Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice
Highlighting the Need for Collaborative Care Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect
About the Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice Working Group
Who We Are:
This working group on based on the adage “It takes a village”: regardless of resources, the benefits of collaboration across sectors benefits all victims of child abuse. This working group on collaborative practices gathers to ensure child centered care and best outcomes for children. Regardless of resources, the benefits for collaboration of sectors are well documented and also improve burn out of practitioners, while raising the bar for systems of care.
Our Mission:
The Mission of this working group is to share ideas around collaborative practices, and best ways to expand collaboration across sectors, regions, and the world. Our goal is to have global responses to child abuse to benefit all children, regardless of geographic location and resources.
Shape the future of the Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice Working Group
We would like members of this group to discuss what practices and policies work well and strengthen the MDT response in your region. We would also like to be a global forum where members can discuss challenges, and find solutions, big and small, to working as a team in their various communities. Bring your ideas and expertise and collaborate with us on events at ISPCAN Congresses and online throughout the year.
Why Join the Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice Working Group?
Global Connections
Network with child serving professionals, experts, and mentors worldwide.
Highlight Collaborative Practice Impactful Programs
Access to data driven effective global Collaborative Care models, frameworks, and programs
Career Advancement
Opportunities to present your work at ISPCAN congresses and virtually.
Cutting-Edge Research
Work alongside world-renowned Multi-Disciplinary Experts to make an impact in this this critical area.
Collaborate & Innovate
Learn from others and work on global projects, research, and advocacy initiatives.
Expert Multi-Disciplinary Child Protection Professionals
Get the expertise and support in forming a Collaborative Response
Get Involved
How to get involved in the Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice Working Group
Sign up for an ISPCAN Membership
Subscribe to the ISPCAN Newsletter and discussions in the member portal
Join the discussion, start connecting & grow your career!
Who Can Join?
If you are a child serving professional or have an interest in learning more about multi-discilinary collaborative responses to child abuse and neglect, then please join us for the latest cutting-edge research and practice in this area, please consider joining us. The Collaborative Care Working group is open to active ISPCAN members only.
Current Projects
Join us in Vilnius
Bring your ideas and expertise and collaborate with us during the pre-congress Collaborative Care Working Group Meeting in Vilnius. Together, we'll create opportunities to enhance your skills, expand your knowledge, and build meaningful connections.
Events
ISPCAN Collaborative Response Framework Tool
This framework can be adapted to any community’s needs, highlighting the currents strengths in response and providing support on creating a stronger multidiscipline response where needed
HUDDLE - Case of Multigenerational CSA: Multidisciplinary Response
This session focused on the actions taken by professionals to address the abuse, and how collaborative efforts across multiple disciplines would have changed the responses
Working Group Meetings at Vilnius Congresses - October 2025
Half-day pre-congress working group will offer a half-day workshop tailored to multi-disciplinary professionals.
Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice EMERGING THEMES
• The Child Welfare Community Collaborations (CWCC) initiative -designed to mobilize communities to develop and evaluate multi-system collaboratives that address local barriers and provide a continuum of services to prevent child abuse and neglect.
• The Importance of Community Involvement in Child Abuse Prevention
• Uniting for Justice: How Collaboration Empowers Investigations of Child Abuse
• Differential Response to Child Protection in an Intercultural Context
• Collaborative Child Abuse Response Training
• Collaborative policing: networked responses to child victims of abuse
Related Resources
Contributing Partners:
Contributing Partners:
Supporting Downloads
External Resources
Past Congress Recaps
Conveners of the Multi-disciplinary Collaborative Practice Group
Abbie Newman, JD, RN
Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center USA (PA) 2023-2025 ISPCAN Distinguished Advisory Council
Abbie Newman, RN, JD, CEO of External & Global Affairs at Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center (MKCAC) was a registered pediatric nurse then a lawyer for 19 years before becoming founding Executive Director of MKCAC in 2008, building the collaborative multidisciplinary team into a nationally accredited CAC. As CEO, she drives innovative thought leadership statewide, nationally, and internationally. A past-President and current member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of CACs’ Board of Directors, Abbie works on public policy issues in Pennsylvania, and nationally on issues affecting those impacted by child abuse. Elected in 2021 to the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect’s Distinguished Advisory Committee, she spearheaded an international framework project to develop collaborative responses to CSA in low- and middle-income countries. Her ultimate vision is to see children triumph over trauma and reach their full potential, regardless of locale or circumstance.
Diahann G Harrison, JD
Ombudsman Office of the Children's Advocate JAMAICA
Mrs. Diahann Gordon Harrison has served as Jamaica’s Children’s Advocate since January 2012 and was appointed as Jamaica’s first National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons in 2015—the first such role in the Latin American and Caribbean region. An experienced Attorney-at-Law with over 20 years at the Public Bar, she previously served as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions. Known widely for her advocacy, she champions victim-centered, rights-based protection for children and vulnerable groups and emphasizes accountability for human rights violations. Mrs. Gordon Harrison is also certified by Geneva-based Justice Rapid Response as a global expert on International Criminal Law, she specializes in crimes against humanity and war crimes.