"The solution of adult problems tomorrow depends in large measure upon the way our children grow up today. There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing that when we save our children we save ourselves." - Margaret Mead

Child abuse is a community problem that requires a community solution. The Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team, better known as the MDT, provides that community solution through collaboration of professionals from diverse disciplines. Created by Oregon Revised Statute 418.747, the District Attorney chairs the MDT. The MDT ensures that child abuse reports are screened, appropriate cases investigated and when needed, legal intervention takes place in order to protect the children in our community.

The MDT has a written protocol signed by representatives of all team member agencies. The team includes, but is not limited to, representatives from child protective services, the medical profession, the schools, mental health, law enforcement, and prosecution.

A specialized investigative police unit comprised of police detectives from the Portland Police Bureau, the Gresham Police Department and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is part of the MDT. These Child Abuse Team (CAT) detectives are co-housed with the Child Abuse Hotline, the Department of Human Services out-of-home care investigators and the MDT Child Abuse Team deputy district attorneys. These detectives share responsibility for investigating child abuse crimes committed in Multnomah County. The MDT Child Abuse Team deputy district attorneys prosecute child homicides, physical abuse and sex crimes committed by family members and also appear on dependency cases in juvenile court.