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To provide networking and educational opportunities for agencies, mental health professionals, and concerned citizens dealing with the problem of sexual abuse and to promote a coordinated effort in the evaluation and treatment of sexual abuse victims and offenders.
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The Task Force is a
forum for the exchange of ideas and a vehicle in which solutions
may be worked out to inter-agency problems.
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The Task force
should be used for making recommendations to appropriate agencies
as to the best way to handle specific targeted issues in
the best interest of the victim, the offender, family and the
community.
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The Task Force
should sponsor community projects and assist in promoting
education in the area of sexual abuse and violence.
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The Task Force
should be identifying new funding resources and needed programs
in the community.
The Polk County Sexual Abuse Task Force was formed in 1987 by concerned professionals working with victims, families and offenders of child sexual abuse. The Task Force forum provided a way for these professionals and agencies to network together and improve the coordination and delivery of services.
With the exception of occasional breaks, the Task Force has met monthly since its inception Members volunteer to serve on various which also regularly to work on specific projects. Current committees include Conference, Networking/Communication and Special Projects .past committees have included Child advocacy Center, Offender Treatment and Public Relations.
The Task Force has sponsored many community projects including the Blue Ribbon Run for Children, the annual Joining Forces Conference, the Children's Advocacy Center and the SAIN network. The Child Advocacy Center opened its doors in 1998 after three years of planning and program development. The Joining Forces Conference began in 1993 and has attracted top named speakers and trainers in the field of child sexual abuse. Each year it has attracted several hundred participants from all over the state. In its 19 years of existence, the Task Force has helped to establish and support many programs that help meet the needs of sexual abuse victims, their families and the offenders.
The Task Force boasts a growing number of members and partners. These include social service, mental health, law enforcement, judicial, educational and prevention-oriented agencies as well as private practitioners and clergy. The Task Force maintains a website which provides conference info, a speaker’s bureau, articles of interest, a membership list and important links. Anyone interested in joining the Task Force is welcome to attend the noon meeting that takes place at the Child Advocacy Center on the third Wednesday of each month
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Circuit Judges
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State Attorney
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Department of
Corrections
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Department of
Children and Families
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Peace River Mental
Health Center
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Winter Haven
Behavioral Heath Center
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Polk County
Sheriff's Sex Crimes Unit
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Lakeland Police
Department
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Department of
Juvenile Justice
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Child Protection
Team
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Rape Crisis Center
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Guardian Ad Litem
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Domestic Violence
Task Force
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Victims Advocates
Program
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Private Therapists
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Heartland for
Children
- Child Welface Legal Services; Deverous Kids
- Healthy Families
- Office of the Attorney General
- Southeastern College
- Gulf Coast Coummunity Care
- Children's Advocary Center
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Juvenile Justice
- Child Protection Team
- Florida's Tenth Judicial Curcuit
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