Multi-Disciplinary Team

Heather Shelton, Project Coordinator The Fayette County Multi-Disciplinary Team for Child Sexual Abuse is an inter-agency group of professionals committed to two main goals: safety and concern for the child victims of sexual abuse, and accountability of the child sexual abuse service system.

Core members of the group include:

Social workers from the Cabinet for Families and Children;

Detectives from the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Police;

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney & Victims' Advocate from the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney;

Staff from the Office of the County Attorney;

Doctors/staff from the University of Kentucky Pediatrics Department;

Doctors from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Health Department;

Therapists from Bluegrass Comprehensive Care;

Staff from the Family Care Center;

Staff from the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, Inc.; and
Representatives from Fayette County Schools.

(Additional mental health and medical professionals participate as needed).

Members meet on a weekly basis to review all reports of child sexual abuse, initiated by either a social worker or law enforcement officer, and discuss how to take appropriate action in each individual case. This helps to create joint solutions and minimize conflict among the various agencies and their different protocols. It also serves to guarantee that all possible actions have been taken to both protect children, and minimize any further traumatization. The discussion at all meetings is confidential, and each participant signs a confidentiality agreement at the beginning of each meeting.

After a case is initially presented it is carefully followed until a final disposition is reached, such as completion of an investigation and/or prosecution. It is not "closed" until members are certain that the child is out of danger and receiving all necessary services (e.g. counseling, medical exams, etc.).

Child Sexual Abuse Felony Case Summary
Year	Defendants Charged	Convictions	Conviction Rate
2000	5	0	N/A
1999	40	23	100% (17 pending)
1998	44	40	92% (2 pending)
1997	40	34	85%
1996	53	49	92%

Multi-Disciplinary Team Membership Agency Contacts
Agency	Contact	Telephone #
Cabinet for Families & Children	Melinda Wathen Anna Hodge Timothea Branham Pat Turner Harriete Swart Lori Jacoby Kellie Warren Greg Napier	246-2676 246-2331 246-2283 246-2260 246-2266 246-2270 246-2325 246-2320
Lexington Division of Police Crimes Against Children Unit	Sgt. Mike Collins Sgt. Gena Massarone	258-3698
Office of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney	Lou Anna Red Corn, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Heather Shelton, Victims' Advocate	246-2060
Office of the Fayette County Attorney	Duane Osborne, Assistant County Attorney Carolyn McBurney, Paralegal	226-1876
University of Kentucky Medical Center, Pediatrics Clinic	Dr. Janice Kregor, M.D. Dr. Katie Bright, M.D. Connie Withers, Clinic Coordinator	257-1777
Fayette County Health Department	Dr. Deborah Stanley, M.D.	252-2371
Bluegrass Comprehensive Care	Roni Giberson, Therapist	233-0444
Parent's Place	Marcia Risk, Therapist	268-4292
Family Care Center	Judy Warner, Family Caseworker	288-4040
Children's Advocacy Center	Lana Stephens, Director Troy Price, Family Advocate Susan Pittman, Child Advocate	225-5437
Fayette County Public Schools	Flo Lankster, Coordinator for School Social Work Programs Don Blue, Student Assistance Program Coordinator	381-4000
Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center	Becky Horine, Therapist Agnes Santiago, Hispanic Advocate/Therapist	253-2615