Children's Hospital

UMMS Child Protection Team

The Child Protection Team (CPT) is an interdisciplinary team that helps UMMC staff assess and address possible child abuse and neglect. The team includes pediatricians, social workers, a psychologist, and a Baltimore City Department of Social Services (DSS) representative. In addition, police and Child Advocacy Center representatives provide consultation, as needed.

CPT Goals

Provide support and consultation, ensuring optimal care for children who:

are “at risk” of abuse or neglect (i.e., maltreatment)
have been maltreated
may have been maltreated

Provide education and training on child abuse, neglect and intimate partner (or domestic) violence
Build collaborative relationships within the UMMC and with the community for addressing and preventing maltreatment
Engage in continuous quality improvement
Develop policies for UMMC pertaining to child maltreatment

The following examples may reflect child abuse or neglect:

Physical Abuse

Injury pattern suspicious for abuse
Injury inconsistent with history

Sexual Abuse

History or disclosure suggestive of sexual abuse
Age-inappropriate sexualized behavior
Genital findings suggestive of abuse
Sexually transmitted infection in prepubertal child
Pregnancy in young adolescent

Neglect

Failure to thrive with significant psychosocial problems
Medical neglect
- Non-adherence (non-compliance) to treatment, jeopardizing child's health
- Dangerous delay in seeking health care
Grossly inadequate clothing or hygiene
Extended school absence

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Hostile or inappropriate parent-child interaction
Intimate partner violence

Ways that the CPT can assist UMMS staff:

Help clarify if a child has been abused or neglected
Assist in evaluating suspected abuse or neglect
Assist in managing suspected abuse or neglect
Provide guidance in making a report to CPS
Trouble-shoot with CPS, law enforcement, the state’s attorney’s office and other professionals
Help prepare court testimony
Provide psychological assessments
Provide in-service trainings
Provide 24/7 consultation (most of the time) whenever there is a concern regarding child abuse or neglect
Consult in multi-disciplinary case conferences

Team Members

Howard Dubowitz, MD, MS
(Pediatrician & CPT Chair)
Email: hdubowitz@peds.umaryland.edu
Extension: 410-706-6144

Charles Shubin, MD
(Pediatrician at Mercy)
Email: cshubin@umaryland.edu
Office: 410-500-5568

Wendy Lane, MD, MPH
(Pediatrician)
Email: wlane@epi.umaryland.edu
Extension: 410-706-7865

Leslie Fitzpatrick, LCSW-C
(CPT Coordinator)
Email: lfitzpatrick@peds.umaryland.edu
Extension: 410-706-5176

Forrest Closson, MD
(Pediatrician)
Email: fclosson@peds.umaryland.edu
Extension: 410-328-6335(ED)

Randy Chang, PsyD
(Psychologist)
Email: rkchang@peds.umaryland.edu
Extension: 410-706-4869

Brandi Stocksdale, LCSW-C
(Baltimore City CPS)
Email: bstocksd@dhr.state.md.us
Extension: 443-423-7286

Kristen Favarulo, LCSW-C
(UMMS Social Worker)
Email: kfavarulo@umm.edu
Extension: 410-328-0841

Carrie Freshour, LGSW
(PATH Clinic Social Worker)
Email: cfreshour@umm.edu
Office: 443-682-6620

For more information or to reach the CPT, please call (410)706-5176 or email: CPT@peds.umaryland.edu.

This page was last updated on: September 7, 2011.

For more information about UMCH or to make an appointment, please call 1-866-408-6885 (patients) or 1-800-373-4111 (physicians).