MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM
How the MDT responds to child abuse
Members of the MDT may include members of Law Enforcement, Children’s Division, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Juvenile Office, advocates, mental health professionals as well as medical providers. The Team also includes CAC staff which includes advocates, mental health providers and forensic interviewers.
Each agency or professional who serves on the MDT has a specific role in the investigation of child abuse cases. Voices of Courage serves as the ‘hub’ of the MDT, and our on-staff MDT Coordinator facilitates this team. The Forensic Interviewers are also members of the MDT, however they serve as neutral participants. For a listing of Partners in Northwest Missouri, click here.
Did you know?
- Each year, more than 700,000 children are abused in the US
- In 2023, our CAC conducted 500 forensic interviews for children throughout Northwest Missouri
- 45% of the children seen at our CAC in 2023 came from counties OUTSIDE our home county of Buchanan
The purpose of utilizing the MDT model for our forensic interviews is to assure that every case is handled with the utmost care from all aspects of the case. We want to make sure that each child’s needs are recognized and met. We utilize informed decision-making at all stages of the process so that children can benefit from this type of coordinated response.
Voices of Courage and the rest of the MDT take our responsibility to protect children very seriously. Our goal is to help children heal from the abuse they have suffered, and to provide them and their families with the tools they need to move forward.
When possible, our team strives to help prosecute those individuals responsible for harming our child victims. This serves to protect not only the child, but potential future victims as well. Prosecution can be a part of the healing process in some cases.
Finally, our team has a responsibility to believe children when they disclose abuse. Research shows that children don’t lie about abuse. We are here to protect them, and in doing so, we must believe them.
