Sexual Abuse Treatment Program

The Department of Health Children’s Medical Services Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) provides a statewide comprehensive, community-based, family-centered treatment system for assisting families who have experienced sexual abuse. A combination of group, family and individual counseling for child sexual abuse survivors and their families is provided to reduce the trauma caused by the child sexual victimization, assist the family to recover from the victimization, prevent further child sexual victimization from occurring and enable families to have healthy, non-abusive relationships.

Child sexual abuse includes the victimization of a child by sexual activities, including molestation, indecent exposure, fondling, rape and incest. For the purposes of the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, primary victims will always be the children who have directly suffered the abuse. Secondary victims are minor children, usually siblings, receiving treatment as a result of his/her own reaction/exposure to the abuse directed against a primary victim.
A child who is sexually abusedand whose abuse has generated a Florida Abuse Hotline and/or law enforcement report, is eligible for therapeutic services provided by the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program. The Child Protection Team, the Department of Children and Families, law enforcement and community agencies primarily refer children and their families. Individuals and other professionals may also make direct referrals. The Sexual Abuse Treatment Program operates on the premise that the provision of specialized treatment services to children and families will help prevent long term psychological effects of sexual abuse victimization. The program promotes support of the child victim, increased insight, and encouragement of healthy family relationships. Family members are involved in a treatment plan designed to change the overall interactions within the family system to prevent further abuse. A combination of individual and group counseling is utilized to reduce the trauma of child sexual abuse and to promote healthy family functioning. The program promotes support of the child victim, increased insight, and the encouragement of healthy family relationships.
Chapter 39.305, Florida Statutes, requires the development of a model plan for community intervention and treatment of intrafamilial sexual abuse in conjunction with the Departments of Health, Children and Families, Law Enforcement, Education, and Corrections; the Attorney General, the State Guardian Ad Litem Program, representatives of the judiciary, and professionals and advocates from the mental health and child welfare communities.
What are the Services Provided?
Prompt Intake Services
Multidisciplinary Assessments
Treatment planning
Specialized individual and group therapy for child survivors, siblings and non-offending caregivers
Crisis Intervention
Case Management/Interagency Coordination
Personal Safety Education
Prevention/Community Education
Peer Support
Outreach
Community Resources Referral