Children’s Cove Onboards New PediSANE
Child Advocacy Center Ensures a Trauma-Informed Medical Response with the Site Assignment of Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Vicki Bice
December 3, 2024 (Barnstable, MA) – Children’s Cove, The Cape & Island’s Child Advocacy Center, announced today the assignment of a Vicki Bice, a new Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (PediSANE) to support the coordinated medical response and care of children supported in abuse investigations.
In October, Vicki Bice joined the team at Children’s Cove after being hired by The Massachusetts Department of Public Health to train and serve as the region’s PediSANE. During the next few months, Vicki will undergo several months of on-site facilitated training and observation as part of the onboarding process at Children’s Cove.
As the Child Advocacy Center for the region, Children’s Cove coordinates the multidisciplinary response to child victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, witness to domestic violence, and commercial sexual exploitation. This includes an investigative component, as well as coordination of community-based services, mental health referrals, and medical care. The specially trained Pediatric SANE nurse provides expert medical care, including the ability to provide or coordinate a medical forensic examination.
“Ensuring children have the opportunity to timely, high-quality, and trauma-informed medical care is an integral part of our mission” said Stacy Gallagher, Children’s Cove Director. “After a child has made the brave choice to disclose their abuse, there is often the question, ‘Is my body ok?’ A confidential and child-empowered medical exam can help alleviate those concerns. Having the voice of a medical care professional as a part of every case is critical. We couldn’t be happier to have Vicki join our team.”
Vicki holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado and is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Vicki previously served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Bramblebush Pediatrics in Falmouth, MA., and at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Penn. Her experience also includes serving as a contracted medical staff member for the United States Airforce in various locations.
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ABOUT CHILDREN’S COVE: Children’s Cove, a department of Barnstable County, has been the Cape and the Island’s Children’s Advocacy Center since 1997. Children’s Cove provides coordinated and comprehensive multidisciplinary services to child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, witness to domestic violence and child sexual exploitation and trafficking. To learn more visit www.ChildrensCove.org
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD: Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov
