Supporting Families. Preventing System Involvement.

In coordination with the Department of Children and Families Child Protection Investigations Division, the Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) is Circuit 12’s (Manatee, Sarasota and Desoto Counties) Prevention and Diversion Services program for families who are at high risk for entering the child welfare system. Through this program, ERAT provides intensive in-home services and coordinates on-going services for families in need by linking them to any services needed to help avoid unnecessarily removing children from their home in order to preserve families. The goal of ERAT is to ensure children’s safety and well-being within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, whenever the family’s problems can be addressed effectively in the community.

The following are the services ERAT provides:

-Safety Management Services

-Crisis/Diversion Services

-Family Support Services

-Intervention Support Services

Using Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques, our counselors and intervention specialists help parents build motivation for positive change and provide hands-on support throughout the process. Together, we help families remain safe, stable, and supported—before court involvement becomes necessary.