Abstract:
According to the Children’s Bureau, child abuse and neglect is any action, whether physical, emotional, sexual or the failure to provide necessities and safety of a child (i.e., food, shelter, clothing, water, medical care, supervision, etc.). The unfortunate reality is that many children suffer such conditions, which are often unreported, thus resulting in death. In fact, “an estimated 1,840 children died due to abuse or neglect in the Federal fiscal year 2019” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). While not all cases result in death, the long-term consequences of experiencing abuse or neglect can affect individuals emotionally, mentally, and physically throughout their lifetime.
While pediatric medical staff have training focusing on detecting child abuse and neglect, it can be challenging and difficult to determine (Christian, 2019). A study found that “more than one-quarter of children with severe physical abuse had previous sentinel injuries missed by physicians” (Narang et al., 2018). Behavioral health consultants (BHC) will educate pediatric primary care medical staff on a trauma-informed method that is utilized in detecting child abuse and neglect. This approach from a BHC framework will provide staff with a sensitive and evidence-based approach to aid in the prevention of abuse and neglect.
Biography:
Lisa Logan is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate from Spalding University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Louisville, Masters of Science in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Spalding University. Lisa has gained practicum experience across a multitude of settings, including a residential reunification program for families who have open Department of Child Services cases, a local high school with students who have extensive trauma histories, a pediatric health clinic providing brief intervention therapy for children, adolescents, and families and a resource center which focuses on solution-focused therapeutic interventions for individuals experiencing houselessness. She has also been selected to as an Integrated Behavioral Health Scholar as part of Spalding University’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant.
Additionally, Lisa has worked at a residential facility as a Counselor for adolescents and children; worked at a birth-to-five Head Start as a Family Service Specialist; and worked in the intake department administering level-of-care assessments at a psychiatric hospital (providing inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs for adolescents and adults) for mental health and substance use. She currently works at a medical and surgical hospital as a Harm Reduction Coordinator, working with patients who have a history of substance use. She will be beginning her doctoral internship in July 2023 at the Lexington VA in Kentucky, in which she will be providing mental health and substance use services to United States veterans. Throughout her employment and practicum experiences, she has had the opportunity to work with clients and patients across the lifespan with presenting problems, including trauma, learning and behavioral diagnoses, personality disorders, substance use, anxiety, and depression.
In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Lisa is an active member of her community. She volunteers with local organizations that provide support to veterans and works to raise awareness of mental health issues in underserved communities. She has a passion for working with those in underserved communities such as the severely mentally ill (SMI) and substance use populations, houseless individuals, and the Black community. Through her work, Lisa hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of those she serves and to promote mental wellness and resilience in all communities.
