MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS

(a) In a jurisdiction for which a children's advocacy center has not been established under Section 264.402 , Family Code, the department shall, to the extent possible, establish multidisciplinary teams to provide services relating to a report of child abuse or neglect. A multidisciplinary team shall include professionals in parent education and in each professional discipline necessary to provide comprehensive medical and psychological services to a child who is the subject of a report and to members of the child's household.

(b) Members of a multidisciplinary team may exchange information relating to a report of child abuse or neglect as necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation of the report. The executive commissioner may adopt rules governing the exchange of information between team members.

(c) A multidisciplinary team established under this section shall coordinate services provided by the department to a child and to members of the child's household with services available from other sources, including public and private agencies in the community. The goal of the multidisciplinary team is to provide the greatest range of services possible without duplication of effort.