Investigating crimes against children and responding to individual child victims is challenging professional work. Perpetrators count on a child’s statement lacking credibility in both the justice and child protection systems. Child victims have unique needs and the professionals responding to child victims of crime and abuse must have specialized training and skills.
A full multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professionals includes:
- Prosecutors
- Law Enforcement
- Child Protective Services
- Mental Health Providers
- Medical Providers
- Victim Advocacy
The Montana Child Sexual Abuse Response Team (MCSART) program provides training, resources and technical support for each of the six professional disciplines on an MDT. MCSART also provides team training and will travel to any Montana community to support the development of a team approach to child victims of crime and abuse.
Investigations conducted by MDTs are more effective and less stressful for victims. Rather than a child victim having to face multiple interviews by different people representing different agencies, MDTs conduct one, coordinated interview. This team approach:
- improves evidence collection through forensic interview and forensic medical exam techniques;
- reduces the potential of contaminating evidence through multiple interviews;
- provides victim support to traumatized children and their non-offending caregivers.
For upcoming professional trainings, see the training calendar. Below are downloadable forms used by professionals and MDTs.
Forms for Professionals
| Title | Description | Downloadable Format |
|---|---|---|
| MDT Child Referral Form | A form teams use to accept referrals from law enforcement, child protection and other community agencies. | Word |
| Multidisciplinary Team & Children's Advocacy Centers Confidentiality Agreement | A form for professionals to sign each time the team meets to protect confidentiality of children and families. | |
| Notice, Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Interview and Examination and Release of Liability | A consent form for parents or guardians to sign before a child forensic interview. | |
| Working Draft: County Multidisciplinary Child Information Team | A template for a team's interagency agreement. |