Model Protocol for Multidisciplinary Teams - Office of the Attorney ...

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Notifications and Referrals ..................................................................................... 26Investigative Protocols ........................................................................................... 26Investigating Allegations of Abuse in Divorce and Child Custody Cases ............... 27PROSECUTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES ................................................. 28Statutory Authority for Team Participation ................................................................. 28Guidelines for the Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Cases ................................... 28CASE REVIEW FUNCTION OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM ............................ 31Who May Attend the Case Review Process .............................................................. 31Objectives of Case Review........................................................................................ 31Structure of Case Review .......................................................................................... 32Facilitating Case Reviews ...................................................................................... 32Which Cases Are Reviewed................................................................................... 32Who Brings Cases Forward ................................................................................... 32Process of Case Review ........................................................................................ 32Information Presented During the Case Review .................................................... 33Case Review Form................................................................................................. 33Number of Cases Reviewed .................................................................................. 33Notification of Cases Being Reviewed ................................................................... 33Privileged Communication and Confidentiality........................................................... 33Cabinet for Families and Children .......................................................................... 34Children's Advocacy Centers ................................................................................. 34Mental Health......................................................................................................... 34TRAINING FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBERS .......................................... 37DATA COLLECTION BY THE MULTIDISCIPLNARY TEAM ........................................ 38Automation ................................................................................................................ 382
INTRODUCTIONStatement of the ProblemThe extensive nature of child maltreatment in our society in part reflects its ability totouch any child: children of all ages and from all socioeconomic backgrounds arevulnerable to the experience of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, whether fromwithin or outside the family setting. In 1994, there were almost 3 million reported casesof child maltreatment in the United States, involving 43 out of every 1,000 children(National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1996). The 1994 cases represent a320% increase over the number reported in 1976 when figures first began to bereported. Of the cases reported in 1994, 14% involved the sexual abuse of a child.Although sexual abuse is reported less frequently than other forms of maltreatment, it isconsidered the most underreported form of abuse against a child because of thesecrecy characteristic of these cases (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect,1991). In addition to an increase in the number of child maltreatment cases reportedthrough the early 1990's, significant increases have been documented in the severity ofinjuries from child abuse between 1980 and 1993 (Sedlack & Broadhurst, 1996). DuringFY 2001, 4,786 reports of child sexual abuse were made to Kentucky's Cabinet forFamilies and Children.Unique characteristics of child sexual abuse make investigation and prosecution ofthese cases challenging for child protection specialists, law enforcement officers andprosecutors. These factors include the age of the child (1994 figures show 47% ofvictims of child maltreatment are less than 6 years of age); the lack of physical evidencein many cases; the sometimes-ambiguous roles of professionals working to handlehighly complex cases; the highly recidivistic nature of sexual offenders; and otherfactors.Additionally, after a 15-year increase, national data now show that the rate ofsubstantiated cases of sexual child abuse has declined since 1992 (Office of JusticePrograms, 2001). As reported in the January 2001 publication of the Juvenile JusticeBulletin, the decrease in the rate of substantiation of sexual abuse allegations illustrates"the importance of tracking and investigating trends in child victimization" (JuvenileJustice Bulletin, U.S. Department of Justice, 2001).Need for Multidisciplinary ApproachThe traditional process for investigating and prosecuting child sexual abuse is not onethat is "child friendly". Propelling a child through this adult-oriented, adversarial processcan have a detrimental impact and impede the child's ability to recover from the initial3
Page 1: KENTUCKY MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMISSI
Page 5 and 6: sexual victimization of Kentucky's
Page 7 and 8: Kentucky Multidisciplinary Teams: C
Page 9 and 10: Kentucky Multidisciplinary Commissi
Page 11 and 12: ROLES OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEM
Page 13 and 14: should establish procedures for the
Page 15 and 16: upon by the prosecutor and local te
Page 17 and 18: or psychiatrists licensed pursuant
Page 19 and 20: workers providing case work service
Page 21 and 22: OPERATION OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Page 23 and 24: JOINT INVESTIGATION FUNCTION OF THE
Page 25 and 26: Investigative ProceduresEstablishin
Page 27 and 28: making, information sharing, hierar
Page 29 and 30: experience). In cases originating i
Page 31 and 32: CASE REVIEW FUNCTION OF THE MULTIDI
Page 33 and 34: Information Presented During the Ca
Page 35 and 36: health agency's overall consent for
Page 37 and 38: TRAINING FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Page 39: fully functioning. The system will

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