Multi-Disciplinary Team

The Morgan County Child Advocacy Center is dedicated to providing services to children and families that have experienced trauma related to abuse, or who are involved in a situation in which abuse is suspected.  We recognize that effective child abuse intervention requires a co-operative effort between the professionals in many agencies and disciplines.  The Multi-Disciplinary Team will review all cases involving children who are interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center.  If possible, the case will be reviewed within thirty days of the interview.  In addition, cases received by DHR or law enforcement that involve an allegation of sexual abuse of a child will also be placed on the agenda.  Other cases involving physical injury or neglect may be placed on the agenda for team review at the request of a team member. All professionals involved in this effort meet regularly to form a multidisciplinary team which reviews each investigation of reported child abuse.  The team consists of professionals from the Department of Human Resources, Law Enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, Mental Health Center, and Child Advocacy Center staff.

 

The team can be considered a vehicle through which we help children and families negotiate the various systems involved in protecting children: The team’s purpose is twofold:

 

· To ensure that each child receives the appropriate intervention (required to protect him or her from further abuse and/or traumatization).

 

· To make team decisions regarding the prosecution of the alleged offenders.

             All information shared within the team meetings is kept strictly                                    confidential among team members.

 

 

The team meeting is chaired and facilitated by the Morgan County District Attorney or his designee. Information about allegations and evidence collected is freely shared among the team members as needed.  All identifying information on a child is confidential among the team members and will not be released to the general community except as required to safeguard the child or by court order.  Confidentiality does not legally apply under two (2) conditions:

 

· Any information regarding new or different child abuse must be reported to the appropriate agency.

 

· Information that the client is in danger of inflicting serious harm upon her/himself or others (i.e., suicidal or homicidal) will necessitate appropriate protective measures.

 

Additionally, by law, confidentiality may be waived under the following circumstances:

 

· authorization (by a competent party) to release previously confidential information (to include written records)

· pursuant to a legally sufficient court subpoena; and

in response to a proper court order.

 

The case may be closed at the point that the team determines due to:

 

· No abuse occurred or no risk of abuse exists.

· Abuse occurred and the case has been referred to Grand Jury (the case will be tracked through final resolution), an arrest warrant has been obtained, or juvenile petition has been obtained.

· Abuse occurred and the child is protected and acceptable alternative resolution(s) of the case has been achieved or is not practical under the circumstances.

· Insufficient evidence to proceed.

 

If you have any questions regarding our policies of confidentiality, please direct them to your Family Advocate or the Executive Director at the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center.  One of these individuals will be happy to further discuss this and any other concerns with you.

 

 

Robert L. Burrell

District Attorney

Morgan County Courthouse

256-351-4610

 

Investigator Amy Crouch

Hartselle Police Department

256-773-6534

 

 

 

Captain Tom Sparks

Hartselle Police

256-773-6534

 

 

SGT Terry White

Decatur Police Department

256-341-4667 (W)

256-341-6082 (p)

256-309-2836 (c)

 

Investigator Anthony Ward

Decatur Police Department

256-341-4650

 

 

 

LT Vince Baer

Decatur Police Department

256-227-5808 (C)

 

 

Marie Hood

Executive Director

Morgan County Mental Health Center

(256) 260-7324

 

 

 

 

MDT Members

SGT John Bili

Morgan County Sheriffs’ Department

256-560-6198

 

 

Investigator Anna Franklin

Morgan County Sheriffs’ Department

256-351-4899

256-316-2822 (p)

256-260-5215 (c)

 

Ashley Madry

Morgan County DHR

256-340-5848

 

Layla Niemann

Morgan County DHR

256-340-5935

256-221-5028 (C)

 

 

 

Kelly Gates

Forensic Interviewer Intern

Morgan County CAC

256-355-1908 ext. 12

256-654-4992 (C)

 

Teresa L. Young

Executive Director

Morgan County CAC

(256) 355-1908 ext. 10

 

Kathryn McNorton

Family Advocate Intern

Morgan County Child Advocacy Center

(256) 355-1908 ext. 13