NCJ Number
115151
Date Published
1988
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In discussing the legal basis for child protection teams, this paper considers multidisciplinary consultation within and between agencies and statutes creating, authorizing, or recognizing child protection teams.
Abstract
Regarding multidisciplinary consultation within agencies, each agency can establish, maintain, and supervise teams in the manner most consistent with overall goals. If not prohibited by written policy or the culture of the work setting, teams can easily be established on a formal or informal basis. Other issues in multidisciplinary consultation within agencies are the delegation of authority, intradepartmental and interprofessional consultation, and comparable consultation and review activities. Regarding multidisciplinary consultation between agencies, as long as an agency's own powers and duties are not exceeded, the appointment of a person outside an agency to serve within the agency may be a good way for agencies to staff a team. Cross appointments, contribution of in-kind services, and interagency agreements are all approaches often used by nonprofit and governmental agencies creating child protection teams. Statutes may enumerate the duties and powers of child protection teams, recognize or require their establishment, and clarify potential conflicts with respect to confidentiality or jurisdiction. About half the States have statutes concerning teams, although few have well-developed statutes. 24 references.