Children's Hospital Intervention and Prevention Service

Children’s Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services (CHIPS) is a place where child abuse victims can come for help and healing. The CHIPS staff is a team of specially trained clinical counselors, doctors, social workers, and nurses who work with law enforcement, the Department of Human Resources (DHR), and child advocacy center (CAC) representatives to provide the best possible care for children and families traumatized by physical and/or sexual abuse. Services available at CHIPS include:

Extended Assessments – a comprehensive evaluation of child abuse allegations conducted by a specially trained counselor or social worker.

Counseling – Counseling may include individual sessions for the child and/or caregiver, family sessions, or participation in a support group.

Forensic Medical Evaluations – the exams include time with a clinical counselor who explains the “check-up” and discusses any concerns, followed by a clinic nurse shows the child the check up room, answering any additional questions the child and the caregiver may have, and then finally, when the child is ready, the CHIPS doctor performs a head to toe exam.

Support Services – a CHIPS social worker is available to meet with all caregivers to assess the family’s needs, identify resources, make referrals, and provide on-going support services as necessary.

For more information about CHIPS, visit http://chips.chsys.org

Note: Insurance can be billed if a medical exam is provided. Otherwise, there is no charge for services at CHIPS.

For the last eight years, I’ve made it my mission to let people know what is going on: One of five girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18, and one in seven boys. Those are somber statistics, and yet we have the great privilege of offering help and healing to these kids. Watching a child recover from such a trauma is the most life-affirming experience you can imagine. And being able to tell a frightened, overwhelmed parent that our services are available free of charge gives me great satisfaction.

It is emotionally wrenching to hear these stories day in and day out. In the end, though, the tasks before us are simple compared to those faced by children caught in the cycle of trauma and abuse.

Lou Lacey, Director of the CHIPS Clinic at Children’s Hospital