Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott will take part in the signing of the Richland County Child Abuse Investigation Multi-Disciplinary Team protocol agreement, which is being updated. This important event will take place on Thursday July 10, 2008 11:00 A.M. at the ARC-- 2100 Bull Street located in the Wilson Building on the S.C. State Hospital Campus at Elmwood Avenue & Bull Street in Columbia.  

Sheriff Lott will join Allen Carter, County Director for Richland County Department of Social Services; John Meadors, Deputy Solicitor for the 5^th Judicial Circuit; Chief Tandy Carter, City of Columbia Police Department; Chief Brian Buck, Irmo Police Department; Chief Gene Sealy, Forest Acres Police Department; Dr. Allison DeFelice, ARC Program Manager; and Dr. Susan Luberoff, ARC Medical Director. This signing demonstrates the continued commitment of Columbia's Child Abuse Response Team to collaboration and dedication.

Sheriff Lott and ARC Program Manager Dr. Allison DeFelice stated that the Assessment and Resource Center (ARC) is a nationally accredited children's advocacy center where services are integrated to respond sensitively to the needs of children suspected of being sexually or physically abused. The Richland County Child Abuse Investigation Multi-Disciplinary Team was developed in 1993 to provide service to victims of crime -- The Richland County MDT consists of the agencies charged with responding to complaints of child abuse, including local law enforcement, DSS, the Solicitor's Office and the ARC, where medical examinations, forensic interviews and mental health services are provided. The team regularly meets to review cases and coordinate its efforts to reduce duplication of services, increase communication between agencies and diminish the burdens placed on victims and their families. Columbia's Child Abuse Response Team Continues Its Commitment to Collaboration

Through changes in leadership, staff turnover, tightened budgets and ever-changing threats to children, this team has faced many challenges since it was first developed more than 15 years ago. The multidisciplinary approach has evolved from a fairly informal agreement of professionals who saw the value of working together to a formalized standard of care laid out in a multi-page document (which is what will be signed on July 10, 2008).

July 10, 2008