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Members of multi-disciplinary teams are familiar with the type of frustration that occurs when they do not have the resources they need. That frustration can generate conflict within the group, particularly when setting priorities for the resources they do have.
All MDT members likely have more “job” than “time.” What should they do when they need a new tool, skill set, sample document, or body of expertise?
Your primary challenge might be to pause long enough to remember that someone else probably faced the same challenge and came up with something you can use.
North Carolina is fortunate enough to have regional and state networks that specialize in aging and protection of vulnerable adults. The following are a list of collaborative networks that contain resources your team might tap.
- NCDHHS has a division for aging and adult services that provides multiple tools and resources including grant sources, advocacy assistance, and training. They also provide information on other regional services that might aid in elder protection. Go to www.ncdhhs.gov/ and search for “adult protection” to find their resources.
- Councils of Government (COG) divide the state into sixteen regions, each of which contains an Area Agency on Aging (AAA). These agencies contract with local organizations to provide regional support for the counties in their region. AAAs can also help secure funding, aid with management or planning, and provide legislative assistance on a county-by-county basis. www.nc4a.org/ is the website for the state association for Area Agencies on Aging.
- The UNC School of Government hosts the Elder Protection Network which provides reference materials, a networking tool, and a forum for communication across counties. We offer limited technical support and provide research to answer legal questions that MDTs have. Your team might consider looking at our regional peer map to see if there are people in your or nearby counties that can provide needed resources. Go to protectadults.sog.unc.edu to explore these options.
Finally, remember that shared service agreements are a useful means of gaining access to resources that are used infrequently and that can be shared easily across county lines. These agreements split costs and help to reduce duplication of services in nearby communities. Tap your networks to find examples of these contracts.
But remember, Step 1 is to pause long enough to remember someone else probably has a resource that can help you out.
Margaret Henderson and Rebekah Appleton relied on resources contained within the following to co-author this post:
A Practitioner’s Perspective of Multidisciplinary Teams: Analysis of Potential Barriers and Key Factors for Success. https://psyct.psychopen.eu/index.php/psyct/article/view/145/html?acceptC...