2.2.2 Multi-disciplinary Child Protection Teams

AS 47.14.300 Multidisciplinary Child Protection Teams

AS 47.10.093(b)(7) Disclosure of agency records

To provide clarification about Office of Children’s Services (OCS) involvement with multi-disciplinary teams (MDT), as defined in state statute.

State Law

1. The department, a state or municipal agency with expertise in child abuse or neglect, or a Tribe with expertise in child abuse or neglect, in partnership with the department, may facilitate the initial establishment of a multidisciplinary child protection team.

2. The purpose of a team is to assist in the evaluation and investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect made under AS 47.17 or initiated by the department or a law enforcement agency and to provide consultation and coordination for agencies involved in child-in-need-of-aid cases under AS 47.10. Duties include ensuring that investigations involving child abuse or neglect are coordinated and conducted by trained investigators; taking and recommending steps to avoid duplicative interviews of children; assisting in the reduction of trauma to a child and family involved in an investigation of child abuse or neglect; and reviewing records, providing consultation, and making recommendations to the department pertaining to a child-in-need-of-aid case under AS 47.10 referred to the team by a team member.

3. A team shall be made up of

   1. an OCS employee who has expertise in child abuse and neglect;

   2. a peace officer;

   3. one or more staff members of a local child advocacy center (CAC), if a center is located in the relevant area;

   4. a medical care provider who has received training in child abuse assessment;

   5. a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or physician who specializes in mental health care, and has knowledge of child abuse dynamics;

   6. a prosecutor of child abuse cases or a designee of a prosecutor of child abuse cases;

   7. a victim advocate with knowledge of child abuse dynamics;

   8. other persons with expertise in child abuse and neglect invited to serve as needed by consensus of the team: child development specialists; educators; victim counselors; experts in the assessment and treatment of substance abuse; an Assistant Attorney General who specializes in child protection; a representative of an Indian Tribe; guardians ad litem; and a representative of the Division of Juvenile Justice.

4. A team shall meet at least monthly and may meet more often as needed, and may meet, review records, and conduct business in the absence of one or more members of the team.

5. When a case is referred to the team, the department shall make available to the team records pertaining to the case prepared by or in the possession of the department, including appropriate confidential records under AS 47.10.093(b).

6. Confidentiality:

   1. A state employee shall disclose appropriate confidential information regarding a case to a member of a multidisciplinary child protection team as necessary for the performance of the member’s duties.

   2. A member of the multidisciplinary child protection team may use or disclose records made available by the department under this subsection only as necessary for the performance of the member's duties.

   3. Meetings of a multidisciplinary child protection team are closed to the public and are not subject to the provisions of AS 44.62.310 - 44.62.319 (Open Meetings Act)

   4. Except for a public report issued by a multidisciplinary child protection team that does not contain confidential information, records or other information collected by the team or a member of the team related to duties under this section are confidential and not subject to public disclosure under AS 40.25.100 and 40.25.110.

   5. The determinations, conclusions, and recommendations of a multidisciplinary child protection team or its members are not admissible in a civil or criminal proceeding. Records and information collected by the team are not subject to discovery or subpoena in connection with a civil or criminal proceeding.