Intentional Connections: The Power of a Multidisciplinary Team

The Monthly Mindset - February 2026

By Melanie Pignotti, LCPC, CAC Chief Executive Officer

At the heart of every Child Advocacy Center is a simple but powerful truth: no one discipline can meet the needs of a child who has experienced abuse and trauma. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is one of our greatest strengths, bringing together professionals from law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, medical and mental health services, victim advocacy and forensic interviewing. Each discipline offers a unique lens and expertise, and the real impact comes from how these perspectives work together in true partnership. 

This collaborative structure isn’t just a best practice; it consistently leads to better outcomes for children. When information is shared, when decisions are made collectively and when each professional understands their role in the larger picture, children receive a more coordinated, trauma‑informed response. Families experience less confusion. Investigations are more thorough. Services are timelier. And children are better supported on their path toward healing. 

Every discipline contributes something essential. 

• Law enforcement conducts the criminal investigation by gathering facts and evidence. 

• Child protection assesses child safety and provides necessary protective interventions. 

• Prosecutors ensure accountability by reviewing evidence and pursuing appropriate charges. 

• Medical and mental health providers address the child’s physical and emotional needs. 

• Victim advocates guide children and families through complex systems and available support. 

• Forensic interviewers help children share their experiences in a safe, developmentally appropriate setting. 

Together, these partners create a coordinated response that surrounds the child with support at every step. 

CAC CEO Melanie Pignotti (l) and Mount Prospect's Detective Sergeant of Investigations Richard LaBarbera (r) worked closely as MDT partners when Pignotti was a Forensic Interviewer.

This model is also deeply meaningful to me. Before stepping into my current role, I worked directly within MDTs as a forensic interviewer. I saw firsthand how powerful true collaboration can be, not only in the work itself, but in the relationships that form along the way. Some of the toughest cases brought out the strongest teamwork, and there was real comfort in knowing we could lean on one another. Those moments created connections and bonds that made the work not only effective, but also deeply human. 

As we continue strengthening our partnerships and refining our practices, I’m reminded that the MDT model is more than a structure. It represents a commitment to collective expertise, shared responsibility and a unified purpose. When we work together, we create the conditions for safety, healing and justice...the heart of what Child Advocacy Centers exist to do. 

To all our MDT partners across our service area, including the 39 local police departments, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the many social service partners throughout the north and northwest suburbs, thank you for standing with us in this work. 

Together, we form a network of support that ensures no child walks this path alone.