< < Child Protection Teams - District 8A> >

ABOUT US
The purpose of the Child Protection Team of Palm Beach, Inc. is to facilitate a coordinated interdisciplinary team approach to diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

The program operates on the premise that the causes, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect are complex and requires the expertise of many professionals to effectively intervene and insure the child's protection. Child Protection Teams provide the needed medical, psychological, social and legal consultants to assist Department of Children and Families staff and other professionals working with these children an families.

The Child Protection Teams are designed to be a resource to Department of Children and Families Protective Investigations, Protective Services, Foster Care, law enforcement, State Attorney's Office and other community agencies in the detection and evaluation of expected cases of child abuse and neglect. A statewide network of Child Protection Teams provide expert medical evaluation and consultation, psychological and psycho-social assessment, expert court testimony, multidisciplinary case staffing, crisis counseling and coordination of services to assist Department of Children and Families staff and other community agencies in diagnosis and treatment planning. By sharing various aspects of child abuse evaluation responsibilities, team members add varied perspectives to provide broad based child welfare decisions. [ Top ]

CONTACT STAFF MEMBERS

Executive Medical Director:	Philip Colaizzo, M.D., F.A.A.P.	x
Team Psychologist:	George L. Rahaim, Jr., Ph.D.	x
Team Attorney:	Frank Kreidler, Esquire	x
Executive Director/Team Coordinator:	Alison Hitchcock, M.S.W.	x
Executive Assistant:	Sharyn Cornett	x
Medical Team Coordinator:	Jane Garcia-Deale, MA	x
Physician:	William Rosenstein, D.O.,	x
Nurse Practioner:	Victor Gagno, ARNP	x
Nurse Practioner:	Barbara Hyne, ARNP	x
Nurse Practioner:	Beberly Hunt, ARNP	x
Nurse Practioner:	Judith Land, ARNP	x
Medical Assistant:	Malene Guyn, MA	x
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PROGRAMS
The Child Protection Team of Palm Beach, Inc. is currently located on the campus of The Children’s
Place at HOME SAFE at 2840 6th Avenue South, Lake Worth, FL 33461.

The staff includes a CPT Medical Director, Team Psychologist, Nurse Practitioners, Medical Assistants,
Executive Director/Team Coordinator, 7 Case Coordinators and an Executive Assistant. Office hours
are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM. The Executive Director/Team Coordinator is available by
pager for any after hour emergencies.

The CPT Medical Director is available for medical exams, medical consults, team coordination, continuing education, training, staffing, providing expert testimony, liaison for other counties and is actively involved in Rapid Response Team. The CPT Psychologist completes psychological evaluations, psychological consults, continuing education and training, psychological supervision with Case Coordinators, attends staffing and provides expert testimony. The Executive Director/Team Coordinator provides supervision, case staffing, case review and community training and works with Medical Director on budgetary issues.

7 Case Coordinators act as consultants to Department of Children and Families staff, State Attorney, Law Enforcement and Victim Services. They also interview children and parents for psycho-social assessments. If it is necessary, to conduct a medical exam on a child, it is completed in the CPT diagnostic clinic located on the grounds of HOME SAFE. The CPT Medical Director or Nurse Practitioners conduct the exams. All efforts are made to make the child as comfortable as possible and or it to be a non-traumatic experience. The purpose of the exam is to document and diagnose any medical findings, and most importantly, to reassure the child that he/she is okay.

The Child Protection Team also provides Forensic interviews for Department of Children and Families, law enforcement and the State Attorneys Office. This is a service provided by trained CPT Case Coordinators where a child is interviewed regarding allegations of abuse. HOME SAFE has provided CPT with four (4) interview rooms and the video/audio equipment. The interview is a videotape and one copy of the tape is given to law enforcement and one is stored in an evidence room located at HOME SAFE. It has been determined by the Department of Children and Families, law enforcement and state attorney staff that CPT Case Coordinators are recognized as experts in forensic interviewing. The CPT Case Coordinators have completed specialized training.

The Child Protection Team also provides medical exams for Victim Services. Nearly all equipment in the diagnostic clinic for the Child Protection Team has been donated. Some equipment has been purchased through funds provided by the contract.

The Child Protection Team employs an Executive Assistant who is responsible for many areas of operations, including the day-to-day functions of the office. [ Top ]

TRAINING
No new trainings available at this time. [ Top ]

DIRECTIONS
From North Florida:
Take I-95 south to 6th Avenue
South Exit (West Palm Beach). 6th Avenue Southwest to the Children’s Place at HOME SAFE (approximately 500 feet east of Congress Avenue) – opposite Palm Beach Community College.

From Southern Florida:
Take I-95 north to 6th Avenue South Exit. (Follow above directions from Northern Florida)

From Palm Beach International Airport:
Belvedere Road east to I-95. I-95 south to 6th Avenue South Exit. (Follow above directions from Northern Florida).

http://www.mapquest.com/

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