CHRISTUS Children’s Center for Miracles Receives Level 1 Trauma-Informed Care Certification

The Center for Miracles received the Level 1 Trauma-Informed Care certification from The Ecumenical Center for its work in diagnosing and treating trauma. Trauma-Informed Care practices help to avoid retraumatizing patients.

“The process of receiving this certification has given us an opportunity to better understand and respect how traumatic experiences can impact our patients,” said Dr. Nancy Kellogg, attending pediatric physician for the Center of Miracles at CHRISTUS Children’s. “We were challenged to reflect and reframe our encounters with patients and families. We are committed to continually improving, recognizing healing as a cooperative journey best accomplished through compassionate care, transparent and respectful communication, and acknowledgment that trauma affects each person differently.”

The Center for Miracles at CHRISTUS Children’s is a unique and crucial resource for children in South Texas. It provides comprehensive assessment and evaluations for suspected child abuse or neglect on a referral-only basis. The goal of those assessments is to provide accurate and complete medical information to agencies investigating child abuse and to identify any needs of the family that may improve a child’s health and safety.

“This is a one-of-a-kind place for children in Bexar County,” said Chief Executive Officer of CHRISTUS Children’s, Cris Daskevich. “The work this team provides, is reflective in the name – miracles. The Center for Miracles is a place where children will be listened to and cared for in a dignified and compassionate manner. That is always our goal at CHRISTUS Children’s.”

The Ecumenical Center is a local faith-based nonprofit made up of community leaders in research, education, and medical and mental health professions. It is the certifying agency for the South Texas Trauma-Informed Care Consortium – a collaboration of The Children’s Shelter, Voices for Children, and the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

The Center for Miracles opened in 2006 at CHRISTUS Children’s and has since assessed more than 28,000 children. The team is made up of specialized pediatricians, nurses, social workers, and more. It works closely with local community leaders, law enforcement, and Child Protective Services.