Child Protection Team

The University of South Florida Child Protection Team is an interdisciplinary team comprised of a pediatrician, ARNP, psychologist, social workers and case coordinators providing services in Hillsborough County. The Child Protection Team provides medical, psychological and psychosocial assessments to children who are victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The Team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The purpose of these assessments is to assist the Department of Children and Families and law enforcement in their investigation of the alleged abuse and to provide recommendations to minimize the risk of re-abuse.

The Child Protection Team uses a crisis-oriented, multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation and treatment of the abused and neglected child and family. The Team acts as a consultant resource to primary investigators of allegations of abuse. It is recognized that families in need of assistance must have access to resources from medical, social services, legal and psychological components to address the multi-faceted problems they face and to develop a broad and similarly multi-faceted plan for appropriate treatment.

Child Protection Team Telephone Numbers

• Main number:  813-250-6670
• 24 hour # to report abuse:  1-800-96ABUSE

Child Protection Team Staff

• Brenda Abell: Administrative Secretary
• David Banghart: Child Protection Specialist
• William Brooks, MD, MPH:  Medical Director
• Leslie Cinnante: Child Protection Specialist
• Sara Gagan:  Child Protection Specialist
• Elizabeth Maginness:  Child Protection Specialist
• Deb Porter:  Program Director
• Melissa Santos-Gregory:  Clinical Secretary
• Sandi Shulman, ARNP, CPNP:  Senior Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Andrew Strope:  Clinical Supervisor
• Lupe Vazquez-Mitcham:  Childnet Victim Advocate