New alliance will provide medical care to abused children

The Pike County Commissioners on Feb. 17 unanimously approved a measure that will align the Pike County District Attorney’s Office, the Dickson House Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Pike County Care Clinic to provide medical care for the county’s abused and neglected children.

“This is a huge step forward for who have been victims of abuse in Pike County,” District Attorney Ray Tonkin said.

The hospital will perform forensics exams by a physician from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with a physician’s assistant located onsite in Pike County. The children’s hospital doctor will administer treatment online.

Tonkin, who called this “a long-term project coming together” said the program development hit some bumps in the road due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The program will start with children who have been victims of sexual assault.

“We’re finally at a point where they’re making use of the facility to serve abused and neglected children, to assist families and develop a better Pike County,” Tonkin said.

New comfort dog

Tonkin also unveiled another “long-term project” when he introduced Violet, an American Kennel Club-registered black Labrador the department is working with to train as a comfort dog at the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Tonkin said Violet is about 5 months old and will be ready to engage with children when she’s about 2 years old. She still needs to have socialization, obedience training and comfort dog training.