The Kempe Center’s KIDS program provides independent, expert consultation services for highly complex cases involving concerns about child abuse and neglect or child health and well-being. A team of experts from multiple disciplines is selected and assembled based on the unique requirements of each case. Available disciplines include child abuse pediatrics, toxicology (adult substance abuse and infants/children exposed to drugs), child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, social work, behavioral health, law, ethics, and others identified as needed. The KIDS consultant panel reviews pertinent case material (when applicable), meets with requesting parties, and produces specific and actionable recommendations based on the questions posed. We address issues regarding child abuse, neglect, child placement, permanency, safety and/or treatment plan recommendations through service excellence.  

Professionals working in child protection systems frequently navigate complex intersections of medical data, behavioral health, and legal mandates where clear interpretation is often elusive. The KIDS Program supports professionals navigating these challenges by offering evidence-informed consultation and multidisciplinary expertise tailored to address specific questions.

Consultations may address issues such as:
• Interpretation of medical findings related to possible abuse or neglect
• Behavioral health or developmental concerns
• Toxicology and substance exposure questions
• Child welfare case planning
• Educational or psychosocial factors affecting a child’s well-being

Consultations are designed to clarify information, identify considerations, and offer professional perspectives that may assist decision-making by the professionals responsible for the case.

Who We Serve

The KIDS Program provides consultation to professionals working on behalf of children and families, including but not limited to child protective services agencies, law enforcement, attorneys and legal professionals. KIDS will also consider consultation requests directly from parents or caregivers. Requests are evaluated based on whether the program has the expertise needed to address the questions being asked, rather than on the identity of the referral source.

Our Approach

The KIDS Program is guided by several core principles.

Question-Centered Consultation
Our consultations focus on addressing specific questions related to child health, safety, and well-being. The goal is to provide thoughtful analysis and guidance relevant to the issues raised in the request.

Independence and Objectivity
Consultants provide independent professional opinions based on their expertise and review of available information. The program does not function as an advocacy service and does not guarantee that conclusions will support any particular legal or clinical position.

Multidisciplinary Perspective
Complex child protection cases often involve overlapping medical, behavioral, and social issues. When appropriate, the program brings together expertise from multiple disciplines to provide integrated analysis.

Trauma-Informed and Equity-Centered Practice
Consultations are conducted with awareness of the effects of trauma on children, families, and professionals. Recommendations are offered with consideration of cultural context, community resources, and system constraints.

Types of Consultation

Single-Discipline Consultation

Some requests involve focused questions that fall clearly within one area of expertise. These consultations are often conducted by a child abuse pediatrician, though other disciplines may lead the consultation depending on the case.

Examples include:

• Medical record review
• Interpretation of clinical findings
• Diagnostic and clinical decision-making support
• Expert analysis of injuries or medical conditions
• Behavioral health consultation
• Forensic pathology consultation
• Toxicology consultation
• Review of professional practice and adherence to standards of care
• Preparation of written opinions or reports
• Consultation in the context of civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings
• Expert witness testimony when appropriate

These consultations are typically billed on an hourly basis and are most appropriate when the questions can be addressed by one professional discipline.

Multidisciplinary Consultation

Other cases involve complex or intersecting concerns that benefit from multiple professional perspectives. In these situations, the KIDS Program assembles a multidisciplinary consultation panel tailored to the needs of the case. This approach is used when questions span medical, behavioral, psychosocial, educational, legal, or systems-level domains and require integrated expertise to ensure a comprehensive evaluation.

Multidisciplinary consultations may include expertise from:

• Child abuse pediatrics
• Toxicology (including adult substance use and drug-exposed infants and children)
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Psychology
• Social work and behavioral health
• Education systems
• Law and ethics
• Additional disciplines as needed

Consultation Process

Request Submission
A referral source submits a consultation request via online form and provides basic information about the case and the questions they would like addressed. KIDS staff can also be reached for inquiries at [email protected]

Case Triage
The KIDS Program briefly meets with the referral source to determine the nature of the questions being asked, what expertise is required, and whether the consultation is appropriate for the program.

Consultation Design
Based on the triage process, the KIDS Program director determines whether the consultation should involve a single expert or a multidisciplinary consultation panel. The appropriate expert(s) are identified and engaged for the consult. The referral source provides records or other materials for review.

Case Review
Consultant(s) review relevant materials provided by the referral source, which may include medical records, behavioral health records, educational information, child welfare documentation, or law enforcement/legal records.

Consultation Discussion or Report
A multidisciplinary review will include a structured case conference with the referral source and a written report documenting recommendations. Single discipline consultations may result in written reports at the request of the referral source.

Follow-Up
When appropriate, consultants may provide clarification or follow-up discussion regarding the consultation findings.

Limitations of Consultation

To ensure clarity regarding the role of the program:

• The KIDS Program does not conduct investigations into allegations of abuse or neglect
• The program does not replace the responsibilities of child protective services, law enforcement, courts, or treating clinicians
• Consultation does not establish a clinician-patient relationship, is not considered clinical supervision, and does not imply ongoing responsibility for treatment
• Consultants are mandated reporters. If information is identified during the consultation that raises a reasonable concern for child abuse or neglect that has not previously been reported, consultants may be required to make a report to the appropriate authorities in accordance with applicable law.
• Consultants do not determine legal outcomes or case dispositions
• Case reviews are based on limited information and do not replace the referral source’s professional judgment

Consultations are intended to assist professionals by providing expert interpretation and professional perspective, while decision-making authority remains with the appropriate agencies or courts.

Consultation Fees

Single Discipline Consultation

When consultation involves review by a single expert—most commonly a child abuse pediatrician—services are billed on an hourly basis.

Standard rate: $550 per hour; maximum daily rate $6000/day for greater than 10 hours of travel or testimony.

Retainer fee – $2200 for the first 4 hours of professional time.

Hourly services may include medical record review, expert analysis, consultation discussions, written reports, case preparation, travel, and expert witness testimony.

Public Agency Rates

As part of the Kempe Center’s mission to support professionals working within child protection systems, the KIDS Program may offer reduced-fee consultations for public agencies when program resources allow. Public agency rates may apply to child welfare agencies, courts, district attorney offices, public defender offices, and other government entities.

Eligibility and pricing adjustments are determined during the consultation intake process.

Multidisciplinary Consultation

Multidisciplinary consultations are offered as a structured consultation package designed to coordinate expertise from multiple disciplines. The standard fee is $3,000. This package covers up to 20 hours of professional consultation time, including case triage and consultation planning, review of materials by participating experts, multidisciplinary consultation discussion, development of integrated recommendations, and follow-up clarification as appropriate.

Additional time beyond the initial consultation package may incur additional fees. Requests for expert testimony are not included in standard consultation fees. Testimony services are arranged separately with the individual consultant, are subject to availability, and may require a separate agreement and additional fees.