§ 280g-4. Grants to foster public health responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking

(a) Authority to award grants

(1) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants to eligible State, tribal, territorial, or local entities to strengthen the response of State, tribal, territorial, or local health care systems to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

(2) Eligible entities

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall—

(A) be—

(i) a State department (or other division) of health, a State domestic or sexual assault coalition or service-based program, State law enforcement task force, or any other nonprofit, nongovernmental, tribal, territorial, or State entity with a history of effective work in the fields of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, and health care; or

(ii) a local, nonprofit domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking service-based program, a local department (or other division) of health, a local health clinic, hospital, or health system, or any other nonprofit, tribal, or local entity with a history of effective work in the field of domestic or sexual violence and health;

(B) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes for which the grant is to be made; and

(C) demonstrate that the entity is representing a team of organizations and agencies working collaboratively to strengthen the response of the health care system involved to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and that such team includes domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking and health care organizations.

(3) Duration

A program conducted under a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed 2 years.

(b) Use of funds

(1) In general

An entity shall use amounts received under a grant under this section to design and implement comprehensive strategies to improve the response of the health care system involved to domestic or sexual violence in clinical and public health settings, hospitals, clinics, managed care settings (including behavioral and mental health), and other health settings.

(2) Mandatory strategies

Strategies implemented under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) The implementation, dissemination, and evaluation of policies and procedures to guide health care professionals and behavioral and public health staff in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including strategies to ensure that health information is maintained in a manner that protects the patient’s privacy and safety and prohibits insurance discrimination.

(B) The development of on-site access to services to address the safety, medical, mental health, and economic needs of patients either by increasing the capacity of existing health care professionals and behavioral and public health staff to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by contracting with or hiring domestic or sexual assault advocates to provide the services, or to model other services appropriate to the geographic and cultural needs of a site.

(C) The evaluation of practice and the institutionalization of identification, intervention, and documentation including quality improvement measurements.

(D) The provision of training and followup technical assistance to health care professionals, behavioral and public health staff, and allied health professionals to identify, assess, treat, and refer clients who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking.

(3) Permissive strategies

Strategies implemented under paragraph (1) may include the following:

(A) Where appropriate, the development of training modules and policies that address the overlap of child abuse, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and elder abuse as well as childhood exposure to domestic violence.

(B) The creation, adaptation, and implementation of public education campaigns for patients concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking prevention.

(C) The development, adaptation, and dissemination of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking education materials to patients and health care professionals and behavioral and public health staff.

(D) The promotion of the inclusion of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking into health professional training schools, including medical, dental, nursing school, social work, and mental health curriculum.

(E) The integration of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking into health care accreditation and professional licensing examinations, such as medical, dental, social work, and nursing boards.

Funds appropriated under this section shall be distributed equally between State and local programs.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to award grants under this section, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

U.S. Code

§ 280g-4. Grants to foster public health responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking