§ 294h. Interdisciplinary training and education on domestic violence and other types of violence and abuse

(a) Grants

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants under this section to develop interdisciplinary training and education programs that provide undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate medical, nursing (including advanced practice nursing students), and other health professions students with an understanding of, and clinical skills pertinent to, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.

(b) Eligibility

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

(1) be an accredited school of allopathic or osteopathic medicine;

(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(A) information to demonstrate that the applicant includes the meaningful participation of a school of nursing and at least one other school of health professions or graduate program in public health, dentistry, social work, midwifery, or behavioral and mental health;

(B) strategies for the dissemination and sharing of curricula and other educational materials developed under the grant to other interested medical and nursing schools and national resource repositories for materials on domestic violence and sexual assault; and

(C) a plan for consulting with community-based coalitions or individuals who have experience and expertise in issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking for services provided under the program carried out under the grant.

(1) Required uses

Amounts provided under a grant under this section shall be used to—

(A) fund interdisciplinary training and education projects that are designed to train medical, nursing, and other health professions students and residents to identify and provide health care services (including mental or behavioral health care services and referrals to appropriate community services) to individuals who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking or dating violence; and

(B) plan and develop culturally competent clinical components for integration into approved residency training programs that address health issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, along with other forms of violence as appropriate, and include the primacy of victim safety and confidentiality.

(2) Permissive uses

Amounts provided under a grant under this section may be used to—

(A) offer community-based training opportunities in rural areas for medical, nursing, and other students and residents on domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence, and other forms of violence and abuse, which may include the use of distance learning networks and other available technologies needed to reach isolated rural areas; or

(B) provide stipends to students who are underrepresented in the health professions as necessary to promote and enable their participation in clerkships, preceptorships, or other offsite training experiences that are designed to develop health care clinical skills related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

(3) Requirements

(A) Confidentiality and safety

Grantees under this section shall ensure that all educational programs developed with grant funds address issues of confidentiality and patient safety, and that faculty and staff associated with delivering educational components are fully trained in procedures that will protect the immediate and ongoing security of the patients, patient records, and staff. Advocacy-based coalitions or other expertise available in the community shall be consulted on the development and adequacy of confidentially and security procedures, and shall be fairly compensated by grantees for their services.

(B) Rural programs

Rural training programs carried out under paragraph (2)(A) shall reflect adjustments in protocols and procedures or referrals that may be needed to protect the confidentiality and safety of patients who live in small or isolated communities and who are currently or have previously experienced violence or abuse.

(4) Child and elder abuse

Issues related to child and elder abuse may be addressed as part of a comprehensive programmatic approach implemented under a grant under this section.

(d) Requirements of grantees

(1) Limitation on administrative expenses

A grantee shall not use more than 10 percent of the amounts received under a grant under this section for administrative expenses.

(2) Contribution of funds

A grantee under this section, and any entity receiving assistance under the grant for training and education, shall contribute non-Federal funds, either directly or through in-kind contributions, to the costs of the activities to be funded under the grant in an amount that is not less than 25 percent of the total cost of such activities.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

U.S. Code

§ 294h. Interdisciplinary training and education on domestic violence and other types of violence and abuse