2006 Kansas Code - 38-15,101

      38-15,101.   Child advocacy centers; standards prescribed for eligibility to receive appropriation of state funds. (a) A child advocacy center in this state shall:

      (1) Be a private, nonprofit incorporated agency or a governmental entity.

      (2)   Have a neutral, child-focused facility where forensic interviews take place with children in appropriate cases of suspected or alleged sexual abuse or physical, mental or emotional abuse. All multidisciplinary agencies shall have a place to interact with the child as investigative or treatment needs require.

      (3)   Have a minimum designated staff that is supervised and approved by the local board of directors or governmental entity.

      (4)   Have a multidisciplinary case review team that meets on a regularly scheduled basis or as the caseload of the community requires. The team shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from the state or local office prosecuting such case, law enforcement, child protective services, mental health services, a victim's advocate, child advocacy center staff and medical personnel.

      (5)   Provide case tracking of child abuse cases seen through the center. A center shall also collect data on the number of child abuse cases seen at the center, by sex, race, age, and other relevant data, the number of cases referred for prosecution, and the number of cases referred for medical services or mental health therapy. Nothing in this section shall require a children's advocacy center to offer medical exam services or mental health therapy.

      (6)   Provide medical exam services or mental health therapy, or both, on site at the children's advocacy center, or provide referrals for medical exams or mental health therapy, or both, to a facility not on the site of the children's advocacy center.

      (7)   Have an interagency commitment, in writing, covering those aspects of agency participation in a multidisciplinary approach to the handling of cases involving physical, mental or emotional abuse.

      (8)   Provide that child advocacy center employees and volunteers at the center are trained and screened in accordance with K.S.A. 65-516, and amendments thereto.

      (9)   Provide training for children's advocacy center staff who interview children in forensic children's interview technique.

      (b)   Any child advocacy center within this state that meets the standards prescribed by this section shall be eligible to receive state funds that are appropriated by the legislature.

      (c)   As used in this section, "physical, mental or emotional abuse" and "sexual abuse" have the meanings ascribed thereto in K.S.A. 38-1502, and amendments thereto.

      History:   L. 2004, ch. 137, § 1; July 1.