Establishment of interdisciplinary child protection teams in Turkey 2002-2006: identifying the strongest link can make a difference!
OBJECTIVE
The University of Iowa Child Protection Program collaborated with Turkish professionals to develop a training program on child abuse and neglect during 2002-2006 with the goals of increasing professional awareness and number of multidisciplinary teams (MDT), regional collaborations, and assessed cases. This paper summarizes the 5-year outcome.


METHODS
A team of instructors evaluated needs and held training activities in Turkey annually, and provided consultation when needed. Descriptive analysis was done via Excel and SPSS software.


RESULTS
Eighteen training activities were held with 3,570 attendees. Over the study period, the number of MDTs increased from 4 to 14. The MDTs got involved in organizing training activities in their institutions and communities. The number of medical curriculum lectures taught by MDTs to medical students/residents, conferences organized by the MDTs, and lectures to non-medical professional audiences increased significantly (R(2)=91.4%, 83.8%, and 69.2%, respectively). The number of abuse cases assessed by the MDTs increased by five times compared to pre-training period.


CONCLUSIONS
A culturally competent training program had a positive impact on professional attitudes and behaviors toward recognition and management of child abuse and neglect in Turkey. The need to partner with policy makers to revise current law in favor of a greater human services orientation became clear.


CONCLUSIONS
Pioneers in developing countries may benefit from collaborating with culturally competent instructors from countries with more developed child protection systems to develop training programs so that professional development can improve recognition and management of child abuse and neglect.
Agirtan
Canan A
CA
Duzce University Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
Akar
Taner
T
Akbas
Seher
S
Akdur
Recep
R
Aydin
Cahide
C
Aytar
Gulsen
G
Ayyildiz
Suat
S
Baskan
Sevgi
S
Belgemen
Tugba
T
Bezirci
Ozdecan
O
Beyazova
Ufuk
U
Beyaztas
Fatma Yucel
FY
Buken
Bora
B
Buken
Erhan
E
Camurdan
Aysu D
AD
Can
Demet
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Canbaz
Sevgi
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Cantürk
Gurol
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Ceyhan
Meltem
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Coskun
Abdulhakim
A
Celik
Ahmet
A
Cetin
Fusun C
FC
Coskun
Ayse Gul
AG
Dağçinar
Adnan
A
Dallar
Yildiz
Y
Demirel
Birol
B
Demirogullari
Billur
B
Derman
Orhan
O
Dilli
Dilek
D
Ersahin
Yusuf
Y
Eşiyok
Burcu
B
Evinc
Gulin
G
Gencer
Ozlem
O
Gökler
Bahar
B
Hanci
Hamit
H
Iseri
Elvan
E
Isir
Aysun Baransel
AB
Isiten
Nukhet
N
Kale
Gulsev
G
Karadag
Ferda
F
Kanbur
Nuray
N
Kiliç
Birim
B
Kultur
Ebru
E
Kurtay
Derya
D
Kuruoglu
Asli
A
Miral
Suha
S
Odabasi
Aysun B
AB
Oral
Resmiye
R
Orhon
Filiz Simsek
FS
Ozbesler
Cengiz
C
Ozdemir
Dilsad Foto
DF
Ozkok
M Selim
MS
Ozmert
Elif
E
Oztop
Didem B
DB
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Hamit
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Pasli
Figen
F
Peksen
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Onur
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Sahin
Figen
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Rifat Sahin
Ahmet
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Salacin
Serpil
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Suskan
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B
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D
Teksam
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Tiras
Ulku
U
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Ali Riza
AR
Turla
Ahmet
A
Ulukol
Betul
B
Uslu
Runa
R
Tas
Fatma V
FV
Vatandas
Nilgun
N
Velipasaoglu
Sevtap
S
Yagmur
Fatih
F
Yağmurlu
Aydin
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Songul
S
Yavuz
Sukruye
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Yurdakok
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