Team Building Working in Multidisciplinary Environments AGENDA. Emerald Coast Children s Advocacy Center

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Catherine Merritt
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1 Team Building Working in Multidisciplinary Environments 2013 Krimes Against Kids Conference July 2013 PRESENTERS - Tom Dunn/Pat Franklin Introduction AGENDA Team Building Emerald Coast CAC Culture and Mission of Disciplines Forming Multidisciplinary Teams Team Logistics Putting the Pieces Together Emerald Coast Children s Advocacy Center MDT Co-Located CAC Staff 9 (2 Victim Advocates) DCF Investigators 7 (4 DCF Units) Law Enforcement 2 (13 LE agencies) CPT 8 (5 Case managers, 1 Supervisor, 1 Doctor and 1 P/A on-call) Prosecutors 2 Mental Health 4 + (interns) 1

2 Emerald Coast Children s Advocacy Center Provide Services To Two Counties Okaloosa County population 180,000 Walton County population 52,000 Average 1,100 1,600 reported cases per year CY Physical Abuse CY Sexual Abuse (caretaker, non-caretaker, child-on-child cases) CY Serious Neglect CY Arrests with approx 90% pros rate ( Child Abuse Arrests) Victims age infants up to 17 years old Children s Advocacy Center A Child Friendly, Neutral Facility Where Professionals Work Together As a Team!! Culture and Mission of Disciplines 2

3 Culture By Discipline Culture is those things you know and that everybody else in the culture knows. Culture Is Defined By Shared Experience (often historical) Traditions Values and belief system The meaning of behavior Language Dress Food Culture Is the way within the group it is normally transmitted from one generation to another (or to new members of the culture) 3

4 Culture of Team Disciplines Culture is defined here as that which you know and understand, that others within your discipline know and you don t have to explain, but those outside your discipline don t get. Mission of Team Disciplines The special task or purpose for which a person, group and/or organization is called upon to perform. Protect and Serve Heal those that are Ill Perceptions/Misperceptions Perceive to become aware of through sight, hearing, touch, taste or smell; the understanding, knowledge, etc., obtained by perceiving How do we form our perceptions? Experiences Education Beliefs Values Family and friends Observations and interactions 4

5 Perceptions/Misperceptions LE Example Team Example With all our differences in mission, culture and perceptions, can we come together and work as a team toward a common goal??? Forming Multidisciplinary Teams A Better Way of Doing Business 5

6 Forming Multidisciplinary What disciplines compose MDITs? CPS LEO Prosecution Mental Health Medical Victim Services CAC Forming Multidisciplinary What are MDITs? A team composed of professionals from varying disciplines and organizations. They bring a diversity of skills, backgrounds and training to the investigation, and the result is stronger than the individuals acting alone. Teams share a common mission, and the members identify themselves as part of a collective effort to protect children. Forming Multidisciplinary MDITs May Experience Individual Resistance Agency Resistance Turf Issues Political Ramifications 6

7 Forming Multidisciplinary MDITs May Experience Lack of training and/or sensitivity to child abuse issues Lack of community resources Manpower/Caseloads Supervision concerns Forming Multidisciplinary MDITs May Experience Disagreement and Conflict Expect it Normal and Healthy for Team Development Four Stages of Team Growth Forming Storming Norming Performing Forming Multidisciplinary MDIT Disagreement and Conflict Happens for Many Reasons Poor communication Organizational Differences Work Style Differences (Type A vs Type B) Cultural Differences Generational Differences People Issues 7

8 Forming Multidisciplinary Successful MDITs Have Commitment from Participating Agencies (MOA/MOU) Agencies must allow interdependence Increased dependence on MDIT Decreased dependence on functional supervisors Joint Training Forming Multidisciplinary Successful MDITs Have Task Expertise Team members must possess the ability to integrate their different skills, expertise and roles Team members must be willing to work together in a more complex system Forming Multidisciplinary Successful MDITs Have Open Communication Common understanding of language/terms (Down and Out) Work issues at lowest level while keeping supervisors in-the-loop Confront problems openly and quickly Be respectful of others Minimize Barriers to Effective Communication Verbal vs non-verbal communication Language differences Cultural differences 8

Benefits of MDITs Better investigative outcomes Gathering evidence in team setting Collaboration Better delivery of services Quality decision

Increase in criminal convictions MDIT and MDRT Concept Multidisciplinary Investigative Team (MDIT) Team members providing services (direct and

9 Benefits of MDITs Better investigative outcomes Gathering evidence in team setting Collaboration Better delivery of services Quality decision making Expedited process Better treatment of victims Reduced trauma to child Earlier mental health intervention/referrals Increased child safety Increase in criminal convictions MDIT and MDRT Concept Multidisciplinary Investigative Team (MDIT) Team members providing services (direct and indirect services) Multidisciplinary Review Team (MDRT) Gray beards (Experience) Participate in scheduled/unscheduled case review meetings MDT Logistics & 9

10 MDT Logistics MDT Guidelines/Protocols Establishes the basic mode of operation for the team Provides team members with a common frame of reference MDT members should have a working knowledge of the guidelines/protocols (MDT members should have a copy or have ready access) MDT Logistics Issues with MDT Guidelines/Protocols Are they realistic (working level document) or fictional? Are they updated annually and/or when changes occur? Are they specific or generic? Are MDT members trained properly? New MDT member orientation Annual review with seasoned MDT members MDT Meetings MDT Logistics Minimize and Maximize!! (Stated purpose, agenda, facilitator) MDRT meetings (every other Tuesday, starting at 1:30p/m, review cases when arrest or warrant submitted, gray beards and MDT present) CPT staffings (called as required when issues arise and any MDT member can make request for staffing) Operations Meetings (supervisors meetings quarterly meeting to discuss team operations) How Goes It meetings (MDT and supervisors solicit feedback and discuss issues, solutions, ie., suggestion box) 10

11 MDT Logistics Agency Heads (Bosses) Meeting Annual meeting to update Bosses and nurture agency relationships Statistical data review (city, county, type of maltreatment, arrests, etc.) Significant issues, trends and findings Trainings provided, scheduled trainings and trainings required New techniques and approaches for discussion 11

12 MDT Logistics MDT Individual Recommendations Become educated about other disciplines Develop personal relationships Share professional literature Keep communications open Confront problems openly Keep supervisors involved Communication MDT Logistics Ethical Communication - Enhances human worth and respect for self and others Truthfulness, accuracy and honesty Freedom of expression and diversity of perspective Strive to understand and respect other communicators Promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding Condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity Accept responsibility for the short and long term consequences of our communication Puzzle Exercise 12

Action Planning LEADERSHIP

Action Planning LEADERSHIP Action Planning Your team will develop an ACTION PLAN during this training program. The purpose of Action Planning is to organize your priorities and activities for when you return to your work place.