Children's Medical and Mental Health Resource Network

The Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network at SIU Medicine provides specialized medical evaluations and support for children who are reported victims of child abuse or who are at risk of child abuse.

Welcome

The Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network uses a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to support our region’s most vulnerable children. We focus on professional development, community education and research-based interventions to help children who have experienced abuse or are at risk of abuse.

Our network positively impacts the child protection system in Illinois, helping DCFS keep children who are not abused in their homes, provide in-home services when appropriate and remove children from dangerous environments when necessary, so that fewer children experience serious injury or death.

Our board-certified pediatricians are committed to serving central and southern Illinois and empowering other physicians, clinicians, educators and community stakeholders to advocate for children in need.

Our faculty

The faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is focused on educating the region's top physicians, researching new models of care, and providing expert clinical services that address the health care needs of central and southern Illinois.

See the department

Latest articles

Ginger Meyer honored for leadership in trauma recovery

December 11, 2025

Ginger Meyer has spent more than twenty years helping children and families in southern Illinois heal from trauma, and her steady leadership recently earned national recognition from the Academy on Violence and Abuse. As clinical director of SIU School of Medicine’s Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, she has expanded access to trauma-informed care across rural communities, supported partners who serve children affected by abuse and violence, and trained hundreds of graduate students in evidence-based treatment. Her service with AVA strengthened national efforts to integrate trauma-informed practices into health care, and colleagues praise her ability to unite teams, guide change and keep families at the center of the work. Through her leadership, more children across central and southern Illinois can find safety, support and hope close to home.

From disaster recovery to state fair emergencies, Dr. Tyler Fulks answers the call

August 13, 2025

As families flocked to the Illinois State Fair for deep-fried delicacies and dizzying rides, an essential team worked quietly behind the scenes to ensure their safety.

Senator Durbin, SIU Medicine leaders express concerns about federal budget cuts

July 28, 2025

Health care leaders and Senator Dick Durbin gathered at SIU School of Medicine on July 25 to strongly denounce sweeping federal budget cuts to Medicaid, student loan support and medical research—pillars that sustain both local patient care and the next generation of physicians.