Armed Forces Center for Child Protection

Building healthy families through prevention and intervention in military communities worldwide.

Helping children and families

• Return to healthy functional relationships.
• Protect children throughout the DoD from maltreatment.
• Ensure active-duty members are ready to serve.

Our practice

• Support military and civilian professionals who address child maltreatment.
• Provide objective medical expertise throughout the Department of Defense (DoD), including areas outside the continental US.

Team of specialists

• Pediatricians, a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, and social worker.
• Broad pediatric and child abuse experience.
• Sensitive to child's and family's needs.
• Extensive courtroom experience.

Services

• Medical evaluations
  • Referrals accepted from National Capital Area (NCA) and isolated military bases.
  • Video-photo-colposcopy employed for suspected sexual abuse, as well as for acute and healed injuries.
  • Extensive, individual care provided to evaluate inflicted harm and all medical and psychological needs.
• Expert medical testimony
  • Based on examinations and case reviews.
  • Provided by staff with extensive courtroom experience in military courts martial, civilian criminal court, and family and dependency hearings. Civilian court cases are handled on a case by case basis.
• Medical-legal review
  • Evaluation of medical, investigative, and legal records in cases of suspected child abuse.
  • Available to medical providers, military family advocacy programs, military police and criminal investigative offices, supervising commands, and prosecuting and defense attorneys.
  • For an adversarial process, AFCCP works for one side of the case only, on a first come first served basis.
• Child abuse education
  • Teaching is fundamental to program success.
  • Educational programs target many aspects of child abuse.
  • Training available to medical personnel, family advocacy representatives, social work and mental health professionals, military commands, law enforcement, lawyers, judges, and the general public.
  • Programs may range from formal to small group workshops.
• Child forensic interviewing

16,000 cases of suspected child maltreatment were reported for one year in U.S. Armed Forces, worldwide.

What is child maltreatment?

• Physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, exploitation, negligence, or maltreatment of a child by the child’s caretaker(s).
• Circumstances indicate that the child’s health or welfare has been harmed or threatened.
• Determination is based on regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What you can do
The problem is often ignored out of fear, anxiety or disbelief. A caring community is necessary to help these troubled families.

If you suspect child maltreatment, contact your Family Advocacy Representative (FAR). In an emergency, call your local police department.

In the National Capital Area, referrals are accepted from the child’s primary care manager. Health care professionals must report suspected maltreatment.