Critical Collaboration: MDT Partnerships During Sexual Assault Investigations

Ego, policies, timelines, personalities, experience, and communication are all inherent challenges that members of the multi-disciplinary team face. However, these challenges can be mitigated to foster a more cohesive team. After this presentation, MDT members will be better prepared to collaborate with, rather than compete against, other team members.

The investigation is where tension between MDT workers and Law Enforcement is made manifest. The relationship between all stakeholders in child abuse and sexual assault investigations is like a dance where all participants have a limited time to choreograph their respective steps. This workshop is intended to address the challenges faced when members from diverse disciplines are required to work together with different timelines, policies, and obligations, to protect victims and pursue justice. By the end of this presentation, the participant will have additional tools to create a more complementary partnership