The First Coast Healing Hands, Inc. (“Healing Hands”) is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization in continuous operation since 2018, established to support the important work of the First Coast Child Protection Team (CPT).
What is the First Coast Child Protection Team?
The First Coast Child Protection Team is a medically directed, multidisciplinary program based on the idea that child abuse and neglect involve complex issues and require the expertise of many professionals to protect children. The team is made up of physicians, nurses, and medical professionals who complete assessments, interventions, therapy and service referrals to community agencies evaluating alleged maltreatments of child abuse and neglect. They assess risk factors and provide recommendations for interventions to protect children and enhance families’ capacities to provide a safer home environment when possible. The team works 24/7 providing consultation by phone or through immediate, in-person emergency services – even during COVID-19.
CPT is primarily funded by a State of Florida Children’s Medical Services contract in the Florida Department of Health. The ever-increasing number of children seen at CPT along with the severity of the injuries to the children, puts stress on resources they receive through the state. This team serves 8 counties – Duval, Nassau, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and Volusia counties. In 2020, CPT reviewed over 28,000 State of Florida Child Abuse Hotline reports of childhood medical and victim needs; performed over 3,000 forensic/specialized interviews, performed over 2,000 medical evaluations and consultations of suspected child victims – providing referrals to therapy services, hosted training events for the community, and began the coordination of the area’s Sleep Safely Program.
We are fortunate to have very dedicated physicians and staff who provide care in this challenging area of pediatric care. Dr. Randell Alexander is the Chief of the Division of Child Protection and Forensic Pediatrics. Dr. Alexander has authored a number of books on child abuse that serve as texts throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Kathleen Dully is the Medical Director of the First Coast CPT, bringing her knowledge to share with the entire Division. We have the only 3-year child abuse fellowship in Florida working to train and retain in Florida the child abuse specialists of the future.
To report abuse, call the Florida Abuse Hotline: 800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873) or your local law enforcement
Meet our Board of Directors
Chair – Rich Komando, JD, MBA
Rich Komando received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his law degree from the Loyola University New Orleans, School of Law. He spent the next five years building a private law practice and then accepted a position as the Circuit Director and later as the statewide General Counsel for the Guardian ad Litem Program for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Beginning in 2009, Rich spent the next four years working as a criminal prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office serving as a Division Chief of the Special Prosecution Division and the Executive Director for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. He prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to crimes involving the death penalty while focusing on cases related to public corruption, white collar crime, organized fraud, embezzlement, arson and human trafficking. Now as an experienced trial lawyer at Bradley, Garrison, & Komando, P.A., Attorneys at Law in Orange Park, he defends clients through Northeast Florida on a wide array of issues. He continues to work as a child advocate by volunteering for the First Coast Child Protection Team Community Advisory Council and First Coast Healing Hands, Inc.
Treasurer – James Tilbrook, C.P.A.
Jim Tilbrook, CPA has an extensive background in the financial leadership and process improvement of multi-million dollar international organizations. He is a result-oriented leader committed to motivating teams to perform at high levels in complex environments. Jim received a BS in Accounting/Finance from Florida State University and then MBA in International Finance from Jacksonville University. Jim has been instrumental in getting First Coast Healing Hands, Inc. identified as a 501(c)(3) organization. He offers advice and guidance to ensure each dollar of funds donated to First Coast Healing Hands are used wisely and to ultimately benefit the children seen by the First Coast Child Protection Team. In his employment, his major projects have been with North Florida Trane, CSC Corporation, Barbara Jeans Holdings, Inc. and LKJG, Inc. – providing international management support in China, India, Russia, Italy and Taiwan for American based companies.
Secretary – Margaret McGauley
Margaret (Mag) McGauley has served on the First Coast Child Protection Team Community Advisory Council since its inception and also serves on First Coast Healing Hands, Inc. the not-for-profit fundraising arm of the Council.
Mag’s professional experience includes involvement with the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program in many capacities for 34 years. Mag was one of the original GAL volunteers in Baker County. She also served as a case coordinator and later became the Circuit Director of the GAL program for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. After retiring from the court program in 2001, Mag served as statewide Executive Director for the newly formed Florida Guardian ad Litem Association, fundraising for the GAL Program. Although no longer affiliated with the Florida GAL Association, Mag remains a GAL volunteer.
Mag became a family mediator in 1991 and mediated hundreds of cases over the years as a family and civil mediator for a multi-county area and retired in June of 2019.
Director – Abby Bean
Abby Bean is the Executive Director of the Nassau Education Foundation, helping connect needed resources from the local community with teachers, classrooms, and students in Nassau County. She graduated from Jacksonville University with Bachelors degrees in History and Humanities. After spending many years in classrooms as a stay-at-home mom and community volunteer, she joined with others to help the Nassau County School District maintain its excellent track record in education. As the mother of three young men in college and beyond, she is interested in their future and the future of our society. Along with her husband, Senator Aaron Bean, she wants to help provide opportunities for all children to thrive.
Director – Charmaine Chiu, JD
Charmaine is a member of the Board of Directors of the law firm Smith Hulsey & Busey and chair of the firm’s integrated Healthcare Practice Team.
She is one of only 129 attorneys certified by The Florida Bar in healthcare law and has maintained this certification since 2012.
Charmaine represents health systems and hospitals, academic medical centers, clinically integrated networks, physician group practices, and other healthcare providers in complex transactions and regulatory matters. Charmaine assists physicians and group practices in growing their reach to patients through establishment of facilities and services licensed or regulated by the State of Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration, including ambulatory surgery centers, pharmacies, diagnostic imaging centers, and clinical laboratories.
The Jacksonville Business Journal has recognized Charmaine as both a Women of Influence and Ultimate Attorney. Charmaine is a former Chair of both The Florida Bar Health Law Section and The Florida Bar’s Health Law Certification Committee. She is a Jacksonville native with a deep commitment to serve her community, especially those organizations with a focus on children’s welfare and the arts.
“In every neighborhood, all across our country, there are good people insisting on a good start for the young and doing something about it.“
Fred Rogers
First Coast Child Protection Team is unique in Florida for having two advisory councils to call upon for guidance, support and advocacy.
- First Coast Community Advisory Council
The Community Advisory Council is made up of strong community advocates for children, each bringing their own variety of experiences and talents to assist CPT. When challenges or barriers in providing care are identified, their vast knowledge and willingness to step up to develop solutions is inspiring. Representatives from this council make up the Board of Director of First Coast Healing Hands.
Current members of this council are:
Theresa Simak, JD, Chair of the Community Advisory Council – Assistant State Attorney
Abby Bean – Executive Director, Nassau Education Foundation
Charmaine Chiu, JD – Member of the Board of Directors of the law firm Smith Hulsey & Busey and chair of the firm’s integrated Healthcare Practice Team.
Jay Howell, JD – Attorney who represents victims of accidents and injuries, including all victims of criminal acts
Tenikka Hughes – Evening anchor at Action News Jax
Lorelei Jacobs – Grant Administrator for City of Fernandina Beach
Rich Komando, JD, MBA – Attorney, past involvement with Guardian Ad Litem and long-time advocate for children
James A. Kowalski, Jr., JD – Attorney, Executive Director of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.
Margaret “Mag” McGauley – Guardian ad litem volunteer
James Tilbrook, CPA, MBA – Child Advocate along with sharing his financial wisdom
- First Coast CPT Operations Advisory Council
First Coast CPT Operations Advisory Council members are representatives from the organizations that CPT works with throughout the year. The quarterly meetings of these agency representatives at CPT allows time for discussion of any processes that might need to be changed, replaced, or streamlined in providing care to these children.
Members of the Operations Advisory Council represent the following agencies:
Baker County Sheriff’s Office
Children’s Legal Services
Children’s Medical Services, coordinates services for children with special needs
City of Fernandina Beach
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Department of Children and Families
Duval County Medical Examiner
Family Integrity Program, manage the foster care program in St. Johns County
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Guardian ad Litem Program
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Nassau County Family Support Services
Naval Criminal Investigative Services – SE Field Office
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Quigley House – Clay County – Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office
State Attorney’s Office
UF Health Jacksonville
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Women’s Center of Jacksonville
“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.”
Marian Wright Edelman