The Child Protection Center (CPC) has recently closed on a new property and building in North Port. CPC says that as the demand for CPC's services has been steadily increasing alongside South County's population growth, the pandemic greatly exacerbated the need for child abuse services. In the beginning of 2020, the CPC's Child Protection Team reported more than a 23 percent increase in child sexual abuse. More recently, a waiting list of verified victims of child abuse in need of therapy grew to more than 70 children.

Renovations on the building will begin as quickly as possible, with a goal of opening for services by summer.