Child Protective Services

The Child Protective Services Division investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and abandonment generated by calls to the Florida Abuse Hotline. It conducts these investigations under contract for the Department of Children and Families through legislation authorizing Sheriff's Offices to conduct these investigations for the state Department of Children and Families. CPS operates on a $3.5 million dollar budget solely funded by state and federal dollars.

Now in its eighth year, the Sheriff's Office continues to redefine the way investigative services are performed. The division receives approximately 4000 child abuse cases to investigate each year. It is staffed with 27 child protective investigators who are divided into five units supervised by civilian supervisors. The division is headed by a captain and supported by 20 various administrative and support staff.

The abuse reports are received at the Florida Abuse Hotline in Tallahassee and routed to the appropriate county jurisdiction. Once the division receives the report, a complete background check is completed by the analytical unit on each household member. This information aids the CPI in making an informed decision in accessing the critical factors that place the child(ren) in immanent danger of harm.

Once the protective investigator makes initial contact with family and child, the investigator has to make a decision based on their findings whether the allegations are valid or not, and if so, what intervention if any is needed to assist the family with whatever issues brought the report to light. In the most egregious cases, the investigator will take the child(ren) into protective custody and shelter them until the caregivers can prove to the court they are able to properly care for the child(ren). Last year 7% of the total number of abuse reports received resulted in the removal of children from their homes. The protective investigator will determine the protective, treatment, and ameliorative services necessary to safeguard and ensure the child's safety, well being, and development, and will coordinate with the Community Based Care of Seminole or other local service providers to cause the delivery of those services to occur.

Beginning July 2003, DCF started tracking child protection performance outcome measures statewide. Since they have been doing so, the Seminole County Sheriff's office has led the state for performance in investigations closed each month.

With its attached criminal unit, CPS also investigates cases of sexual abuse against children and cases of serious child abuse requiring criminal investigative follow up. Examples of these cases are child pornography worked in conjunction with the Computer Crime Unit, child abductions in conjunction with the Major Crimes Unit, most child deaths, and criminal parental interference with child custody.

To report child abuse or neglect, call the Florida Abuse Hotline

1-800-96ABUSE (962-2873)

Useful Links

Department of Children and Families
DCF is the state's social service agency which oversees such programs as child protective investigations and adult services, foster care and adoptions, mental health and substance abuse, economic self sufficiency, and people with developmental disabilities.

Community Based Care of Seminole
CBC of Seminole is a non-profit agency charged with developing community-based services and supports for children and families served by the child welfare system in Seminole County.

Kids House of Seminole, Inc.
The philosophy at Kids House is to treat the "whole child" in an abusive situation. Targeted programs range widely from Prevention and Community Awareness to assistance in prosecution of the child's abuser.