MultiDisciplinary Team Information System (MDTIS) Receives Thumbs Up!
August 3, 2010
Any professional or multidisciplinary team member involved in a child’s case is able to enter data using a secured system. Data is stored in a central location so that the information is available for sharing. With the shared data, we are able to keep track of varying types of statistics and information. For example, we know that the majority of CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) victims have been sexually abused in the past and are runaways. If a child has a history with us, we should be able to run reports that cross-reference children who are truant with those who have been sexually abused. The cross referencing can assist us in identifying those children at high risk of becoming victims of sexual exploitation. Additionally, MDTIS allows us to create a system of accountability that enhances our reporting capabilities and assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of our multidisciplinary teams in responding to child abuse cases.
MDTIS is designed to handle all aspects of intake and case management from investigation to prosecution. It is the solution to the information sharing challenges inherent when varying agencies like our multidisciplinary teams are trying to work together but have different means of collecting data and communicating information. No matter how well-intentioned our MDTs may be and no matter how hard the people in the organizations may work – their effectiveness will be limited if they cannot share the right information with the right people at the right time. MDTIS allows for easy collaboration between all associated parties, including local law enforcement, prosecutor’s offices, medical and mental health organizations, and family services departments. From ad-hoc reporting to completely customizable localities and MDT collaboration, MDTIS is robust enough to handle our statewide projects while focused and affordable so that smaller centers and communities can benefit from its features.
Features of MDTIS include:
• Capability to monitor cases involving Commercial Sexual Exploitation (now an abuse category) including pornography, prostitution and trafficking
• Ability to link victims and cases
• Capability to record multiple forensic interviews
• Ability to enter individual charges and counts through the law enforcement or prosecution sections
• Ability to track the disposition of each individual charge
• Provision of a warning if the name of a victim or an alleged offender was previously entered into the system in another county or judicial circuit
The first reports generated from MDTIS for the period January 1 - June 30, 2010 indicate the following:
3,219 forensic interviews were conducted by a Children’s Advocacy Center.
• 72% of the forensic interviews at CACs were for SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
• 12% of the forensic interviews at CACs were for PHYSICAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
• 71% of alleged victims were FEMALE.
• 66% were UNDER 12 YEARS of age.
• During the forensic interview 69% of the children provided REPORTS OF ABUSE, 22% DENIED ABUSE and 9% of the children gave vague or INCONCLUSIVE REPORTS of abuse.
CAC’s provided services to 94% of counties in Georgia.
Posted by Cynthia D. Howell
CEO
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia