Audrey Hepburn CARE Center
New Orleans Child Abuse Center
The Audrey Hepburn Children at Risk Evaluation (CARE) Center is a comprehensive child abuse center providing state-of-the-art pediatric forensic medicine evaluations in a home-like cottage near Audubon Park. Beyond providing clinical excellence in child abuse forensic medicine, the CARE Center is active in treatment, consultation, prevention, training, education and research.
The New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Center (NOCAC) is a program of the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center at Children’s Hospital that provides a coordinated, multi-agency approach to the investigation, intervention and treatment of child sexual and physical abuse.
The Audrey Hepburn CARE Center is located at 1101 Calhoun Street in Uptown New Orleans. For more information, please call 504.896.9237.
Physicians trained to identify signs of abuse
The clinical team at the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center provides pediatric forensic medical evaluations to more than 1,500 children a year from across Louisiana and southern Mississippi. The physicians aid in the proper recognition, intervention, protection and prevention of maltreated children, including physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.
These physicians are also trained in advanced technology and procedures, which are utilized for the physical examination, documentation of diagnosed maltreatment and collection of evidence. The CARE Center physicians assist the investigating agencies in distinguishing abuse from non-abusive physical injuries and allegations.
A safe place for children
The department maintains specialized staff for the comprehensive management of child abuse. Trained nurses assist the physicians in reassuring the families and child that the exam is not painful. A case manager, with special training in victim assistance and coordination of care beyond the program, provides resources and information for each family.
On-site, community and home-based counseling is available from multiple agency partners that specialize in evidenced-based treatment of child trauma. An attorney with child abuse prosecutorial experience assists in the management, testimonial preparation and proper reporting of abuse cases and legislation. The Audrey Hepburn CARE Center actively participates in the multidisciplinary process in each parish with a timely and accurate response to allegations of abuse.
Educating the community
The Audrey Hepburn CARE Center provides evidence-informed presentations to pediatricians, mandated reporters, schools and community groups on child abuse and solutions. Annually, over 7,000 community members have been given free training by the CARE Center, and trainings can be scheduled upon request. The CARE Center also advocates legislation and policies that ensure the protection of children and has successfully changed Louisiana laws to further the prosecution of offenders and the protection of children and mandatory reporters.
