Meet Our Staff

The J.E. and Z.B. Butler Child Advocacy Center's child advocacy team includes:

Linda Cahill, MD, Medical Director
Butler Center Staff
Child Advocacy Prevention Services Staff

Linda Cahill, MD

Medical Director, Butler Center
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Dr. Cahill, Medical Director and founder of Butler Center, is an expert in forensic pediatric medicine. Since beginning her practice with abused children 21 years ago, Dr. Cahill has evaluated thousands of suspected neglected, battered and sexually abused children.

Dr. Cahill pioneered medically focused, interdisciplinary child advocacy in the Bronx, NY. In the 1980s, when child abuse professionals in New York City traditionally worked separately and rarely shared information, Dr. Cahill was a key figure in forging relationships between medical teams, social workers, mental health professionals, educators, child welfare caseworkers, police officers and prosecutors.

Today Dr. Cahill partners with a dynamic multidisciplinary child advocacy team that shares talent and information under one roof at the Butler Center. The Center's medical-based approach is now a national model.

In addition to medical practice, Dr. Cahill educates physicians, future physicians and other professionals. She has trained hundreds of pediatric residents, medical students and practicing pediatricians at the Butler Center, and she teaches child abuse evaluation and treatment to physicians and other professionals in New York City and surrounding regions.

"Butler Center training provides physicians with the knowledge and skills to identify signs and symptoms of child abuse. They become confident in addressing the multifactorial complex issues and needs of abused children and their families," explains Dr. Cahill. "It makes doctors more comfortable, knowing how to approach abused patients and their families, what to do in difficult clinical situations, and how to work with the multidisciplinary team. Another goal of the Butler Center training is that young professionals learn to respect and appreciate family stressors, understand the systems approach to child abuse diagnosis, treatment and follow-up and know how to access resources for ongoing care for families."

Dr. Cahill co-chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics District II, Chapter 3 Committee on Family Violence. She is a member of the New York City Mayor's Criminal Justice Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.

When not caring for patients and educating physicians, Dr. Cahill finds time to present to medical, academic and community audiences. She has authored papers and book chapters in the field of child abuse pediatrics.

After more than two decades working with abused children, Dr. Cahill feels optimistic about the power of child advocacy. "In the last 20 years, we've improved our understanding of child abuse, we've introduced the subject into the educational curriculum of professionals in all disciplines, and we have raised public awareness of the problem. Society has accepted the reality of child abuse," she says, adding, "Now it's up to society to continue to protect vulnerable children and make their futures more hopeful."

Butler Center Staff

• Medical team that includes physicians, pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioner: Our specially trained medical team conducts forensic medical examinations that identify and document children's physical and sexual abuse. The team also provides court medical testimony to support criminal prosecution of abusers.
• Coordinator of Social Work Services and five full time social workers—including a Spanish-speaking social worker—who assess families, interview children, refer clients to mental health services and track follow-up care. Our social workers create a welcoming, supportive atmosphere for families that emphasizes family strengths. Specially trained to conduct forensic interviews, our social work team makes children comfortable and uses a non-leading protocol that lets kids share experiences in their own words. Properly conducted forensic interviews can be used as testimony–without requiring children's presence in court.
• A case manager from the New York Administration for Children's Services (ACS) works on–site at Butler Center at all times. A key partner in our multidisciplinary team, the ACS manager helps families and staff navigate a wide range of social services and programs. Our team relies on the case manager to weigh in on decisions to pursue criminal prosecution, remove children from homes or refer support services.
• An administrative supervisor, who hires and oversees reception and other support staff for both Butler Center facilities, manages payroll and coordinates events.
• An accountant who manages Butler Center's financial administration.
• Two full time receptionists—both Spanish-speaking. Our receptionists are the first voices children and families hear when they call Butler Center. In addition to phone support that directs parents to critical staff and services, our receptionists provide families with a warm welcome and administrative help before, during and after visits.
• A full-time housekeeper who keeps our facilities clean, attractive and welcoming to families.

Child Advocacy Prevention Services Staff

• Coordinator of Mental Health Services, who administers mental health services, supervises staff, develops trauma-focused and other mental health programs and conducts research on trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for abused children and their families.
• Mental health team—two psychotherapists and one social worker—provides counseling for children, adolescents and families.
• Receptionist who speaks Spanish, provides telephone support and creates an organized, welcoming atmosphere for children and their families.

 

Like more information about our organization? Get details on Butler Center and take an online tour of our facility.