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A program designed to teach parents/caregivers about normal infant crying and the normalcy of feeling frustrated due to the crying. Teaches caregivers about normal crying can lessen their stress and reduce the likelihood that they will shake their infant out of frustration and discouragement.

The Safety, Care & Nurturing (SCAN) program is part of the Division of Child Adversity and Resilience at Children's Mercy. Each year we work with nearly 3,000 children by identifying, preventing and treating all forms of child abuse. 

Children we see are often impacted by child maltreatment, nutritional neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse or suspected child abuse or neglect.

We collaborate with social workers and governmental agencies throughout Kansas and Missouri to develop appropriate state responses to child maltreatment. This includes the development of novel prevention and therapy programs. 

Our team serves as the medical provider for several Children's Advocacy Centers in Missouri and Kansas. We also provide forensic evaluations for the Kansas Department of Children and Families.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program


The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program provides expert forensic and medical care to sexually abused children. Nurse examiners provide emergency response for sexually abused children in the two Children's Mercy Emergency Departments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Specially trained examiners

Specially trained pediatric and adolescent sexual assault nurse examiners are available to provide dedicated care to all patients who have been victims of sexual abuse. Each staff member completes 40 hours of specialized training through a pediatric and adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner training. Our team members are also required to demonstrate competency through preceptored examinations with pediatricians specializing in child abuse and neglect.

Training and expertise

Nurse examiners also have access to expert clinical advisors for case consultation, 100 percent review by the SCAN team physicians and nurse practitioners, and participate in ongoing education and training. 

Educational innovations

SCAN has developed a computer program, using sophisticated animation and narration, detailing how young children become injured through both accidental and inflicted means. See the Child Protector app below for more information.

In collaboration with the Children's Mercy Center for Excellence in Pediatric Resuscitation, SCAN has researched and developed a training program for medical providers using patient simulation. Designed to increase medical providers' diagnostic accuracy regarding abuse, this comprehensive program is thought to be the first of its kind.

(SCAN)

(SCAN)

The child's care team is comprised of various specialists depending on each child's situation. The team performs comprehensive evaluations including:

  • Consultations

  • Anogenital exams - may include colposcopy if indicated

  • Assessment of anogenital warts (HPV)

  • Extensive patient and family education and training

  • Evaluations of possible child sexual abuse

  • Evaluations of possible physical abuse, such as fractures, burns, bruises, or head injury

  • Evaluations of possible child neglect

  • Inpatient consultations

We provide trauma-focused mental health services including:

  • Family therapy crisis intervention

  • Parent child interaction therapy (PCIT)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Workshops 

  • Foundations Foster Care Clinic

  • Child maltreatment

  • Nutritional neglect

  • Physical abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Suspected child abuse or neglect

Child Protector App from Children's Mercy

Child Protector App

Child Protector assists Children’s Protective Services, law enforcement, attorneys and medical personnel when evaluating children who may have been physically abused. The free app was developed by Children’s Mercy and the University of Texas Health Science Center (San Antonio) through Children’s Justice Act Funding from Texas and Missouri.

Improving Care for Kids

Our approach to care includes developing innovative educational strategies for medical and investigative professionals, and pursing ground-breaking research that enhances the field of child-abuse pediatrics.

SCAN faculty regularly publish research in leading pediatric journals and present educational and research programs locally, regionally and nationally.

Contact the SCAN team 


Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
On-call 24 hours a day
To contact, call (800) GO MERCY(800) 466-3729 – and ask for the SANE Resource Nurse

Pediatric Sexual Assault Examiner Offices
(816) 302-3854 or (816) 302-3865

Child Abuse and Neglect Provider Offices
(816) 234-3850

Child Abuse Clinic, Adele Hall Campus
(816) 234-3424

Child Abuse Clinic, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas
(913) 696-5052

Telemedicine SCAN Clinic, St. Joseph, Mo.
(816) 234-3424

For health care professionals


For admissions, consults and transports, call (800) GO MERCY | (816) 466-3729.