NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has opened a new clinical practice in central Brooklyn focused on the evaluation, treatment, prevention and education surrounding child abuse and neglect.
The Advocacy, Care and Engagement (ACE) Center, located on the fifth floor of the hospital’s E Building, is now serving children and families across the borough with specialized, trauma-informed care.
The ACE Center provides evidence-based medical evaluations and a coordinated systems response for children who are suspected victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. By bringing together medical, behavioral health and social service professionals, the center aims to identify signs of maltreatment early, ensure accurate diagnoses and support families during high-stress and often complex situations.
In addition to clinical services, the program is focused on prevention and community education. Staff members will collaborate with families, health care providers and community organizations to help strengthen awareness of how to recognize, respond to and prevent abuse and neglect. The approach reflects evolving statewide guidance on mandated reporting, which emphasizes offering supportive interventions and resources for families whenever possible rather than relying solely on reporting systems.
“Early recognition of abuse and coordinated intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life, which is why promoting child safety needs to be a public health priority,” said Lien Le, MD, Medical Director of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County ACE Center. “By supporting vulnerable children and families, we hope to pave a path of healing so that all kids have the opportunity to grow into happy and healthy adults.”
The center serves children from birth through age 17, with a focus on those who may be especially vulnerable. This includes infants and nonverbal children presenting with unexplained or severe injuries; children exposed to domestic violence, caregiver substance use or caregiver mental illness; medically complex or developmentally delayed youth; and children in foster care, kinship placements or unstable living environments.
Through comprehensive evaluations, the ACE Center aims to reduce the risk of repeat harm, prevent missed injuries and avoid the misidentification of accidental injuries or medical conditions as abuse.
