Facilitators and barriers to Children's Advocacy Center-based multidisciplinary teamwork

Abstract

BackgroundChildren'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. ObjectiveGiven 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, & methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with members of a MDT at a Midwestern CAC. ResultsFindings 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. ConclusionsCharacteristics 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.