Maryland Child Abuse Medical Professionals

A network of experts in the maltreatment of children



About Child Abuse Medical Professionals

The Child Abuse Medical Professionals (CHAMP) network consists of physicians and nurses who are expert in the field of child maltreatment and who serve as a resource to medical professionals, child advocacy centers (CACs), and MDT partners, evaluate suspected abuse and neglect in children, and provide consultation and training to community professionals.

Child maltreatment is a common and serious public health concern, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. According to the Maryland Department of Human Services’ Child Protective Services, in 2020 there were 44,160 reports of alleged child abuse and neglect.

Maryland Health General Article §13-2201-2207 established the Child Abuse Medical Professionals (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative in the Maryland Department of Health. The goal is to identify, recruit, train, and provide ongoing support, education, and expert consultation in the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse to healthcare providers who evaluate children with suspected child abuse or neglect at Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), emergency departments, and other locations.

CACs are child-friendly facilities where children suspected of having been sexually abused are interviewed, undergo medical evaluations, and may receive mental health treatment. CACs stress the coordination of investigations and intervention services by bringing together professionals and agencies as Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) with a trauma- and child-focused approach.

Medical professionals in a training session

CHAMP activities include:

  • Recruiting and training medical professionals in the area of child maltreatment

  • Providing ongoing training and support for medical professionals working in this field

  • Providing expert medical evaluations when concerns of child maltreatment arise

  • Providing consultation to Child Protective Services (CPS), Child Advocacy Centers, law enforcement, state's attorney's offices, pediatricians and other professionals in the field

  • Developing policies and practice guidelines to improve the system’s response to children and families with concerns of possible abuse or neglect

Resources

CHAMP Resources

CHAMP (Maryland Child Abuse Professionals) offers educational resources for parents, providers and professionals in addressing suspected child maltreatment. 

CHAMP Referral Guidelines

Review guidelines to assist in deciding when to seek medical consultation for child abuse and neglect and locate providers for maltreatment consultative services. 

Locating Providers

To access child maltreatment consultative services within your region, locate CAC and CHAMP professionals.

Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

If you suspect that a child has been abused or neglected, please contact Child Protective Services (CPS), in the jurisdiction where the abuse or neglect may have occurred. Click here for CPS contact information, by jurisdiction, as well as instructions on how to make the referral.



Our Faculty

 

Wendy G.

Lane, M.D., MPH

Director, Child Abuse Medical Professionals (CHAMP) Program

Medical Director, Baltimore Child Abuse Center/Center for Hope, LifeBridge Health

Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health & Department of Pediatrics; University of Maryland School of Medicine

 

Howard

Dubowitz, M.D., MS, FAAP

Professor of Pediatrics

Head, Division of Child Protection; Director, Center for Families Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine

 

Scott

Krugman, M.D., MS

Vice Chair, Pediatrics, Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai

 

Mitchell

Goldstein, M.D., MBA

Director, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Colleges Advisory Program

Director, Johns Hopkins Child Protection Team

Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

 

Pamela

Holtzinger, DNP, BHA, RN, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P, AFN-BC

SAFE Program Coordinator, Meritus Medical Center

Forensic Nurse Examiner, Frederick County Child Advocacy Center

 

Eunice M.

Esposito, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, SANE-P

Forensic Nurse Coordinator, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional