Multi-agency Team (MAT) handbook

Abstract

Children and their families experience a range of needs at different times in their lives. A number of children involved in the juvenile justice system have complex needs that cannot be met by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) alone. Additional services to improve outcomes for these children may be needed for a limited period, or on a long-term basis. A Multi-agency Team (MAT) can be established to ensure that agencies and service providers are working together to intervene early and take a proactive, preventative approach to providing these children with effective and timely services. The ultimate goal of the MAT is to improve outcomes for children who have come into contact with the juvenile justice system, through the implementation of integrated and streamlined services and treatment plans. Although the Children’s Law Center developed the MAT Handbook as a tool to be used by DJJ County offices, it can be tailored for use by any child- or family-serving agency to assist clients in need of service from multiple providers.