New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has opened the Advocacy, Care and Engagement Center, a clinical practice designed to integrate medical, behavioral health and social services for children affected by abuse and neglect.
The ACE Center brings together evidence-based medical evaluations with coordinated systemwide support for children suspected of physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect, according to a Feb. 9 news release shared with Becker’s.
Through its integrated model, the center aims to identify child maltreatment early, diagnose it accurately and reduce the risk of missed injuries or recurrent harm. Care is delivered in a family-centered, trauma-informed setting, with connections to behavioral health services, recovery supports and community-based resources.
In addition to direct patient care, the ACE Center looks to work with families, medical providers and community organizations to strengthen education and prevention efforts. The approach aims to support a coordinated response to risk factors while emphasizing appropriate support for families, according to the news release.
The ACE Center services children from birth through 17 years old. NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is a 639-bed acute care teaching hospital whose ambulatory care practices see well over 500,000 visits annually, with more than 150,000 behavioral health outpatient visits and nearly 23,000 inpatient discharges each year.
