Erie CARE Clinic — An Incredible Collaboration
In January 2019, HHF committed to helping UPMC Hamot and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as they joined forces to open the Erie CARE (Child Abuse Referral and Evaluation) Clinic.
This year, we have renewed our commitment to ensure the continuation of this vital resource to serve children in the Erie area.
The clinic is a collaboration among six entities: the Erie County Child Advocacy Center, the Erie County Multidisciplinary Investigative Team, UPMC Hamot, the Erie County Office of Children and Youth Services, the Erie County District Attorney’s office, and the Child Advocacy Center at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
“This collaboration is incredible,” says Jennifer Clarke, Erie CARE Clinic director. “The clinic allows the UPMC Children’s Child Advocacy Center to bring sustainable medical expertise to victims of suspected child maltreatment, and increases the access to and quality of services for the children of the Greater Erie region. We couldn’t be more grateful for this support.”
Since January 2019, the clinic has served more than 350 patients. It is estimated that another 200 Erie-area children will benefit from the clinic in 2021 alone, with over 600 patients and families benefiting from the clinic in the coming years.