County Children’s Advocacy Center Reinstates Medical Program with Improved Services 

On-site Medical Direction, Certified Professional Staff

Among Improvements

The Clark County Commission has approved a contract with Swift’s Children’s Emergency Medicine Network, P.C., to provide on-site medical administrative direction, professional staffing, sexual abuse examinations, laboratory testing, examination/medical supplies and transcription services for the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC).

Under the CAC model, various members of the child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy, medical and mental health communities are able to provide children and their families comprehensive services within a child-friendly environment designed to meet the child's needs.

“Dr. Swift and his team bring to the CAC the highest level of expertise this community has to offer,” said Tom Morton, director of the Department of Family Services (DFS).  “This will allow us to provide services and functions consistent with CAC standards for accreditation as published by the National Children’s Alliance, and move closer to having a nationally recognized center of excellence.”

It is anticipated that non-acute, non-emergent sexual abuse forensic exams will resume at the CAC during the second week of March.  In addition to a highly specialized and skilled physician staff, the contract provides for a registered nurse to be on-hand to assist with exams, and a child life specialist to prepare the patient for and provide support during the examination.  A child life specialist is a certified professional who is specially trained to help children and their families understand and manage challenging life events and stressful healthcare experiences.

“I am very pleased with the actions we are taking to improve our services and to provide the most educated and skilled professionals to some of our most delicate children and families,” Commission Chairman Rory Reid said. “This is another example of Clark County’s child welfare system making strides in the right direction.”

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