2006 Massachusetts Code - Chapter 119 — Section 51D. Powers and duties of area directors; multi-disciplinary serviceteams.

Section 51D. Each area director of the department shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of clause (4) of section fifty-one B. Each such area director shall report to the appropriate district attorney cases as provided for in said clause (4).

Each such area director shall, in cooperation with the appropriate district attorney, establish one or more multi-disciplinary service teams to review the provision of services to children and their families who are the subject of such reports. Such teams shall each consist of one representative of the department who shall be the caseworker for the particular case, one representative of the appropriate district attorney, and at least one other member who is not an employee of either such office but shall be appointed by the area director. The additional member shall have training and experience in the fields of child welfare or criminal justice and, as far as practicable, be involved with the provision of services to such families. No members of such team shall receive any compensation, or in the case of a state employee, any additional compensation, for service on such team.

Such team shall review and monitor the service plan developed by the department pursuant to clause (5) of section fifty-one B. Such team shall evaluate such service plan in regard to its effectiveness in protecting the child from further abuse or neglect. Such team shall make recommendations regarding amendments to the service plan, the advisability of prosecuting members of the family, and the possibility of utilizing diversionary alternatives. If such team finds that services required under such plan are not provided to such family, the case shall be referred to the interagency children’s services team established pursuant to section six A of chapter twenty-eight A.

Such multi-disciplinary service team shall have full access to such service plan and any personal data known to the department which is directly related to the implementation of such plan, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter sixty-six A, section one hundred and thirty-five of chapter one hundred and twelve, and sections fifty-one E and fifty-one F of this chapter. The members of such team shall be considered to be employees of the department for purposes of protecting the confidentiality of such data and such data shall be utilized solely to carry out the provisions of this section; provided, however, that such team may report to such district attorney the information that the family has failed to participate in such plan.

Each such director shall file a monthly report with the commissioner of the department regarding the activities in the region which have occurred in the previous month pursuant to this section. Such report shall be written on a form prescribed by said commissioner and shall include, but not be limited to, the number of cases reported pursuant to clause (4) of section fifty-one B, the activities of the multi-disciplinary service teams, the availability of services which are by such service plans, and the number of family members that are subject of such reports that have been prosecuted. Said commissioner, after deleting all personal identifying information, shall combine these area reports into one monthly report which shall be filed with the secretary of health and human services, each district attorney, the joint committee on human services and elderly affairs, and the house and senate committees on ways and means.