Multisector Team Collaboration at the Child Advocacy Center

Authors

  • Melissa L. Intindola Western Michigan University
  • Judith Y. Weisinger Mills College
  • Darcelle C. Lahr Mills College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/JNEL-2016-V6-I4-6477

Keywords:

cross-sector collaboration, conflict, cross-sector social partnerships, multidisciplinary

Abstract

An experienced child advocacy center (CAC) executive director has just encountered a pivotal moment. The nonprofit CAC she runs is being asked to perform fewer child forensic interviews. This has led to a loss of clients served and raised concerns about the organization’s financial future, as funders commonly request statistical data to ensure that the organization is a necessary part of the community and deserves funding. In 2011, the cross-sector collaborative CAC model, with its accompanying use of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), was established as the best practice model for investigating crimes against children.1 Labeled multilevel governance in the public administration field,2 such collaborations include issues of power, accountability, communication, and turnover. This case is presented as a meeting of the collaborating parties in which the executive director must address decreasing requests for interviews by the collaboration’s government partners.

Published

2016-10-31

Issue

Section

Teaching Case Study