Cheshire Medical Center opens sexual abuse clinic for children, teenagers

Cheshire Medical Center, a member of Dartmouth Health, has opened a new clinic to help close the gap in local care for pediatric and adolescent patients who may have been sexually abused.

The Compassionate Care & Advocacy Clinic—which opened at Family & Community Care at the West Campus in May—offers a specialized medical visit for children and teenagers who may have been sexually abused or who may be involved in unsafe sexual situations.

A visit at the clinic includes a forensic exam with a specially trained provider to assess if the child has any injuries and also allows the child and their trusted adult to ask questions or get additional resources, such as mental health referrals.

Prior to this clinic opening, these specialized exams were not available in the Monadnock Region for pre-pubescent children, reflective of a national shortage of child abuse pediatricians. In 2024, 48 children in Cheshire County were referred for forensic exams outside of the region, but many families declined due to lack of transportation, finances or other logistical barriers.

“As the largest healthcare provider in the region, we knew we had to step up and meet this crucial need,” said Lindsey Cushing, MSN, ARPN, Director of Medical Forensic Care and OBGYN nurse practitioner. “By prioritizing the health, safety, and healing of children, our community’s most vulnerable members, Cheshire is strengthening not only their future, but the future of our entire region. This clinic reflects Cheshire’s belief that every child deserves compassionate care, protection and the opportunity to thrive.”

It’s estimated that one in four girls and one in 20 boys nationwide experience sexual abuse. About 90% of this sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the child or their family.

The trauma of abuse causes children to lose their sense of safety and trust and can harm current and future relationships. If unaddressed, this trauma can lead to mental health problems like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; risky behaviors like substance use and abuse; and increased risk for long-term health problems, such as heart disease and chronic pain disorders.

Cheshire’s clinic works directly with Dartmouth Health’s Child Advocacy and Protection Program (CAPP). All concerns of child abuse are sent to a central team at CAPP, who review each case, determine the urgency of medical evaluation and schedule an appointment at the appropriate location, including the new Cheshire clinic. Referrals for the clinic can be made by pediatricians, family medicine providers, child welfare services and the Child Advocacy Center of Cheshire County.

Cheshire’s new clinic is the latest expansion of its Medical Forensic Care team. Composed of five nurse practitioners and one registered nurse, this team of forensic examiners provides acute care for patients who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking and other forms of abuse.

While most patients are seen within Cheshire’s Emergency Department, the team also responds to inpatient units and offers consultation to medical providers within the outpatient setting. The team performs between 20 and 30 exams and consults on an additional 20 to 30 cases annually.

The Compassionate Care & Advocacy Clinic and its staff is being funded by Cheshire, but a three-year $700,000 grant secured from the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women is paying for clinic efforts such as training for pediatric examiners and on-call coverage of forensic examiners in Cheshire’s Emergency Department.

For more information on Cheshire’s Compassionate Care & Advocacy Clinic, visit cheshiremed.org/pediatrics/compassionate-care-advocacy-clinic. For information on appointments and referrals, contact CAPP at 603-653-3658.