NCJ Number
166813
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1997) Pages: 61-72
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Many benefits have been attributed to multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches used to investigate and resolve child abuse and neglect cases, and MDT's vary according to configuration, legislation, function, composition, and training.
Abstract
Current MDT approaches are distinctive when compared to approaches found in previous national surveys. Specifically, the past 10 years have been characterized by the creation of a variety of MDT configurations, a dramatic expansion of legislation that permits or mandates MDT use, increased diversity in MDT functions, a broader spectrum of discipline representation on MDT's, and augmented use of training to implement and maintain MDT's. The state-by-state analysis indicates 30 States implemented the MDT approach through legislative mandate; of 17 States not requiring statewide participation in MDT's, 11 recognized the value of MDT's by enacting statutes that encouraged the development of teams or the sharing of information under specific conditions. While MDT's were perceived as lessening the burden on child protective service workers, some of these workers were confused about leadership roles, questioned case ownership, and felt additional scrutiny of their work. Others felt interdisciplinary decision making could be more time- consuming than traditional approaches, at least initially. Community education and monitoring and case resolution were prominent functions of MDT's. 33 references, 1 table, and 2 figures