The Children 1st Response Team (CRT) provides help to families in cases where abuse and neglect are suspected but not confirmed. Child Protective Investigators in Hillsborough County refer high risk cases to CRT for counseling and crisis intervention. Family therapy, anger management, substance abuse intervention, and parenting are a few of the tools used to keep families intact while maintaining child safety. The services are intensive, time-limited (6 - 12 weeks), and home-based. CRT also provides case management, which links children and families with other community-based services.
In July 2001, the CRT program was piloted by Mental Health Care (MHC) and is very successful in reducing the number of children placed in shelter. Approximately 88% of the cases referred were closed successfully. These successes encourage family unity and prevent unnecessary spending of the state's limited resources for child welfare. By providing immediate clinical interventions, stabilizations, and linkage to family support services, the CRT program reduces Baker Act referrals, adoption disruptions, emergency placements, and unnecessary referrals to residential treatment programs.
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