This document provides guidelines for staff at a medical facility on responding to situations involving abuse of children or adults, and for handling infants relinquished under the state's Safe Haven law. If abuse is suspected, a clinical manager must be notified immediately to assess the situation and contact the appropriate authorities. For children, protective services should also be notified within one hour if no response from the initial contacts. Any infant relinquished under Safe Haven must be accepted and the administration notified to arrange care of the child through the emergency department.

1. Victims of Abuse
Safe Haven

2.  Any individual with information to warrant
suspicion of abuse of a child or an adult is
required to notify a Clinical Manager
immediately.
 Once the situation is assessed, appropriate
authorities will be contacted which may
include P&S Social Services, and/or the Social
Worker on call (SFMC Social Services 966-
5028).
 If no response is received within 30 minutes
repeat the call. In the case of a child, if no
response is received within 1 hr, notify Child
Protective Services at 362-5311.

3. Abuse of an Adult
 In the case of an adult, you should
ask the patient, “Have you been
abused?”
 If the answer is yes or with
suspicious circumstances notify a
Clinical Manager who will follow-up
appropriately.

4.  P&S serves as a Safe Haven which means
any parent may relinquish the care of an
infant less than 60 days old to a P&S
employee in safety, anonymity, and without
fear of prosecution.
 If a parent relinquishes a baby to you, you
should take the child and immediately notify
Administration. You and the baby will be
escorted by Administration or Security to
SFMC Emergency Department.
Safe Haven

5. End of Presentation
 This is the end of presentation.