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Division of Child Care at KASCH

Division of Child Care

The Child Care Division (CCD) is a service that helps with cases of suspected child abuse and neglect (SCAN). It is a consultation-based, multidisciplinary service. Our team is made up of pediatricians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and child psychologists who specialize in Child Maltreatment. The medical team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for consultations, clinical assessments, management, and interventions. Social workers and psychologists help caretakers and provide short-term and long-term mental health care. In Saudi Arabia, our team also reports child abuse cases to the National Protection Department, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the police, and the courts.


Vision of Child Care Division

“A Service of Excellence: Where Every Child is a Safe Child"


Mission of Child Care Division

  • Respond to all cases of suspected child abuse and neglect, help families heal, and restore childhood hope through comprehensive evaluation and management of children from birth to 14 years.

  • Establish excellent academic opportunities, research, and enhance community service programs to improve the lives of children.


Objectives of Child Care Division

  • Children who are thought to have been abused or neglected are given a complete medical, social, and psychological evaluation.

  • Reporting child abuse cases to the National Protection Department, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Police, and Judicial Departments in Saudi Arabia, and keeping track of what happens.

  • Consultation by phone in case of emergency Health care providers can get help evaluating and handling cases of child abuse and neglect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • A SCAN clinic with child abuse pediatricians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and child psychologists to follow up on all child abuse and neglect cases.

  • Students, interns, and residents are taught about child abuse and neglect through ongoing lectures, journal clubs, grand rounds, and meetings with people from different fields.



Role of SCAN Consultant:

  • Mostly gets all consultations as second on call for suspected SCAN cases, according to the monthly on-call Rota.
  • Together with the staff physician, evaluates cases by interviewing the patient, their companion(s), caregiver(s), and abuser(s) (if possible), giving a physical exam, and setting up an urgent laboratory and imaging studies.
  • Requests photos of the patient's injuries, in line with APP 1428-09: Photography at NGHA facilities.

  • Ensures that the Military Police are notified quickly of criminal cases.
  • Starts and oversees all the necessary consultations needed to evaluate SCAN cases.
  • Evaluates and makes decisions about what to do with the patient (admit or send to discharge management) in collaboration with MRP (with authority to make a final decision in case of disagreement).

  • Recommends a NO visitor or a limited visitor order.
  • Documents their professional opinion about the case.
  • Sends an urgent, detailed report of SCAN cases to the Social Protection Unit of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

  • Provides a complete Medico-Legal Report for the case, as required by APP 838-03: Reportable Medico-Legal Cases. This report includes the SCAN team's recommendations through the Executive/Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services in the region.

Role of SCAN Staff:


  • Receives SCAN consultations as a first on-call according to the monthly On Call Rota and discusses all the cases received with the on-call SCAN consultant (Team Leader) immediately.

  • Provides assessment of cases, which includes: conducting an interview of the patient and their companion(s)/caregivers and abuser(s) (if possible), performing a physical examination, and arranging urgent laboratory and imaging studies.

  • Ensure the urgent notification of the Military Police for criminal cases.

  • Gathers information and calls for SCAN team meetings regularly every week or according to the case.

  • Documents the findings that were found and the SCAN team Plan to manage them after discussion with the SCAN team consultant (Team leader) in the patient medical record and fill up the Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect Form.

  • Review SCAN Cases that have been registered in the National Registry as a common registrar, together with the clinical coordinator, to arrange for the weekly case discussion meeting.

Role of SCAN Coordinator:

  • Facilitates other team member assessment.

  • Registers SCAN cases in the National Registry as common user.

  • Prepares appointments in SCAN clinic and contact the booked patient in SCAN clinic via phone to make sure they are attending.

  • Prepares the letters to outside agencies (police and ministry of labor and social development ) , send them via email and ECTS and follows up with them.

  • Responsible for viewing the SCAN email daily.

  • Prepares all reports regarding the SCAN clinic ( monthly and/ or annual report) together with other team members.

  • Together with SCAN physician arranges and coordinates awareness activities that are held by SCAN team.

  • Together with staff physician, is responsible for managing the CCD data reports (quarterly and annually).

  • Arrange for the weekly case discussion meetings and for the administrative meeting 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Role of SCAN Student/Intern/Resident:



  • Facilitates other team member assessments.Registers SCAN cases in the National Registry as an everyday user.


  • Prepares appointments in SCAN clinic and contacts the booked patient in SCAN clinic via phone to make sure they are attending.



  • Prepares the letters to outside agencies (police and ministry of labor and social development ), send them via email and ECTS, and follows up with them.



  • Responsible for viewing the SCAN email daily.



  • Prepares all reports regarding the SCAN clinic ( monthly and/ or annual report) together with other team members.


  • Together with SCAN physician, arranges and coordinates awareness activities held by the SCAN team.


  • Together with the staff physician, is responsible for managing the CCD data reports (quarterly and annually).


  • Arrange for the weekly case discussion meetings and for the administrative meeting 2nd Wednesday of every month.


Division of Child Care Programs:

Inpatient Service: Clinical evaluation of all cases of CAN by a multidisciplinary SCAN team on 24/7 consultation service .

Outpatient Service: Follow up of all consultation and diagnosed patient with CAN in regular basis

Community Awareness Service: The CCD also works on awareness and advocacy to improve child health, child rights and prevention of all forms of violence against children targeting parents in different community programs such as the Parenting Program, CAN Awareness Campaigns, etc.


Education and Training in Child Care Division:

CCD provides the trainees with multi-faceted experiences following CanMeds format. The teamwork nature of the service will enhance the trainee's collaborative, leadership and communication skills. The trainee will gain an updated evidence-based knowledge, and involvement in research in the field.

Child Care Division Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Kpis
 

Child Care Clinical Care Outcomes

  • Recognition of the SCAN team as a safeguarding service in MNGHA.

  • Systematic comprehensive approach to child abuse cases by all healthcare facilities.

  • Trends of morbidity and mortality due to CAN.

Child Care Division Achievements and Awards

KASCH 4th Annual Excellence and Innovation in Healthcare Events 2021 Award for The No Hit Zone.

Publications of Child Care Division

  • Child mortality in Saudi Arabia: Time for action at all levels. Almuneef M, Saleheen H, AlBuhairan F, Al-Eissa M, Al Muntaser M, Al Alem H, Othman A, Al Abrash T, Al Saif S, Baylon B. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2021 Sep;8(3):165-171. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2020.06.003. Epub 2020 Jul 7. PMID: 34350329

  • Child maltreatment prevention readiness in Bahrain. Al-Mahroos FT, Alnoaimi AA, AlAmer EA, Jahrami HA, Saleheen HN, Almuneef M, Al-Eissa MA. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2021 Sep; 8(3):149-153. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2020.03.010. Epub 2020 Apr 11. PMID: 34350326
  • Readiness assessment for implementation of a large scale child maltreatment prevention program in Qatar. Alansari K, Al Hammadi ZS, Jilani N, Vaux H, Shadaksharaiah JH, Al-Eissa MA, Saleheen HN, Almuneef M. Child Abuse Negl. 2021 Sep; 119(Pt 1):104745. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104745. Epub 2020 Sep 29. PMID: 33004212
  • Pathways to a more peaceful and sustainable world: The transformative power of children in families. Britto PR, Hanöz-Penney S, Ponguta LA, Sunar D, Issa G, Hein SD, do Rosário MC, Almuneef MA, Korucu I, Togo Y, Kurbonov J, Choibekov N, Phan HTT, Fallon NS, Artukoğlu BB, Hartl FJ, Salah R, Fitzpatrick S, Connolly P, Dunne L, Miller S, Pruett K, Leckman JF. Dev Psychopathol. 2021 May;33(2):409-420. doi: 10.1017/S0954579420000681. PMID: 32935656
  • Hospital preparedness and management of pediatric population during COVID-19 outbreak. Kazzaz YM, Alkhalaf H, Alharbi M, Al Shaalan M, Almuneef M, Alshehri A, Alali H, AlHarbi T, Alzughaibi N, Alatassi A, Mahmoud AH, Aljuhani T, AlSaad A, Alqanatish J, Aldubayee M, Malik A, Al Amri A, Al Shebil S, Al Onazi M, Al Mutrafy AF, Al Moamary MS. Ann Thorac Med. 2020 Jul-Sep;15(3):107-117. doi: 10.4103/atm.ATM_212_20. Epub 2020 Jun 18. PMID: 32831931
  • Child Maltreatment Prevention Readiness Assessment in Oman.
    Al Saadoon M, Al Numani A, Saleheen H, Almuneef M, Al-Eissa M. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2020 Feb;20(1):e37-e44. doi: 10.18295/squmj.2020.20.01.006. Epub 2020 Mar 9. PMID: 32190368
  • Multidimensional model to assess the readiness of Kuwait to implement evidence-based child maltreatment prevention programs at a national level. Alkhawari M, Ali K, Al-Abdul Razzaq F, Saleheen HN, Almuneef M, Al-Eissa MA. Public Health. 2020 Apr; 181:182-188. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.01.005. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32088599
  • Prevalence, pattern and factors of intimate partner violence against Saudi women.
    Abolfotouh MA, Almuneef M. J Public Health (Oxf). 2020 Aug 18; 42(3):e206-e214. doi: 10.1093/PubMed/fdz092. PMID: 31504716
  • Child maltreatment prevention readiness in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Al Eissa M, Saleheen HN, Almuneef M, Al Saadoon M, Alkhawari M, Almidfa A, Almahroos F. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2019 Sep;6(3):92-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2019.07.009. Epub 2019 Jul 22. PMID: 31700967
  • Understanding the needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Child maltreatment prevention program development. Maha Almuneef 1, Hassan N Saleheen 2, Fatimah Al Shehri 2, Majid A Al-Eissa 3 Child Abuse Negl 2019 Jul;93:111-118. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.04.016. Epub 2019 May 9
  • Long term consequences of child sexual abuse in Saudi Arabia: A report from national study. Almuneef M. Child Abuse Negl. 2019 Mar 11. pii: S0145-2134(19)30089-4
  • Characteristics of Nonaccidental Fractures in Abused Children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Jawadi AH, Benmeakel M, Alkathiri M, Almuneef MA, Philip W, Almuntaser M. Saudi J Med Med Sci. 2019 Jan-Apr; 7(1):9-15.
  • Child Maltreatment Prevention Strategies: Saudi Youth Perspectives. Al-Eissa MA, ElChoueiry N, AlBuhairan F, Saleheen HN, Almuneef MA. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2018 Sep; 5(3):92-98.
  • Prevalence of Sexual Abuse among Secondary School Students in Saudi Arabia. Majid A. Al-Eissa, Hassan N. Saleheen, Nesreen S. Al-Wallan , Monera Y. Alkashan, Norah J. Alsubaie, and Maha A. Almuneef. Violence and Vict . 2018 Oct; 33(5):855-870.
  • The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social determinants among saudi adults. Maha Almuneef, Nathalie ElChoueiry, Hassan Saleheen, Majid Al-EissaJ Public Health (Oxf). 2018 Sep 1; 40(3):e219-e227.pp. 1-9.
  • Social Determinants of Domestic Violence Among Saudi Married Women in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Alquaiz, A.M., Almuneef, M., Kazi, A., Almeneessier, A. (2017) Journal of Interpersonal violence, Dec 20: 1-12.
  • Professionals' Attitude toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse in Saudi Arabia. Al-Saif DM, Al-Eissa M, Saleheen H, Al-Mutlaq H, Everson MD, Almuneef MA. J Child Sex Abus. 2017 Sep 14:1-16.
  • Relationship between childhood bullying and addictive and anti-social behaviors among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional national study. Almuneef M, Saleheen HN, ElChoueiry N, Al-Eissa MA. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2017 Aug 24. pii: /j/ijamh.ahead-of-print/ijamh-2017-0052/ijamh-2017-0052.xml. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2017-0052.
  • Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Almuneef M, ElChoueiry N, Saleheen HN, Al-Eissa M. Int J Equity Health. 2017 May 30; 16(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s12939-017-0588-9.
  • Examining the Relationship between Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence and Victimization among Children in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Majid A. Al-Eissa, Hassan N. Saleheen, Maha Almuneef DOI: 10.1177/0886260517696865 | First Published March 10, 2017
  • Examining the relationship between child maltreatment and school performance in public schools in Saudi Arabia: A pilot study. Altamimi D, Almuneef M, Albuhairan F, Saleheen H. Scand J Public Health. 2017 Apr 1:1403494817703211. doi: 10.1177/1403494817703211
  • Family profile of victims of child abuse and neglect in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Almuneef MA, Alghamdi LA, Saleheen HN.Saudi Med J. 2016 Aug; 37(8):882-8. doi: 10.15537/smj.2016.8.14654
  • Bullying in early adolescence: An exploratory study in Saudi Arabia. Albuhairan F, AlEissa M, AlKufeidy N, & Almuneef M. International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2016, in press. doi:10.1016/j.ijpam.2016.01.002
  • Adverse childhood experiences and association with health, mental health, and risky behavior in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Almuneef M, Hollinshead D, Saleheen H, AlMadani S, Derkash B, AlBuhairan F, Al-Eissa M, Fluke J. Child Abuse Negl. 2016 Oct; 60:10-17. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 20
  • Determining prevalence of maltreatment among children in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Eissa MA, Saleheen HN, AlMadani S, AlBuhairan FS, Weber A, Fluke JD, Almuneef M, Casillas KL. Child Care Health Dev. 2016 Feb 15. doi: 10.1111/cch.12325
  • Non-suicidal self-strangulation among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: Case series of the Choking game. Albuhairan F, AlMutairi A, AlEissa M, Naeem M, Almuneef, M. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine 30 (2015) 43-45. Doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.12.015.
  • Determining Child Maltreatment Incidence in Saudi Arabia Using the ICAST-CH: A Pilot Study. Child Abuse Negl. 2014 Sep 11. pii: S0145-2134(14)00308-1. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.08.016. AlEissa M, AlMuneef M, Albuhairan F, Runyan D.
  • Adverse childhood experiences, chronic disease, and risky health behaviors in Saudi Arabian adults: A pilot study. Child Abuse Negl. 2014 Jun 25 pii: S0145-2134(14)00215-4. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.06.003.Almuneef M, Qayad M, Al-Eissa MA, Albuhairan FS.
  • Women Health in Saudi Arabia: A review of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors Pak J Med Sci 2014; 30(2):422-431. doi: 10.12669/pjms.302.4378. Alquaiz AM, Siddiqui AR, Qureshi R, Fouda M, Almuneef M, Habib F, Iqbal M, Turkistani IM.
  • A history of childhood maltreatment among spouses predicts violence against women. Ann Saudi Med. 2013 Nov-Dec; 33(6):595-600. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2013.595. Al-Faris H, Al-Faris H, Al-Faris E, Naghma N, Jamal A, AlQuaiz AM, Al-Thebaity R, Al-Zahrani M, Qusti N, Al-Ahmadi R, Hakami S, Al-Mutairi SG, Al-Moneef M, Al-Osaimi S, Al-Sulaim T, Qureshi R, Irfan F, Feeley P.

  • Multidimensional model to assess the readiness of Saudi Arabia to implement evidence based child maltreatment prevention programs at a large scale. Child Abuse Negl. 2013 Aug 31. pii: S0145-2134(13)00217-2. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.08.001. Almuneef M, Qayad M, Noor IK, Al-Eissa MA, Albuhairan FS, Inam S, Mikton C.

  • The assessment of the readiness of five countries to implement child maltreatment prevention programs on a large scale. Child Abuse Negl. 2013 Dec; 37(12):1237-51. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.07.009. Epub 2013 Aug 17. Mikton C, Power M, Raleva M, Makoae M, Al Eissa M, Cheah I, Cardia N, Choo C, Almuneef M.
  • Determinants of sexual health knowledge in adolescent girls in schools of Riyadh-Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study. BMC Women's Health. 2013 Apr 15; 13:19. doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-13-19. AlQuaiz AM, Kazi A, Al Muneef M.
  • Knowledge, attitudes, and resources of sex education among female adolescents in public and private schools in Central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2012 Sep; 33(9):1001-9. Alquaiz AM, Almuneef MA, Minhas HR.

  • Self-reported awareness of child maltreatment among school professionals in Saudi Arabia: impact of CRC ratification. Child Abuse Negl. 2011 Dec; 35(12):1032-6. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.10.002. Epub 2011 Nov 9. AlBuhairan FS, Inam SS, AlEissa MA, Noor IK, Almuneef MA.

  • Preventing child abuse and neglect in Saudi Arabia: are we ready? Ann Saudi Med. 2011 Nov-Dec; 31(6):635-40. doi: 10.4103/0256-4947.87102. Review. Almuneef M, Al-Eissa M.
  • A Multidimensional Model for Child Maltreatment Prevention Readiness in Low- and Middle –Income Countries. Journal of Community Psychology. 2011 September. Vo. 39 No. 7, 826-843 doi: 10-1002/jcop.20474 Mikton C, Mehra R, Burchart A, Addiss D, Almuneef M, Cardia N, Cheah I, Chen J, Makoae M, Raleva M.
  • Child abuse and neglect in Saudi Arabia: journey of recognition to implementation of national prevention strategies. Child Abuse Negl. 2010 Jan; 34(1):28-33. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.08.011. Epub 2010 Jan 25. Al Eissa M, Almuneef M.
  • Lichen sclerosis mistaken for child sexual abuse. Int J Dermatol. 2005 Apr; 44(4):317-20. Al-Khenaizan S, Almuneef M, Kentab O.


Leadership of Child Care Division











Prof. Maha Almuneef

Division Head, Child Care Section

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