Although all physicians are mandated reporters, not all physicians are
experts in child abuse. Child abuse is as a subspecialty within pediatrics.
The American Board of Pediatrics offers a certificate in child abuse pediatrics
to qualified pediatricians. These pediatricians are experts in all types of child
abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Information
about the eligibility criteria can be found on the American Board of
Pediatrics website https://www.abp.org/content/child-abuse-pediatrics-
certification .
The CHAMP Program uses the American Board of Pediatrics certificate in
child abuse pediatrics as the criterion for being a child abuse expert. Only
American Board of Pediatrics certified child abuse pediatricians can become
Faculty.
The CHAMP Program uses the designation of Associate Faculty for
physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants who have training
and experience in providing child abuse evaluations and work with CHAMP
Faculty as part of a child abuse team.
Although the education program to become a CHAMP Network Member
improves competence in providing child sexual abuse evaluations, it does
not make a professional an expert. Completing the CHAMP education
program is not the same as completing a fellowship in child abuse
and does not qualify the professional for board certification in child
abuse pediatrics. Instead, the CHAMP coursework and observership
provide the basic medical information needed to identify and refer
sexually abused children.
What does it mean to be a CHAMP Network Member?
CHAMP Network Members are physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants with pediatric experience in providing child abuse examinations who have taken the online coursework Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse and completed an observership with a CHAMP Faculty member.
CHAMP maintains the official list of the medical professionals who have successfully completed this educational program in child sexual abuse evaluation. Only the medical professionals on this list can call themselves
CHAMP Network Members.
