Kristi K Westphaln1, Kirstin A Manges2, Wendy C Regoeczi3, Jennifer Johnson4, Sarah D Ronis5, James C Spilsbury6. 1. University of California Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; University Hospitals Center for Child Health and Policy, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: kwestphaln@sonnet.ucla.edu. 2. National Clinician Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Health Equity Promotion and Research, Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: Kirstin.Manges@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. 3. Cleveland State University, Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: w.regoeczi@csuohio.edu. 4. Canopy Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. 5. University Hospitals Center for Child Health and Policy, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: sarah.ronis@uhhospitals.org. 6. Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: jcs5@case.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) use a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to initiate, coordinate, and provide essential multisector services for children and families who experience child abuse. Despite rapid dissemination of the CAC model across the world, little is known about characteristics associated with CAC-based teamwork. OBJECTIVE: Given that teamwork characteristics may impact the outcomes of child and families who interact with CACs, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experiences, facilitators, and barriers to CAC-based multidisciplinary teamwork. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING, & METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with members of a MDT at a Midwestern CAC. RESULTS: Findings suggest that MDT teamwork was fostered by clear communication, responsiveness, commitment, openness, and appropriate resources whereas MDT teamwork was hindered by role confusion, conflicting perspectives, poor communication, low staffing, complex politics, and structural barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of CAC-based teamwork may vary from the teamwork of other types of child protection teams. Interventions that enhance CAC-based teamwork may optimize the function of CAC MDTs and improve outcomes for children and families who engage with CACs.
BACKGROUND: Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) use a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to initiate, coordinate, and provide essential multisector services for children and families who experience child abuse. Despite rapid dissemination of the CAC model across the world, little is known about characteristics associated with CAC-based teamwork. OBJECTIVE: Given that teamwork characteristics may impact the outcomes of child and families who interact with CACs, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experiences, facilitators, and barriers to CAC-based multidisciplinary teamwork. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING, & METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with members of a MDT at a Midwestern CAC. RESULTS: Findings suggest that MDT teamwork was fostered by clear communication, responsiveness, commitment, openness, and appropriate resources whereas MDT teamwork was hindered by role confusion, conflicting perspectives, poor communication, low staffing, complex politics, and structural barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of CAC-based teamwork may vary from the teamwork of other types of child protection teams. Interventions that enhance CAC-based teamwork may optimize the function of CAC MDTs and improve outcomes for children and families who engage with CACs.
Authors: Alberto Valido; Matthew Rivas-Koehl; Dane Rivas-Koehl; Dorothy L Espelage; Timothy I Lawrence; Luz E Robinson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-12 Impact factor: 4.614