The groundbreaking ceremony for a new child and adolescent health wing at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center (BSCC) occurred on Dec. 4. “The center needed more exam rooms, and the new pavilion will also house medical offices and the Coalition to End Human Trafficking,” says John Thoresen, director and CEO of the non-profit organization.
The Coachella Valley resource center was founded in 1986 by longtime Rancho Mirage resident Barbara Sinatra and her famous husband, Frank. Located on the Eisenhower Medical Center campus, the BSCC is “dedicated to ensuring every child’s right to a normal, healthy, and secure childhood,” according to bsccfoundation.org.
“Doctors are finding that children with a history of abuse have underlying medical issues,” Thoresen says. These issues can be related or unrelated to abuse. BSCC conducted 80 forensic medical exams to look for physical and sexual abuse per year in 2020; now, 30 per month is normal, according to Thoresen. These exams are ordered by law enforcement officials and Child Protective Services (CPS). They are conducted by highly qualified forensic pediatricians and nurse practitioners. These professionals are often trained at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital – one of the leading providers of pediatric care for victims of trauma, abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.
The construction and expansion of the BSCC is much anticipated, as the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center is one of only two health care facilities that offers these mandated exams in Riverside County. The other facility is at the county hospital in Moreno Valley.
Experts and government agencies are responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect. They work with runaways from Los Angeles or Las Vegas and provide medical exams for children in foster care. They also conduct exams to test for shaken baby syndrome and other types of abuse. Thoresen says it is hard to recruit staff for this difficult kind of work. Law enforcement agencies pay a stipend to their employees, but CPS does not. The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center is in the midst of a fundraising campaign; as an internationally acclaimed service provider, it is in the forefront of this crucial and intense field of work.
The BSCC received a grant from the Department of Justice to build offices for the Coalition to End Human Trafficking, according to Thoresen. Plans include outreach, increased staffing, and working with law enforcement. Human trafficking is a significant problem in Riverside County. A conference on the subject – addressing sex and labor trafficking – will occur on Jan. 8 at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. Law enforcement agencies, educators, social service agencies, victims’ advocates, and members of non-governmental organizations will be in attendance.
The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center has a venerable reputation in the community. Its staff members work with schools, churches, and medical providers. A contract was made in 2023 with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, according to Thoresen. The group provided a two-year grant to BSCC to support the work of physicians from Loma Linda University and other personnel assigned to the BSCC forensic medical services team. There is a huge overlap between abused and trafficked children. “Human trafficking has been a problem for a long time, but there haven’t been the resources to address it,” Thoresen says. So, the BSCC’s mission and attempts to help victims are ongoing.
The new 4,000-square-foot pavilion at the BSCC was designed by Frank Urrutia, a beloved, local mid-century modern architect who was born in 1945. His illustrious career in the Coachella Valley spans a half-century. He is known for iconic residential designs and projects at the Vintage Club, Bighorn Golf Club, Ironwood Country Club, and Eldorado Country Club. He is also known for designing several medical, civic, and business properties around the Coachella Valley. The new pavilion is expected to open in early 2026.
