The Children’s Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children provides specialized services to suspected victims of child abuse in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. The center works closely with law enforcement personnel, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), the legal system and community professionals to provide a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to evaluating child abuse.
The center physician is available at all times for phone consultation with Emergency department, Urgent Care and other outpatient primary care providers who have questions about possible cases of child abuse. To contact the on-call physician, go to the on-call directory on Careforce or ask the operator to page him.
Inpatient Referrals
The Children’s Child Protection Center provides inpatient medical consultation services. The Children’s Child Protection Center physician is available to see patients Monday through Friday. Weekend consults are handled Monday, though an on-call physician is available by pager 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The on-call physician can discuss the case, answer questions and make preliminary recommendations. To request a medical consult, contact the on-call physician (To contact the on-call physician, go to the on-call directory on Careforce or ask the operator to page him.)
Outpatient Referrals
The Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children also offers specialized forensic medical evaluations and interviews for suspected victims of child abuse. The center is equipped with digital colposcopy equipment, allowing for detailed documentation during the forensic medical evaluation. Trained social workers perform structured, videotaped forensic interviews, make referrals for counseling and provide crisis support to families. Referrals from professionals are required and children are seen by appointment only. Same-day appointments are scheduled whenever possible.
After-hours Service
The Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children has trained medical providers and social workers available to come to Children’s Emergency departments to evaluate victims of suspected child abuse who present during nights, weekends and holidays. To reach the after-hours service, call the center at 404-785-3820 and press option No. 2; the answering service will page the after-hours social worker, and if necessary, the after-hours nurse practitioner. The after-hours service should be contacted at the time of triage if the chief complaint is a concern of suspected child abuse.
- 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- If the alleged incident has taken place within 72 hours or if the patient has an acute medical complaint, send the child to the nearest Children’s Emergency department immediately.
- If the alleged incident took place more than 72 hours ago and the patient does not have an acute medical complaint, call the center at 404-785-3820 for the first available appointment.
- The center accepts referrals from healthcare providers, law enforcement personnel, Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and other child advocacy centers.
- The center provides evaluations by appointment only.
- The legal guardian of the patient must bring the patient to the appointment.
- A referral to the center does not relieve mandated reporters of their reporting responsibility. However, we can assist you by providing you with authority contact numbers.
- The center accepts Medicaid and most private insurance. Please provide authorization numbers and generate insurance referrals where necessary.
For More Information
Call the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at 404-785-3820.