Training Program for Healthcare Professionals in Managing Cases of Physically Abused Children
The 2nd Pediatric Clinic and the ELIZA Association conducted the 1st Program aimed at training professionals to manage cases of children suspected of abuse, as part of the Active Citizens Fund program.
The Impact of the Project
- TRAINING 1,600 PUBLIC SERVANTS & STUDENTS – MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
Within the framework of the project, in collaboration with and under the scientific supervision of the staff of the Child Safety Care Unit at the 2nd Pediatric Clinic of the University of Athens at “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, a specialized educational program was designed. Through this program, 1,600 professionals caring for children, as well as students, were trained in recognizing and managing cases of children suspected of physical abuse. Additionally, participants were trained in the specially designed Protocol Tool for detecting physical abuse, which succinctly outlines the steps a physician should follow when encountering a suspected case of abuse.
- SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL GUIDES FOR 10,000 PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
Specialized guides from ELIZA were distributed through pediatric centers across Greece, aiming to assist new parents and caregivers in daily challenges and issues related to preventing abuse and neglect. More than 10,000 parents and caregivers received 20,000 guides “Becoming a Parent Day by Day” and “Shaken Baby Syndrome” throughout Greece.
- BROADCAST OF AWARENESS SPOTS ON TELEVISION & SOCIAL MEDIA
A large-scale public awareness campaign was implemented as part of the project. A specialized spot was created to sensitize professionals who may encounter a potential case of abused children, extensively broadcasted on television and social media.
Simultaneously, specially designed content was disseminated on social media platforms to inform citizens about Children’s Rights and activate them to become involved in the initiative.
The above actions led to the sensitization of 3,000,000 citizens across the country who directly or indirectly participated in our initiative and in the ultimate goal of protecting vulnerable children at risk.
Active citizens fund program
The “Circle of Defenders of Children’s Rights” project was implemented as part of the Active citizens fund program, with ELIZA as the implementing body. The Active citizens fund program, with a total budget of €13.5 million, is financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway and is part of the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) for the period 2014-2021, known as EEA Grants. The program aims to empower and strengthen the sustainability of civil society and to highlight its role in promoting democratic processes, enhancing citizen participation in public affairs, and defending human rights. The management of the grant for the Active citizens fund program for Greece is jointly undertaken by the Bodossaki Foundation and SolidarityNow. Learn more here: www.activecitizensfund.gr
Program for Recognition & Management of Cases of Children Suspected of Sexual Abuse for Healthcare Professionals
Recognizing that sexual abuse has the most serious implications for the health of the child itself, as well as for the overall population, the aim of the program was the prevention of sexual violence through information, sensitization, and proper management of cases involving vulnerable children and families.
The Impact of the Project
Within the framework of the Program, the following were implemented:
- TRAIN THE TRAINER: TRAINING OF A CLOSED GROUP OF TRAINERS IN ATTICA THROUGH 5 WEBINARSInitially, 5 webinars were conducted with trainers from the Medical Schools of Yale University and Dartmouth College. Participants of these 5 initial webinars received the necessary knowledge to apply practices that would facilitate and make more effective the mechanism for protecting children who have suffered sexual abuse.
- EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR 4,000 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN ACROSS GREECEThe training sessions were conducted under the supervision of scientific coordinators: The Child Safety Care Unit at the Second Pediatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) at “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, the Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of NKUA, and the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology of the First Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the “Alexandra” Hospital. The program’s design was supported by the universities of the United States, Dartmouth College, and Yale University.
- EDUCATION ON THE CLINICAL ALGORITHMThe above actions included a clinical algorithm for the most standardized possible management process of suspected cases. Building on the experience from the initial actions, the third educational action focused on empowering healthcare professionals by demonstrating the value of prevention and proper management of cases with fatal outcomes.
Supporters
The above actions were implemented with the invaluable support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation & the Bodossaki Foundation, supported by Goldman Sachs Gives.
Training of Nurses for the Management of Abused Children Cases
Under the scientific guidance of the medical schools of Yale and Iowa Universities, the ELIZA and the 2nd Pediatric Clinic of the University of Athens, with the valuable contribution of the Nursing Service, implemented the 1st Symposium on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the “K. Papadatos” Amphitheater of the “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health.
Attendance was particularly high, with 215 healthcare professionals from 28 different specialties/fields of expertise participating, including Nurses, Nursing Assistants & General Nursing/ Nursing students. Participants received 4 Continuing Nursing Education units, as ELIZA had arranged and conducted the necessary accreditation procedures through the Nurses’ Association of Greece.
National Program for Prevention and Management of Physical Child Abuse Cases Based on the Hospital
More than 1,220 healthcare professionals were trained throughout Greece as part of the 1st National Program of Physician Training for the Management of Physically Abused Children Cases, an initiative and collaboration of the Child Abuse Society – ELIZA and the 2nd Pediatric Clinic of the University of Athens, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital. The program implementation began in May 2016, under the scientific guidance of the medical schools of Yale & Iowa Universities, and involves all the Pediatric Clinics of the country’s universities.
The Impact of the Project
A. Creation of a network of specialized physicians throughout Greece
Utilizing the “Train the Trainer” method, a network of 20 pediatricians – trainers was created throughout Greece who participated in an intensive seminar in Athens. Training was provided by specialists in abuse prevention and management, American pediatric professors, Dr. John Leventhal and Dr. Resmiye Oral, in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Athens, Alexandra Soldatou, and the Administrative Director of ELIZA, Aphrodite Stathi.
B. Training of frontline healthcare professionals
Subsequently, over a period of 7 months with full sponsorship, 8 training seminars were implemented in Athens (2), Thessaloniki, Alexandroupoli, Ioannina, Larissa, Patras, and Heraklion, attended by more than 1,220 healthcare professionals, mainly doctors – students, residents, and specialists – of all specialties caring for children.
In order to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the seminars in improving the knowledge of the attendees, a brief weighted questionnaire was created. The application before and after the seminar showed that the training significantly enhanced knowledge in all categories of healthcare professionals and equally in all cities.
C. Retrospective research on the phenomenon of physical child abuse
A crucial point of the initiative was the conduct of a retrospective research for the years 2014 – 2015, carried out at the “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital. Out of the total of 35,273 hospitalized children during this two-year period, 161 files of children with a significant social history and/or serious injuries were studied.
D. Protocol for the recognition & management of children with suspected physical abuse
Within the framework of the program, a Protocol was developed, a user-friendly standardized procedure proposed to be applied in Hospitals for assessing the likelihood of physical abuse.
Sponsors & Supporters
The Program team extends warmest thanks to the sponsors and supporters of the Program, as their contribution was instrumental.
- Major Sponsor: OTE Group
- Sponsor: U.S. Embassy in Athens
- Supporters: Aegean, The Fulbright Foundation in Greece, Microsoft Greece
