For Clinicians
The UNC Hospitals’ Beacon Child and Family Program provides comprehensive, coordinated care to UNC Healthcare System’s patients and families experiencing a variety of family violence. It includes services for children, victims of domestic abuse, and the elderly. The program provides medical and psychological assessments, counseling, and education for patients. Any patient who has experienced fear, physical danger, threats, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or other violence is eligible. Services are provided at UNC Hospitals, its satellite clinics, or over the phone.
A Guide to Evaluating Family Violence
CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
Possible indicators:
- Multiple injuries in different stages of healing
- Long bone fractures in non-ambulating children
- Suspicious bruising patterns
- Head injury in a child who is less than a year old
- Failure to thrive
- Child fearful (withdrawn or avoidant)
- Sexual behaviors that are not age-appropriate
HOW TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE
- Call the County Department of Social Services (Child Protection Services Division)
- Get the local phone number through: 1-800-354-KIDS or 919-733-2580 or local division of social services.
- In the Raleigh area, call:
1-800-Children or 919-829-8009
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Possible screening questions:
- Do you feel that your partner tries to control your behavior too much?
- Does your partner threaten you in any way?
- Is abuse, violence, or sexual assault a problem for you in any way?
HOW TO REPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The following must be reported to law enforcement by the treating physician:
- Wounds, injuries, and illness caused by guns or knives
- Any wound causing "grave bodily harm" that appears to have resulted from a criminal act.
ELDER ABUSE OR NEGLECT
Possible indicators:
- Dehydration and weight loss
- Decubitus ulcers
- Hypernatvenia
- Missed appointments
Possible questions:
- Has anyone at home ever hurt you?
- Have you ever needed help and your caregiver has neglected you?
- Have you singed any documents you didn’t understand?
- Has anyone ever made you do things you didn’t want to do?
- Are you alone a lot?
HOW TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE
- For more detailed information see UNC's Elder Mistreatment web site.
Access to the Beacon Program (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- CPOE referral
- Voice mail (966-9314) - prompts lead to on-call child abuse team
- Pager (1-888-378-0551 for domestic violence and elder abuse)
