The California Clinical Forensic Medical Training Center (CCFMTC), which was established in 1995 in response to a legislative mandate, develops instructional materials and conducts training in clinical forensic medicine techniques for physicians and other health-care professionals, social workers, law enforcement personnel, victim advocates and criminal prosecutors. CCFMTC trains these professionals to identify, evaluate and treat victims of child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder and dependent adult abuse.

While services for victims of abuse and neglect are excellent in some metropolitan areas, availability of properly trained medical professionals has been distributed unevenly among California's 58 counties. Many rural and mid-sized counties, as well as geographically sprawling urban areas, have insufficient numbers of health professionals who are properly trained in performing evidentiary examinations, collecting and interpreting findings, and preserving and documenting evidence for criminal proceedings. As a result, far too many victims have been improperly examined, and criminal prosecutors have lacked critical evidence.

The California Legislature declared with the enactment of SB 857 in 1995 that "the response of California's healthcare system to victims of violence, especially women and children, is inconsistent in terms of both access to services and competent healthcare workers." That legislation generated California Penal Code Section 13823.93, which set forth the criteria for the California Clinical Forensic Medical Training Center. Funding from the Office of Criminal Justice Planning helped establish CCFMTC at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento.

Now in its eleventh year of operation, CCFMTC has trained more than 20,000 individuals throughout Northern California and beyond. CCFMTC training programs are designed to teach professionals to respond to the emotional and medical needs of victims while adhering to the evidence collection requirements of the justice system.

CCFMTC trains clinicians to perform comprehensive examinations that will yield information essential to law enforcement, criminal justice and social services agencies. Integration of a broad range of clinical and research expertise ensures that participants gain a comprehensive, authoritative training foundation in each of our program domains.

We fulfill the needs of small, outlying communities through presentation of seminars, video conferencing, televised courses, and professional meetings. In addition, CCFMTC furnishes expert speakers and panelists for conferences, presentations and Grand Rounds. We welcome opportunities for collaborations and new training programs.