We’re updating our multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and case management process to create a more transparent, youth- and family-centered approach. We also want to ensure staff have the tools they need to deliver the best possible outcomes. OYA Transition Juvenile Parole and Probation Officer (TJPPO) Amy Meyerding explains, “The biggest change is that we’re finally putting everything all in one place—we’re taking the best practices and feedback from multiple areas and creating a uniform, cohesive process that gives a kind of road map to get youth from commitment all the way through to termination.”
Here’s a look at what’s new and how it will impact youth, families, and our teams.
What Are MDTs?
MDTs, or multidisciplinary teams, bring together staff from various roles, including Case Coordinators, JPPOs, and other key stakeholders, to collaboratively plan and review the care and treatment of youth in OYA’s system. JPPOs are the primary case manager for youth during their time with OYA. They create plans to meet goals and address challenges so youth can demonstrate the ability to safely transition back into the community. JPPOs regularly check in with youth on their progress to ensure they are meeting any court-ordered requirements, completing treatment, and maintaining appropriate behavior. In addition, every living unit has a Case Coordinator that works with youth to develop case plans and monitor progress while in the facility. They work collaboratively to develop youth goals, then help the youth identify the resources and programs at the facility to help meet them.
These meetings are a cornerstone of OYA’s commitment to holistic, individualized care, focusing on progress, challenges, and next steps to ensure each youth’s needs are met comprehensively. Amity York, Case Coordinator at Camp Florence, highlights the importance of MDTs: “For every 90 days for youth to have all of the people that have a say over their futures, essentially, in the same room and youth can ask questions directly and their families can hear the answer—it just kind of gets everybody on board, in the same place, and goal-oriented and focused.”
Meyerding echoes, “The ultimate goal is to teach youth the skills necessary to be successful so they can move on with their own life. The MDTs are about making sure that everyone’s on the same page, working towards the same goals. We want the youth and their support system to have a strong understanding and investment in the case plan.”
New Orientation Guides
Youth and families will now receive Orientation Guides to help them navigate key steps in the intake and treatment process. Case Coordinators on intake units will provide these guides to youth and ensure families get their copies as part of the intake packet. These guides are designed to demystify the process and prepare youth and families for the Intake MDT meeting by offering clear, accessible information. JPPOs will reinforce the completion of these guides during their regular check-ins, ensuring that everyone is informed and ready for next steps.
Pre-MDT Meetings for Better Preparation
One major update is the introduction of mandatory pre-MDT meetings between Case Coordinators and JPPOs. During these sessions, they will review recent assessments, discuss key recommendations, and address any areas of concern. This ensures a well-prepared presentation during the Intake MDT meeting and allows for better communication and collaboration centered on the youth and their distinct circumstances. By clarifying roles and streamlining discussions, pre-MDT meetings set the stage for decisions that prioritize youth’s needs and goals. Oak Creek YCF Camp Director Nick Pearce clarifies, “There was always a reason why they always got together first to talk, but now it’s intentional. We understand that this builds that rapport, that solid foundation, that the MDT needs. So that’s one of the main things that I’ve seen is just the intentionality of it.”
Managing Cases with All Available Tools
These updates are part of OYA’s broader efforts to enhance case management practices. Initiatives include refining assessments, improving goal setting, and ensuring services are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate. For example, OYA’s Risk Needs Assessment now incorporates clearer processes for tracking youth progress and aligning services with individual strengths and needs. Similarly, future updates to the Healthy Youth Development (HYD) framework aim to reduce bias and improve consistency in assessments across the agency.
Meaningful Participation by Youth and Families
Ultimately, these changes reflect our commitment to centering youth and family voices throughout the case management process. Interactive guides and clearer MDT expectations empower youth and families to engage meaningfully in planning and decision-making.
“If the family can become engaged and see what the youth is working on and feel like they have a voice and that they’re a part of the process, I think that that helps youth oftentimes,” York emphasizes. Pearce adds, “The amount of pride that I see from moms and dads and grandparents when they’re watching their kid talk and if you did that separately, the youth may not know what they are doing right. I really feel like the validation from family is so important.”
MDT meetings will now include structured discussions on progress, readiness for transition, and goal alignment, fostering transparency and accountability. By integrating feedback and focusing on collaboration, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive foundation for success.