Child Protection Team: Palm Beach

The Child Protection Team of Palm Beach, Inc.
2840 6th Avenue South
Lake Worth, FL 33461
(561) 433-3544
Medical Director: Philip Colaizzo, MD
Team Coordinator: Alison Hitchcock
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The Child Protection Team of Palm Beach, Inc., currently housed at the Children’s Place at Home Safe, Inc. is available for referrals to assist alleged child victims of abuse and neglect twenty four hours a day. Referrals are made by DCF and law enforcement so that medical evaluations and interviews regarding the allegations can be provided by the Team. The Child Protection Team assesses risk to children and makes recommendations to DCF as it relates to the child’s safety and well-being. Forensic interviews are conducted to address safety issues as well as to determine if a crime has occurred and to take a statement from the child regarding the alleged maltreatment. Our Team has the support of local law enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office as having the expertise for forensic interviews. Services provided are medical evaluations/consultations, child and family assessments, staffings, psychological evaluations/consultations, specialized interviews, forensic interviews, and expert court testimony.

Our Team consists of the following: a Medical Doctor/Medical Director, a Doctor, an Executive Director/Team Coordinator, two part-time Psychologists, two part-time Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, one Physician's Assistant, one full-time Medical Team Coordinator, one full-time Medical Assistant, one part-time Medical Assistant, a Director of Special Projects and Training, an Executive Assistant, a Data Entry Specialist, and ten Full-Time Case Coordinators.

Our Team is involved with the Child Fatality Review Board, Law Enforcement Protocol Committees, local meetings with the Department of Children & Families and Law Enforcement. Our county is the first in the state to have joint response by DCF and Law Enforcement on all cases of child abuse.

Our Team is the only Team who has a Rapid Response Team who consists of CPT, Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, Medical Examiner, and DCF for immediate attention 24/7 for cases of unexpected child death or critical injury, sexual battery involving child under age 12 which has occurred within 24 hours involving serious injuries, and multiple victim/multiple suspect cases of child abuse. Rapid Response Team meets quarterly to review the process of notification.

Our Team provides ongoing training to law enforcement, DCF and community professionals regarding child abuse issues and investigations and training for emergency room staff and other medical providers in the community. The Team in Palm Beach County is dedicated to raising public awareness as it relates to child abuse issues, to train professionals to appropriately address these issues and to help those children who are victims from further victimization.