College of Medicine MD Curriculum

Child Advocacy

TITLE: Child Advocacy 

COURSE NO.: SOMN 714

DEPARTMENT: Psychiatry

DURATION: September – January (one hour classes, twice monthly)

DIRECTOR: Michele Knox, Ph.D.; Michele.knox@utoledo.edu; Phone: 419-383-3919

This course partially fulfills Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation standards, ED-20: The curriculum of a medical education program must prepare medical students for their role in addressing the medical consequences of common societal problems (e.g., provide instruction in the diagnosis, prevention, appropriate reporting, and treatment of violence and abuse).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: First-year or second-year students learn about child advocacy and child maltreatment and its consequences, as well as professional responses to child maltreatment. All students receive an orientation at the beginning of the elective and attend didactic presentations to learn and discuss a variety of topics concerning child advocacy. Students also meet with faculty for small group case discussions. The total requirements are follows:

  1. 1 hour meeting every other week, during which faculty and related professionals present relevant topics, view documentaries, andfacilitate discussion.
  2. Each student studies one de-identified patient case involving suspected child maltreatment and writes a paper or does a briefpresentation about the case at the end of the course.
  3. Each student completes the Attachment Vitamins online training modules (https://learn.nctsn.org/enrol/index.php?id=483)independently and turns in the completion certificate.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:

  1. Discuss the cycle of family violence commonly experienced in contexts of maltreatment. EPOs: K11, K14, K15, S1, S2, P1, P2, P3, P4, P6
  2. Understand the development of psychopathology in the child related to maltreatment. EPOs: K11, K14, K15, P1, P2, P3, P4, P6
  3. Describe interdisciplinary programs for families to prevent or respond to maltreatment. EPOs: K9, K10, K11, K12, K13, K14, K15, K16, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
  4. Describe long-term consequences of maltreatment commonly experienced by adolescent and adult survivors. EPOs: K9, K10, K11, K12, K13, K14, K15, S1, S2, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
  5. Explain the role of professionals working with families in promoting change that will result in fewer incidentsof child maltreatment. EPOs: P1, P2, P3, P5, P6, K14, K15, K16, S2

METHODS OF TEACHING:

  • Clinical case presentations / discussions
  • Lecture
  • Lecture / media
  • Small group discussion
  • Online learning modules

METHODS OF EVALUATION AND STUDENT FEEDBACK:

  • Attendance
  • Presentation
  • Formative feedback

Required Viewing: Attachment Vitamins online training modules https://learn.nctsn.org/enrol/index.php?id=483

Optional Readings and Other Resources:

Last Updated: 1/8/23