider integrated behavioral health in the Child Protection Team clinic. For patients who have ongoing therapy needs, referrals to the START Center are facilitated.
START provides excellent trauma informed care with a range of evidence-based practices for children, youth and adults. For more information, see CU Anschutz Psychiatry START Center
Kempe Inter-Disciplinary Staffing (KIDS & KIDS PLUS) Program
What is KIDS?
The Kempe Center’s KIDS program provides independent, expert consultation services for highly complex cases involving concerns about child abuse and neglect or child health and well-being. A team of experts from multiple disciplines is selected and assembled based on the unique requirements of each case. Available disciplines include child abuse pediatrics, toxicology (adult substance abuse and infants/children exposed to drugs), child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, social work, behavioral health, law, ethics, and others identified as needed. The KIDS consultant panel reviews pertinent case material (when applicable), meets with requesting parties, and produces specific and actionable recommendations based on the questions posed. We address issues regarding child abuse, neglect, child placement, permanency, safety and/or treatment plan recommendations through service excellence.
In addition, the program – KIDS PLUS (Permanency, Love, Unity, Stability) – will run through The Kempe Center in partnership with court appointed special advocates agencies and provide free service to Colorado counties. It will identify and develop appropriate Kin* supports for permanent placements and/or relationships and enhance connectedness to communities and cultures for youth whose cases are highly complex and who have remained in the child welfare system without achieving permanency.
*The term “Kin” in program refers to anyone with a “family like” relationship which may or may not be biologically related.
Goals of KIDS Program?
- Convey answers to the referral source’s questions based on available information and offer expertise and clear recommendations. While some suggestions may not be actionable in all circumstances, we will offer best-practice recommendations as well as discussion of actionable options for individual cases with thought regarding available resources in individual communities.
- View each case in keeping with the Kempe Center values of approaching all our work with this perspective and consideration.
- Ensure awareness of and support for the secondary trauma that consultation participants (internal and external parties) may experience.
More Information
View the documents linked below to find out more KIDS and on what to expect including arranging consultation, costs, and information releases.
KIDS Program
(pdf)
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KIDS PLUS Program
(pdf)
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KIDS: "What To Expect?"
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KIDS Consultation
Case or Record Review
Case or record reviews are considered on a case by case basis. Please call 303-864-5115 for more information.
Consultation
To set up a KIDS consult, you can email us.