Multidisciplinary Team Approaches to the Investigation and Resolution of Child Abuse and Neglect: A National Survey

Abstract

Many benefits have been attributed to multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches used in the investigation and resolution of child abuse and neglect. Yet more than a decade has passed since the nature and characteristics of MDTs have been examined. Findings presented in this article suggest that MDTs vary according to configuration, legislation, function, composition, and training. Current approaches are distinctive when compared with 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 permitting or mandating MDT use, an increased diversity of MDT functions, a broader spectrum of discipline representation on MDTs, and an augmented use of training to implement and maintain MDTs. Results described here enable comparison with previous national surveys to shed light on the evolution of MDT system design and to suggest an agenda for future research.

Using the Image Exchange to Enhance Interdisciplinary Team Building in Child Welfare

“…The need for the pooling of expertise from multiple disciplines to ensure effective interdisciplinary services suggests a need for training in interdisciplinary collaboration. The value of interdisciplinary training to professional practice has been documented in a variety of settings (Edelstein, Propenske, & Howard, 1990;Harbaugh, Castro, & Burgess-Ellison, 1987;Kolbo & Strong, 1997;Spencer, 1987).…”

Evaluation of the Children’s Advocacy Center Model: Efficiency, Legal and Revictimization Outcomes

“…The research to date on CACs has been largely descriptive in nature, focusing on such issues as demographic characteristics of the clients, non-offending caregivers and perpetrators and CAC client and staff satisfaction with CAC or multidisciplinary processes and services [e.g., Jenson, Jacobson, Unrau, & Robinson, 1996;Kolbo & Strong, 1997]. Overall, most CACs primarily serve child sexual abuse victims and their non-offending caregivers.…”

Child Abuse Investigations: Reasons for using Child Advocacy Centers and Suggestions for Improvement

“…Kolbo and Strong (1997) found that 33 of the 50 states had an MDT approach to child abuse, and 30 of these 33 statewide approaches had a legislative mandate to incorporate the multidisciplinary teams to investigate child abuse and neglect. Although there were 17 states that did not require statewide participation at the time of this survey, 11 of these states had implemented procedures for sharing information under certain circumstances.…”

“…Kolbo and Strong (1997) concluded, based on a national survey of state and organizational level administrators, that more decisions were made jointly than before the MDT approach was implemented with a greater range of viewpoints considered in the decision-making process. Respondents from this survey said that there was more accuracy in assessments, more suitable treatment plans, and more cases reaching successful resolution following implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach.…”

“…Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches are recognized as beneficial in the investigation of child abuse and neglect (Faller & Henry, 2000;Kolbo & Strong, 1997;U.S. Department of Justice, 2000).…”