All children who are suspected victims of child sexual abuse are entitled to a medical exam conducted by a specialized medical provider. CACs/MDTs can share with families and partner agencies, the importance of why a medical exam is important:
- To ensure the health and well-being of the child
- To reassure the child that everything is okay with their body
- To diagnose and treat medical conditions that may be related to sexual abuse
- To document any possible physical and forensic findings
- To allow for collection of evidence that may be present on the child’s body or clothing within 72 (pre-pubescent children) and 120 hours (adolescents)
- CAC Director Resource: Orienting Your Medical Provider to the CAC and Multidisciplinary Team
- The Medical Exam in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: What MDT Partners Need to Know, NRCAC video 2018
- Medical Fact Sheet from NRCAC
- Medical Linkage Agreement
- Midwest Regional CAC Medical Toolkit: Building and Sustaining Your Children's Advocacy Center's Medical Program
- Updated Guidelines for the Medical Assessment and Care of Children Who May Have Been Sexually Abused