3.2.1. Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs)

Some participants identified MDTs as a best practice in investigating and prosecuting CSAM and supporting victims and their families. Participants spoke about MDTs enabling these incredibly complex investigations to be more effective and thorough through streamlined communications and coordinated efforts, as well as making sure that all professionals involved kept the victims' best interests at the center of their work. Some participants shared that at least one state legislates the use of MDTs for the same reasons, as the following quote illustrates:

*So when we say MDT, we mean multidisciplinary team, and public policy in the state of [X] says that investigating allegations of child abuse or neglect is very complicated and so the major agencies involved should work together and the district attorney in every county in [state] shall convene a multidisciplinary child abuse team or MDT to assist in that investigation. On that team, you should have representatives of your district attorney's o*ffi*ce or law enforcement agencies, your local [state] Department of Human Services, child protective workers or CPS workers, schools, healthcare [or] hospital personnel. Who else is on there? Other advocacy groups and then your child advocacy center or [also known as] the child* . . . *intervention center. (FG6, 1)*

Participants working within MDTs noted that the approach fostered a climate of collaboration and information sharing. Additionally, using MDTs aided in creating a child-centered and sensitive approach, in that it minimized the need for multiple interviews with victims, which is considered best practice by most professionals working in the areas of child abuse investigations. Participants also believed that MDTs aided in the most effective and efficient use of scarce resources through pooling and sharing the funding, technology, and the professionals needed to do the work.
