Intervention Services:
CPT and SCAN
Our History and Purpose
Manatee Children’s Services has been home to the Child Protection Team (CPT) since the early 1980s, as part of a statewide effort to bring experts together to help protect children from abuse and neglect.
CPT takes a team approach led by a specially trained pediatrician who works closely with law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Our team helps investigate suspected abuse by offering expert medical exams and interviews with children in a safe, non-leading way. These interviews are designed to help children share their experiences without pressure or suggestion.
We also assess the child’s safety at home and look at any risks in the family. When needed, we provide recommendations to help keep children safe and support caregivers in creating a more stable home.
For the year ending September 30, 2024, our team provided lifesaving services to every client we served, including:
74 referrals to the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) for children needing therapeutic support
263 medical evaluations
291 forensic interviews with children
25 team meetings (staffings) to review complex cases
“The amount of gratitude I receive from families for just reaching out with a listening ear and encouragement in reaching their goals is overwhelming,” MCS Advocate Lucille Eisenhard said. “There can be a lot of chaos during this time in their lives. Some clients have told me they would have no idea where to start in helping their child if we hadn’t been there to make sense of it all with them.”
How We Save Lives
Child Protection Team services supplement the child protective investigation activities of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Our team may provide one or more of the following services:
- Medical diagnosis and evaluation of abuse with an expert testimony by a trained pediatrician
- Child and family assessments
- Multidisciplinary staffings
- Psychological evaluations
- Specialized and forensic interviews and expert testimony
- Expert court testimony
- Professional trainings
SCAN (Services to Children Abused by Non-Caregivers) provides intervention services to child sexual abuse victims in which the alleged perpetrator is a non-caregiver or another child. SCAN offers medical diagnoses and evaluation, forensic interviews, referral services, and case management to victims 0 to 17 years of age.
How to help our CPT and SCAN programs:
- Donations of diapers (all sizes), infant toys, socks (all sizes), shoes (all sizes), and underwear (all sizes) for the CPT “Kids Closet” to aid families coming in for interviews.
- Gift cards
- Monetary donations for ongoing needs of families seeking care.
MCS provides a full spectrum of programs serving over 12,000 children and families annually. Since its inception in 1977 as the Manatee County’s first and only emergency shelter for abused children in foster care, MCS has grown to offer programs in treatment, prevention, intervention, and residential services.
