title: The utilization of medical and nonmedical specialties in the assessment of child abuse in the military community.
abstract: The Family Advocacy Program is a Department of Defense-mandated program that is administered individually by the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Factors were sought that may influence the ultimate disposition of a suspected abuse case on a given base. Navy Child Abuse Subcommittees were exclusively chaired by pediatricians, while the Army and the Air Force used social workers and psychologists. The Army and Air Force used the same medical specialists to run the larger Family Advocacy Programs, while the Navy used non-medical active duty officers. Base authorities made the final judgment to implement a treatment plan more frequently at Navy and Army commands. The implications of overutilization of medical specialists and increased legal liability of non-medical personnel are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Naval Hospital, Cherry Point, NC 28533-5008.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mishik
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Ferry
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce