Child Protection Teams

Children’s Medical Services understands that child abuse or neglect are complex issues that involve multiple factors.  That’s why we believe in bringing together experts in many different fields to help protect children.  The Child Protection Team (CPT) program is a medically directed, multidisciplinary program that works with  local Sheriff's offices and the Department of Children and Family Services in cases of child abuse and neglect to supplement investigation activities.
Child protection teams provide expertise in evaluating alleged child abuse and neglect, assessing risk and protective factors, and providing recommendations for interventions to protect children and enhance a caregiver's capacity to provide a safer environment when possible.
If child abuse or neglect is reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline and accepted for investigation, the case is  automatically eligibile for Child Protection Team assessment. There are no financial criteria for CPT services.
If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you should call the Florida Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). 

Child abuse, abandonment and neglect reports to the Hotline that must be referred to Child Protection Teams include cases involving:

• Injuries to the head, bruises to the neck or head, burns, or fractures in a child of any age.
• Bruises anywhere on a child five years of age or younger.
• Any report alleging sexual abuse of a child.
• Any sexually transmitted disease in a prepubescent child.
• Reported malnutrition or failure of a child to thrive.
• Reported medical neglect of a child.
• Symptoms of serious emotional problems in a child when emotional or other abuse, abandonment, or neglect is suspected.
• A sibling or other child remaining in a home where one or more children have been pronounced dead on arrival or have been injured and later died as a result of suspected abuse, abandonment or neglect.

Once a referral from the Department of Children and Families or law enforcement has been accepted, the Child Protection Teams may provide one or more of the following services:

• Medical diagnosis and evaluation
• Nursing assessments
• Child and family assessments
• Multidisciplinary staffings
• Psychological and psychiatric evaluations
• Specialized and forensic interviews
• Expert court testimony

Child Protection Team staff also provide training services including:

• Training for child protection investigators and other community providers of child welfare services.
• Training for emergency room staff and other medical providers in the community

If you have any questions about Child Protection Teams or would like to find out how to schedule a training in your community, Click on the Child Protection Team Directory link below list.

CPT Statewide Offices:

• CPT Statewide Directory (PDF - 210kb)
• CPT Organization Chart (PDF - 506kb)