FCHH helps funds items for children seen at CPT as well as support the team members. What is the First Coast Child Protection Team? The First Coast Child Protection Team is a medically directed, multidisciplinary program based on the idea that child abuse and neglect involve complex issues and require the expertise of many professionals to protect children. The team is made up of physicians, nurse
s, and medical professionals who complete assessments, interventions, therapy and service referrals to community agencies evaluating alleged maltreatments of child abuse and neglect. They assess risk factors and provide recommendations for interventions to protect children and enhance families’ capacities to provide a safer home environment when possible. The team works 24/7 providing consultation by phone or through immediate, in-person emergency services – even during COVID-19. CPT is primarily funded by a State of Florida Children’s Medical Services contract in the Florida Department of Health. The ever-increasing number of children seen at CPT along with the severity of the injuries to the children, puts stress on resources they receive through the state. This team serves 8 counties – Duval, Nassau, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and Volusia counties. In 2020, CPT reviewed over 28,000 State of Florida Child Abuse Hotline reports of childhood medical and victim needs; performed over 3,000 forensic/specialized interviews, performed over 2,000 medical evaluations and consultations of suspected child victims – providing referrals to therapy services, hosted training events for the community, and began the coordination of the area’s Sleep Safely Program.
