The Child and Family Support Program receives referrals and consultations from a variety of sources including: physicians, child protection services, foster care agencies, community organizations, law enforcement, as well as patients themselves. Referrals and consultations are initially directed to our intake coordinator.

In-patient consultations are managed by team members on call. Out-patient referrals are directed to our facilities where families meet with team social workers, psychologists and physicians. Children undergo comprehensive evaluations utilizing forensic interviewing and state of the art photo-colposcopy, where appropriate.

Team members interact with, and may serve as liaison to, the broader city-wide team comprised of the Administration for Children’s Services, the Police Department, the New York City Board of Education, the District Attorney’s Offices, and community agencies among others. Team members may also appear in court to provide testimony.

Funding

The program is supported by the Department of Pediatrics, a HRSA/MCHB Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children grant, a Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation grant, the National Children's Alliance and a NYSDOH Office of Child and Family Services grant.

Mount Sinai's Child and Family Support Program, Child Advocacy Center (CFSP) is dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of children referred for suspected abuse or neglect. Our goal is to improve the adverse physical and psychological outcomes that may accompany child trauma within this setting.

The Program's interdisciplinary team is comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, a psychologist, a psychiatric liaison, a program coordinator, and a child life specialist. Spanish speaking mental health professionals are available to work with monolingual families.

CFSP provides a thorough medical, developmental, forensic and psychosocial evaluation that serves as the basis for referral to on-site mental health services. Throughout evaluation and treatment, emphasis is placed on the delivery of care that is both child and family centered.