J'lem institute helps Chinese doctors address child abuse

Israeli expertise in combating the phenomenon of child abuse is being exported to China for the first time.

This week a team from the Jerusalem-based Haruv Institute, which provides training in identifying and fighting child abuse and neglect, began a five-day seminar for 40 Chinese pediatricians.

The seminar is being led by Dr. Yoram Ben-Yehuda and Dr. Gabriel Otterman. Sanford R. Cardin, the president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, which supports the Haruv Institute, is also attending.

The seminar seeks to provide the pediatricians, who often serve as the front line in identifying child abuse, new tools and clinical skills with a focus on early detection.

“The Chinese have recently realized that the role pediatricians play is a very integral one in fighting child abuse, and often they will be the first place a child will go after being hurt,” said Prof. Hillel Schmid, director of the Haruv Institute.

“This innovative and pioneering seminar aims to train these pediatricians with the necessary skills and knowledge to detect when a child is in danger and, furthermore, have the resources and wherewithal to take the appropriate action.”

This is the first time an Israeli delegation has been invited to another country to train others on preventing and treating child abuse and it may be the first time that a Chinese institute has asked for outside expertise on the matter.