Due to the complex nature of child abuse and neglect investigations and family assessments, multidisciplinary teams are often used to enhance and improve investigations and responses for children and families. Multidisciplinary teams represent a variety of disciplines that interact and coordinate their efforts to diagnose, treat, and plan for children and families receiving child welfare services. They may also be referred to as a "child protection team," "interdisciplinary team," or "case consultation team." Resources include State and local examples.
Child Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Team Decision and Its Association to Child Protective Services Outcomes (PDF - 367 KB)
Brink, Bridge, Letson, Scribano, & Thackeray (2015)
Child Abuse & Neglect, 46
Evaluates the multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision-making process and outcomes in cases of child sexual abuse cases. The study concludes with implications for practice and further research.
Multidisciplinary Child Protection Teams - The Social Worker’s Role
Pelt (2013)
Social Work Today, 13(26)
Explains the role of the social worker on multidisciplinary child protection teams in hospital settings. The article discusses challenges faced by the team and efforts by social workers
State and local examples
Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Teams and Sexual Assault Response Teams Fact Sheet (PDF - 118 KB)
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice and Services (2014)
Provides information on child abuse multidisciplinary and sexual assault response teams, including what they respond to, the primary focus of each, the team’s response, and frequency of case review.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Botash
Child Abuse Evaluation & Treatment for Medical Providers
Provides an overview of the multidisciplinary approach, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the medical providers, child protection service providers, law enforcement, victim advocates, and other members involved in multidisciplinary teams.
The Urgent Need in Illinois for Unit-Based Multidisciplinary Teams to Investigate Child Abuse (PDF - 8,387 KB)
Illinois Children’s Justice Task Force (2016)
Provides an overview of unit-based multidisciplinary teams (MDT), the need for such a team in Illinois, and planning and implementing principles and strategies. The report also describes roles of each MDT partner partners from law enforcement, DCFS child protection services, medical child protection teams, children’s advocacy centers, and prosecution as well as the institutional strengths and profession specific challenges that they may face on the team.