Moving Beyond Response Multi-Disciplinary Teams and Strategies for Preventing Abuse

Nyla McCarthy, Director Catalysts for Change Institute for Ethical Leadership

Our Hour Together Review the concept of the Multi-Disciplinary Team Review the concept of the Multi-Disciplinary Team Discuss the benefits Discuss the benefits Quick assessment of the state of the State Quick assessment of the state of the State Review one model Protocol Review one model Protocol Become familiar with recommendations from Stakeholders Become familiar with recommendations from Stakeholders Work together on Best Practices for Evaluation Work together on Best Practices for Evaluation

Yes, it’s going to be a bit of a race

Just what is an (MDT)? Just what is an (MDT)?

MDT Mountain Daylight Time Mountain Daylight Time Montana Department of Transportation Montana Department of Transportation Maggot Debridement Therapy Maggot Debridement Therapy Maintenance Data Terminal Maintenance Data Terminal Multi-Disciplinary Team Multi-Disciplinary Team

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of professionals (individuals) from diverse disciplines A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of professionals (individuals) from diverse disciplines working together in a coordinated and collaborative manner, to ensure effective investigation and response to abuse and neglect.

Business as usual

Membership includes, but is not limited to Local Law Enforcement Adult Protective Services Prosecutor’s Office Local Developmental Disabilities Office Mental Health Agency Medical Service Personnel Victim Advocacy

Who are some of your other members?

Benefits of the MDT Approach 1) more timely intervention 2) identifying gaps in the service delivery process 3) reduced duplication of effort among service providers 4) enhanced quality of evidence for criminal prosecutions 5) improved quality of services delivered through coordination and collaboration 6)they provide a venue for the support and validation of team members

MDT’s have also been associated with reducing the traumatization of victims in the investigative process

They can have a positive effect in the generation of new resources, legislation, and standards of care as well as in influencing how the status quo should change

Benefits you have experienced that are not on this list Benefits you have experienced that are not on this list

How many of you are currently active participants on your local MDT? How many of you are currently active participants on your local MDT? (Active means you attend every meeting unless a genuine conflict which cannot be re-scheduled takes place)

How often does your local MDT meet? How often does your local MDT meet? Where does your local MDT meet? Where does your local MDT meet? How many of you move the meeting around the community to make it more accessible to everyone? How many of you move the meeting around the community to make it more accessible to everyone?

How many of you have signed interagency agreements in place for all member agencies? How many of you have signed interagency agreements in place for all member agencies? How many of you have signed confidentiality statements for all individual members in place? How many of you have signed confidentiality statements for all individual members in place? How many of you have fully developed your protocols? How many of you have fully developed your protocols? How many of you have a roster of current members, updated regularly, and distributed to all? How many of you have a roster of current members, updated regularly, and distributed to all?

How many of your MDT’s provide ongoing training and consultation for members… How many of your MDT’s provide ongoing training and consultation for members… …about the populations you serve? …about the populations you serve? …about trauma and the effects of vicarious trauma …about trauma and the effects of vicarious trauma …about risk reduction for both individuals and for agencies? …about risk reduction for both individuals and for agencies? …about legal resources available to your clients and to your agencies? …about legal resources available to your clients and to your agencies?

It appears my work here is done It appears my work here is done

Let’s take a look at the foundation of a successful multi-disciplinary team Let’s take a look at the foundation of a successful multi-disciplinary team

Model Protocol Elements Model Protocol Elements 1. Mission: A statement of values or a mission to express the basic approach of the community in handling abuse and neglect cases. 2. Membership and Roles: A description of the team members and basic responsibilities of the participating agencies or team members. 3. Presentation of Cases to the team: A description of criteria of cases which are presented to the team and the mechanism for presenting cases to the team.

Model Protocol Elements, continued Model Protocol Elements, continued 4. Investigation: an outline of how the investigation process occurs and guidelines for interviewing. 5. Prosecution: The roles of the team members as they work together to prosecute offenders. 6. Outcome: Monitoring the resolution of cases presented 7. Evaluation: a statement of the process and elements for evaluating the team itself

One Model Protocol Handout: copies of Clackamas County MDT Protocols Handout: copies of Clackamas County MDT Protocols

Moving beyond response

Small group time 20 minutes to discuss Note taker transcribe flip chart suggestions to master list on wall

Share your suggestions for quality improvement for MDT’s Keeping members engaged Keeping members engaged Best ways to handle the logistics, including planning, running and documenting the meetings Best ways to handle the logistics, including planning, running and documenting the meetings Recommendations for criteria for case presentation Recommendations for criteria for case presentation What are the contents of a good evaluation tool and how often should it be administered? What are the contents of a good evaluation tool and how often should it be administered? One other thing your group thinks important to share One other thing your group thinks important to share

Recommendations from Stakeholders on how the Multi-DisciplinaryTeam can play a stronger role in Abuse Prevention Recommendations from Stakeholders on how the Multi-DisciplinaryTeam can play a stronger role in Abuse Prevention

Moving Beyond Response Invite provider agencies, family members and individuals with disabilities to present and offer trainings at your meetings Invite provider agencies, family members and individuals with disabilities to present and offer trainings at your meetings MDT member agencies offer to do the same out in the community MDT member agencies offer to do the same out in the community

State and local investigative agencies, working together with prosecutorial agencies, need to develop a public relations campaign around the issue of disability and abuse.

Moving Beyond Response Police departments should periodically provide speakers to gatherings of people with disabilities, parents, and direct service workers… …to let them know that abuse of people with disabilities is taken seriously and that reports will be handled promptly, professionally, and with sensitivity.

First responders to reported cases of abuse against people with disabilities need special training in how to investigate and assess such cases.

Prosecutors need to learn the best practices that other agencies have developed for interacting with victims and witnesses who have special needs.

Moving Beyond Response Police, protective services workers, and helping agencies who receive reports of abuse should automatically provide victims and their families information about, and contact information for… … the Victim Compensation Program in your area (tied to a prosecutor’s office) and… …Victim’s services (independent non-profits often funded by grants and/or public dollars)

Moving Beyond Response Work together to design and implement publically- available data tracking on the response of individual judges, prosecutors’ offices, and law enforcement agencies to reported crimes against people with disabilities (this is being piloted in Virginia as of this writing)

Let’s share our insights

Thank you for sharing your creativity, your positive energy today, and for all of your excellent ideas. Thank you for sharing your creativity, your positive energy today, and for all of your excellent ideas. And most importantly, thank you for the work you do every day to help keep people safe. And most importantly, thank you for the work you do every day to help keep people safe.