The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) recently received a $5,000 grant from the J. Milton & Nellie E. Hoffa Memorial Foundation to support CPC’s Child Protection Team (CPT). The Child Protection Team is a legislatively mandated program working in partnership with Child Protection Investigators (CPIs) of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and local law enforcement agencies in cases of children who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect. Services include forensic interviews, psychological and psychosocial assessment, forensic medical assessments and court testimony. CPT is the only provider authorized by the state to perform these functions in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties and has historically provided services to 700 children a year.

Funding from this grant will support services provided by the Child Protection Team. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, CPT has seen an increase in sexual abuse cases and are providing more services on fewer children as the severity of the cases has increased.