Multidisciplinary Team of Professionals (MDT)

In Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton Counties we are fortunate enough to have a highly trained team of professionals that meet often to respond to child abuse reports. The roles of team members are listed below.

The District Attorney (DA)/Prosecutors: The prosecutor leads the MDT and the final decision as to whether charges will be filed. Consideration is given to many factors that will affect the likelihood of success in court. Come of the factors considered are: age and maturity of the victim, the child’s ability to testify, whether or not the suspect had confessed, presence of medical evidence, and whether or not there are other witnesses.

The Victim Service Officer: The Victim Service Officer is a professional at the DAs office who coordinates the court preparation school, helps the victims and their families understand the legal process and provide other valuable services to victims and their families.

The Law Enforcement Officer: The Law Enforcement Officer will talk with the children, non-offending parents, suspects and other witnesses, and gather evidence from the scene of the alleged event. Law Enforcement will file the charges and send the case to the DAs office for a possible grand jury date or for the DA to review the case.

The Social Worker: The role of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) is to help protect your child. The DHR social workers conduct interviews and develop safety plans. They may refer you and your child to counseling.

The Doctor: Medical doctors working with the MDT have years of experience in examining child for possible abuse. The exam for sexual abuse involves a regular check up with magnification of the genitalia. Magnification is done with an instrument called a colposcope, which is a big magnifying glass with a good light source. If the child is having discharge or other systems, cultures may be obtained by swabbing the genitalia with a Q-tip. This exam should not be traumatic or painful and most children are clam and seem not to mind. Remember, however, an exam may not indicate if the child has been abused. Eighty percent of all children who have been abused have normal exams, even with a history of penetration, so the MDT does not rely on these alone to prove abuse. One definite advantage is that it allows the doctor to be assured that your child’s body is okay.

The Therapist: Mental Health professionals (therapist) on the MDT help decide how the abuse has affected the child and family. They determine what can be done to best help them heal from the experience.

The Child Advocate: The Child Advocate (CA) is a trained professional who helps the caregiver and the child when abuse is reported. The CA helps the parent connect with services in the community and provides legal support for the child as the case goes through the court system.

Forensic Interviewer: A forensic interviewer has special training and experience in talking with children about difficult subjects. The interviewer’s goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible while gathering the necessary information for an investigation. Questions are asked in a non-threatening and non-leading manner. The interviewer moves at a pace that is comfortable with your child and never forces a child to talk to them.