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Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation Team

The CARE Team primarily provides care for children who are suspected victims of violence, as well as, providing medical forensic services to children that are suspected victims of physical and sexual abuse and neglect.

For referral and assistance:
Emergency Services (361) 694-5100
CARE Team (361) 694-CARE (2273)


The team consists of a specially trained Medical Director, SANEs (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) and Social Workers with involvement from hospital administration. The team provides medical forensic examinations, evidence collection, forensic photodocumentation and psychosocial assessments for children who are suspected victims of abuse.

The team works closely with advocates from the Nueces County Children's Advocacy Center, Child Protective Services (CPS) and multiple Law Enforcement agencies to medically and emotionally treat and protect the rights of abused children.

Services provided by the CARE ( Child Abuse Resource & Evaluation ) Team include:

  • forensic colposcopic examinations, treatment and follow-up of sexual assault victims 24 hours a day
  • forensic photo documentation 24 hours a day
  • inpatient consultation service to assist in the management of hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect
  • expert witness testimony
  • outreach component provides expert witness testimony, professional education and community awareness program


Contact Information

Driscoll Children's Hospital
CARE Team
3533 S. Alameda Street
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411

Medical Director: Nancy Harper, M.D
CARE Team: (361) 694-CARE (2273)
For referral and assistance: (361) 694-5000
Emergency Services (361) 694-5100

For TTY Deaf Messaging Connect to TTY Interpretation by dialing
(800) 735-2989
Driscoll's Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation (C.A.R.E.) Team is comprised of five social workers, five forensic nurse examiners, two office support staff and one forensic pediatrician.
Sonja Eddleman, C.A.R.E. Team clinical coordinator (left), demonstrates the use of the colposcope with Social Worker Belinda Loera. The colposcope is used to examine areas of a patient's body that may have been penetrated for injuries or abnormalities.
Forensic photography is used to document injuries or abnormalities on a patient. Here, Sonja Eddleman, C.A.R.E. Team clinical coordinator (left), demonstrates the process with Jodi Mendoza, social worker.
A dedicated team
Examining the patient
Documenting abuse or neglect

Patients & Families

News

Brownsville boy is 'a totally different person' since leukemia diagnosis

May 03, 2013
Driscoll Children's Hospital physicians treat Andrew Banda in his hometown, Brownsville BROWNSVILLE - Claudia Maldonado knew her son, Andrew Banda, was sick in January 2012. At 8 years old, he was too thin and his yellowish eyes revealed he had jaundice, she said. Still, the news that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia...
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Driscoll transplant recipients to gather at annual reunion

May 03, 2013
Joe Esparza, 19, received a kidney transplant at Driscoll Children's Hospital in August 2012.
'It's a family reunion,' 19-year-old said of May 4 event CORPUS CHRISTI - In the months before he received a kidney transplant at Driscoll Children's Hospital last August, Joe Esparza had plenty of reasons to be depressed. His failing kidneys meant he couldn't eat french fries, cheese and fatty foods. He couldn't play...
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Dwarfism doesn't prevent 3-year-old boy from living life

May 02, 2013
Ethann Valdez, 3, was born with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism. He's been a patient at Driscoll Children's Hospital since he was born.
Ethann Valdez's story is second in Driscoll Children's Hospital's 60th anniversary series CORPUS CHRISTI - Darting around a waiting area at Driscoll Children's Hospital with a huge smile on his face, Ethann Valdez has the seemingly endless energy of any 3-year-old boy. He doesn't appear to be bothered much by the life-threatening...
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Marathon bringing Driscoll weight management patients together

May 01, 2013
Jamie Bluntzer, 20, is preparing for the 2013 Beach to Bay Relay Marathon.
Lap band recipients will run Beach to Bay Relay Marathon as the 'Bandsters' CORPUS CHRISTI - Crossing the finish line at last year's Beach to Bay Relay Marathon was a proud accomplishment for Jamie Bluntzer. At this year's event, she's taking her goal to the next level. "I'm more nervous about it this year," she said...
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Twelve Driscoll patients will be treated to Disney on Ice show

April 24, 2013
WHAT: Twelve Driscoll Children's Hospital patients and their parents or guardians will gather at the hospital's lobby tomorrow and depart for the Disney on Ice show at the American Bank Center, courtesy of H&V Equipment Services, Inc., who purchased the trip for $40,000 at this year's Fiesta de los Niños live auction....
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