§ 14043c-2. Grants for training and collaboration on the intersection between domestic violence and child maltreatment

(a) Purpose

The purpose of this section is to support efforts by child welfare agencies, domestic violence or dating violence victim services providers, courts, law enforcement, and other related professionals and community organizations to develop collaborative responses and services and provide cross-training to enhance community responses to families where there is both child maltreatment and domestic violence.

(b) Grants authorized

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”), through the Family and Youth Services Bureau, and in consultation with the Office on Violence Against Women, shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the purposes and in the manner described in this section.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011. Funds appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended. Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall—

(1) use not more than 3 percent for evaluation, monitoring, site visits, grantee conferences, and other administrative costs associated with conducting activities under this section;

(2) set aside not more than 7 percent for grants to Indian tribes to develop programs addressing child maltreatment and domestic violence or dating violence that are operated by, or in partnership with, a tribal organization; and

(3) set aside up to 8 percent for technical assistance and training to be provided by organizations having demonstrated expertise in developing collaborative community and system responses to families in which there is both child maltreatment and domestic violence or dating violence, which technical assistance and training may be offered to jurisdictions in the process of developing community responses to families in which children are exposed to child maltreatment and domestic violence or dating violence, whether or not they are receiving funds under this section.

(d) Underserved populations

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the needs of underserved populations.

(e) Grant awards

The Secretary shall award grants under this section for periods of not more than 2 fiscal years.

(f) Uses of funds

Entities receiving grants under this section shall use amounts provided to develop collaborative responses and services and provide cross-training to enhance community responses to families where there is both child maltreatment and domestic violence or dating violence. Amounts distributed under this section may only be used for programs and activities described in subsection (g) of this section.

(g) Programs and activities

The programs and activities developed under this section shall—

(1) encourage cross training, education, service development, and collaboration among child welfare agencies, domestic violence victim service providers, and courts, law enforcement agencies, community-based programs, and other entities, in order to ensure that such entities have the capacity to and will identify, assess, and respond appropriately to—

(A) domestic violence or dating violence in homes where children are present and may be exposed to the violence;

(B) domestic violence or dating violence in child protection cases; and

(2) establish and implement policies, procedures, programs, and practices for child welfare agencies, domestic violence victim service providers, courts, law enforcement agencies, and other entities, that are consistent with the principles of protecting and increasing the immediate and long-term safety and well being of children and non-abusing parents and caretakers;

(3) increase cooperation and enhance linkages between child welfare agencies, domestic violence victim service providers, courts, law enforcement agencies, and other entities to provide more comprehensive community-based services (including health, mental health, social service, housing, and neighborhood resources) to protect and to serve both child and adult victims;

(4) identify, assess, and respond appropriately to domestic violence or dating violence in child protection cases and to child maltreatment when it co-occurs with domestic violence or dating violence;

(5) analyze and change policies, procedures, and protocols that contribute to overrepresentation of certain populations in the court and child welfare system; and

(6) provide appropriate referrals to community-based programs and resources, such as health and mental health services, shelter and housing assistance for adult and youth victims and their children, legal assistance and advocacy for adult and youth victims, assistance for parents to help their children cope with the impact of exposure to domestic violence or dating violence and child maltreatment, appropriate intervention and treatment for adult perpetrators of domestic violence or dating violence whose children are the subjects of child protection cases, programs providing support and assistance to underserved populations, and other necessary supportive services.

(h) Grantee requirements

(1) Applications

Under this section, an entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, consistent with the requirements described herein. The application shall—

(A) ensure that communities impacted by these systems or organizations are adequately represented in the development of the application, the programs and activities to be undertaken, and that they have a significant role in evaluating the success of the project;

(B) describe how the training and collaboration activities will enhance or ensure the safety and economic security of families where both child maltreatment and domestic violence or dating violence occurs by providing appropriate resources, protection, and support to the victimized parents of such children and to the children themselves; and

(C) outline methods and means participating entities will use to ensure that all services are provided in a developmentally, linguistically and culturally competent manner and will utilize community-based supports and resources.

(2) Eligible entities

To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall be a collaboration that—

(A) shall include a State or local child welfare agency or Indian Tribe;

(B) shall include a domestic violence or dating violence victim service provider;

(D) may include a court; and

(E) may include any other such agencies or private nonprofit organizations and faith-based organizations, including community-based organizations, with the capacity to provide effective help to the child and adult victims served by the collaboration.

U.S. Code

§ 14043c-2. Grants for training and collaboration on the intersection between domestic violence and child maltreatment