The Child Protection Program (CPP) Clinic provides medical evaluations for possible child abuse. The clinic is staffed by physicians, nurses, social workers, and advocates. During an appointment, patients provide medical history and insurance information. The CPP team then takes a history, performs a physical exam including the genital and anal areas, and may use special equipment like a colposcope. Testing and counseling referrals are provided if needed. The goal is to determine if abuse occurred and ensure children receive necessary medical care and social services.

1. What is the Child Protection Program?
The Child Protection Program (CPP) Clinic is the outpatient clinical service providing
medical evaluations of children and adolescents for possible sexual abuse, physical
abuse or neglect. The CPP Clinic is staffed by a team of physicians, nurses, social
workers and advocates.
What does the CPP Clinic do?
We take a history as to why your child was referred to our CPP clinic, as well as
a medical history from the parent or caretaker.
We perform complete physical examinations, including of the anal and genital
areas.
We may use special equipment called a colposcope to better visualize the anal
and genital areas.
We may talk with your child alone, usually briefly.
Our social workers may discuss a plan for counseling.
We test for sexually transmitted infections and do pregnancy testing, if indicated.
What does the CPP Clinic not do?
We do not do “internal” or invasive exams of children.
We generally do not do full, comprehensive interviews of children. However, we
do work closely with child welfare and law enforcement investigators and the
district attorney’s office to ensure that all children and families receive any
needed services. The Child Advocacy Center of Worcester County, located at the
district attorney’s office, is often used to conduct forensic interviews and to
provide service planning.
How do you make an appointment?
There are two ways to schedule an appointment with the CPP Clinic:
Call 774-442-6629.
Call 1-855-UMASS-MD and ask to be connected to the CPP Clinic scheduler
During your call, you will be asked to provide the following information:
Registration information: If your child has never been to UMass Memorial,
registration information will help create a medical record for him or her. If your
child has been to the Medical Center, it’s important to make sure registration
information is up to date.
Insurance information: Insurance information is vital in order to make sure your
child can be seen when you get here and to make sure the cost of the visit is
covered by your insurance. If your insurance requires a referral or if there are any
other special instructions, the scheduler will let you know. In some cases, the
cost of your visit may be able to be covered by Victim Compensation (financial

2. assistance for victims of crime in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts). This
option will be discussed with you during your visit (if applicable).
Reason for appointment: The information you give helps the CPP clinic team
provide the best care for your child when you arrive and to determine if there’s
any additional information that would be helpful to gather before your scheduled
visit.
What should be brought to the appointment?
Insurance card(s)
Copayment for your insurance, if applicable
Referrals or authorizations from your child's primary care doctor, if applicable
Medical records, such as X-rays or lab tests, if applicable
Proof of guardianship or court involvement, such as custody papers (if you are
not the child’s parent)
Emergency contact information
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of investigative agencies involved
List of your child’s medical diagnoses or medications, if applicable
Another adult to support you and your child or to sit with your child while you
speak to the CPP team
What should be expected during the appointment with the CPP clinic?
When you arrive at the CPP Clinic you will have a chance to speak with the doctor(s)
and the social worker alone in order to review the reason you were referred to us and
the concerns you have about what may have happened to your child. This may be
based on what you have heard, seen or been told by either your child or someone else.
We have this discussion without your child present so that we can speak more freely.
We will also review your child’s medical information at this time.
Depending on your child’s specific circumstances and his or her age, we may want to
briefly speak with him or her alone in order to learn about what may have happened and
to address any concerns your child may have about his or her safety or body. We will
also make sure your child understands that he or she will have a physical exam and
what it will entail. You can be present for the exam, unless you have an older child or
adolescent who has indicated that he or she prefers to be alone for the examination.
After the exam, we will review the outcome and significance of the physical examination
and all of the other information gathered during your child’s visit. We will discuss if there
are any other medical tests or exams to complete, such as lab testing, X-rays or follow-
up exams. We will also talk about what other steps need to be taken, such as reports to
be made or referrals to other services.

3. Depending on the reason for your child’s visit, we may speak with you and your child to
assist with specific treatment referrals.
What is the exam like?
A parent/guardian can be in the room with his/her child if the child is young and/or
prefers your presence during the exam. A complete, head-to-toe physical examination is
performed.
When examining females, the doctor will shine a light/camera instrument called a
colposcope at the genital area. We look at the vaginal opening, and the exam may be
recorded and kept securely in her private medical record. During the exam, we don’t
routinely place anything inside the vagina. Examination of the anus is also completed
during this part of the examination.
When examining males, the doctor will examine the penis as well as both testicles to be
sure both are present in the scrotum and are normal. Examination of the anus is also
completed during this part of the examination. We record your child’s exam and keep
this securely in his private medical record.
How should I prepare my child for a visit to the CPP clinic?
Before coming to the CPP clinic, you should let your child know that you will be taking
him/her to the doctor for a medical check-up. You can assist your child by stating that
this is a check-up similar to a regular check-up with his/her primary care provider except
that this will also include some additional attention to the private areas of the body.
There is no pain associated with the medical check-up, and no shots are given in the
clinic. However, your doctor may recommend further urine or blood testing after your
child's visit, which can be completed at UMass Memorial or with your own pediatrician.
Your doctor will discuss this with you and your child.
We request that you do not ask your child any further questions about the incident.
However, listen if he/she chooses to talk, and let us know what your child shared with
you about the incident and any worries your child has.
What happens after the exam?
We will ask you to sign medical information release forms, which give us permission to
update your physician and child protective services about your child’s appointment in
the CPP clinic. If we need to make a report to the authorities, such as the Department of
Children and Families or the police, in order to begin an investigation, we will inform
you.

4. If there is anyone else, such as a counselor, that you believe needs to have information
about what happened during your visit, tell us so we can have you complete the forms
required.