The Regional Child Protection Center (RCPC) at Blank Children's Hospital has been awarded accreditation by National Children's Alliance (NCA) following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, NCA awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in the ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with NCA and denotes excellence in service provision.
The professionals at the RCPC work closely with community organizations to protect children. The RCPC enables a multidisciplinary team of professionals to work together in the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases in central Iowa. The RCPC brings together a team of specialists skilled in the medical and psychosocial assessment of abused children. Additional pediatric specialists at Blank Children's Hospital are available for consultation and medical treatment as needed. Most importantly, these services are all offered in an easy to access, child-friendly environment with professionals who put the child's health, well-being and safety first. As an Accredited Member of National Children's Alliance, the RCPC is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.
NCA awards Accredited Membership based on a CAC's compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Accredited Members of NCA must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. NCA also considers standards regarding a center's cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention and child focused setting.
"As a team, we are dedicated to responding to child abuse, we recognize the importance of NCA accreditation and supporting the multidisciplinary team approach. Accreditation not only validates our organization's proven effective approach to responding to allegations of child abuse, but also provides consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole," said Dr. Rizwan Shah, Director of the Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children's Hospital.
"The Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children's Hospital, is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children's Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration," said Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children's Alliance.
For more information about the Regional Child Protection Center, visit www.blankchildrens.org.