Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and other community providers. It is designed to ensure the immediate and comprehensive assessment of children and youth entering out-of-home placement.
When a child is newly detained, he/she is eligible to receive a MAT assessment through DCFS. The MAT assessment was designed to make sure that all child/family needs are assessed when a child/youth enters foster care. This assessment is meant to help a family meet needs a child may have that place the family in danger of a lengthy separation. The information gathered by this assessment will be used to determine what services are most needed by the child with the intention of using this information for the most appropriate placement of the child while ensuring that his/her needs will be met.
MAT Assessments address the following areas:
- Mental Health
- Medical/Dental
- Developmental
- Hearing/Language
- Educational/Vocational
- Child, family, and caregiver strengths and needs
- Recommended referrals and services to meet underlying needs