Community Grants for Child Safety Centers Program — Findings — Purpose

1. Law
2. Arkansas Code
3. Public Health and Welfare
4. Social Services
5. Victims of Violent Crimes
6. Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission
7. Community Grants for Child Safety Centers Program — Findings — Purpose

1. (a) Findings and Purpose.

   1. (1) The General Assembly finds and determines that:

      1. (A) Abused children often have to describe their sexual or physical abuse several times to different professionals at different locations;

      2. (B) Many child abuse investigations are conducted with little collaboration between the agencies involved in the cases;

      3. (C) Each agency's child abuse professionals are housed in different facilities and, as a result, interface during the investigation and management of cases is limited;

      4. (D) Sexual and physical abuse medical examinations are commonly performed in hospital emergency rooms and other sites that are frightening to children, lack the proper equipment, and often are staffed by physicians uncomfortable with these exams; and

      5. (E) Child safety centers provide:

         1. (i) A more child-friendly atmosphere;

         2. (ii) Reduced trauma to the children and their families;

         3. (iii) Improved investigations and management;

         4. (iv) More effective utilization of multiagency information;

         5. (v) Greater protection of children;

         6. (vi) Increased prosecution of perpetrators; and

         7. (vii) Less unnecessary family intervention.

   2. (2) The purpose of this section is to encourage the use of existing child safety centers and the development of new centers providing the benefits under one roof.

2. (b) Establishment and Authority.

   1. (1) There is established the Community Grants for Child Safety Centers Program.

   2. (2) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission shall advise the Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Section on the administration and monitoring of this grant program for the operation of existing child safety centers and the development of new centers in the State of Arkansas.

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