Partner Agencies Working Collaboratively To Fight Child Abuse.
Gulf Coast Kid's House serves as a safe place for abused children to talk about abuse issues in a non-threatening environment. The key concept behind Gulf Coast Kid's House is that an abused child only has one place to go to tell his or her experience of abuse. Prior to Gulf Coast Kid’s House when a child was abused, he or she had to repeat the abuse experience at numerous agencies across Escambia County.
Representatives within Gulf Coast Kid's House work collaboratively to provide a comprehensive and child-centered response to child abuse cases. The primary focus is ensuring that children who are victims of abuse will not be traumatized by the intervention system that is intended to help and protect them. The Gulf Coast Kid’s House houses/hosts a Multidisciplinary team, which consists of many agencies.
Our Partners:
- Escambia County Sheriff's Office - Investigates and collects evidence. Interviews suspect and witnesses. Prepares arrest warrants, attends and testifies in court.
- Pensacola Police Department - Investigates and collects evidence. Interviews suspect and witnesses. Prepares arrest warrants, attends and testifies in court.
- Department Of Children And Families - Receives child abuse reports and investigate the allegations of abuse.
- Child Protection Team - Conducts child forensic interviews, specialized interviews with non-offending family members, medical exams, and psychosocial assessments for victims and families.
- Office Of The State Attorney - Reviews case information. Files formal charges. Interviews victims and non-offending caretakers in preparation for court. Attends/conducts depositions. Discusses case with defense attorney and judge. Prepares and prosecutes case to resolution.
- Lutheran Services Florida - Mental health treatment for child victims, siblings, and non-offending caretakers of physically and sexually abused children. Provides crisis intervention including suicide risk assessment and referrals.