Arkansas

Family Law

Section 9-5-109 – Eligibility for contracts

(a) A public entity or a nonprofit entity is eligible for a contract under § 9-5-107 if the entity:

(1) Has a signed memorandum of understanding as provided by § 9-5-110;

(2) Operates under the authority of a governing board;

(3) Participates on a multidisciplinary team of persons involved in the investigation or prosecution of child abuse cases;

(4) Has developed a method of statistical information gathering on children receiving services through the child safety center and shares the statistical information with the statewide organization, the Department of Human Services, and the Attorney General upon request;

(5) Has a volunteer program;

(6) Employs an executive director who is answerable to the board of directors of the public or nonprofit entity and who is not the exclusive salaried employee of any public agency partner;

(7) Provides for ongoing training for child safety center staff to provide best practices in forensic interviewing and medical and mental examinations to children who are examined at child safety centers; and

(8) Operates under a working protocol that includes, at a minimum, a statement of:

(A) The child safety center’s mission;

(B) Each agency’s role and commitment to the child safety center;

(C) The type of cases to be handled by the child safety center;

(D) The child safety center’s procedures for conducting case reviews and forensic interviews and for ensuring access to specialized medical services and mental health services; and

(E) The child safety center’s policies regarding confidentiality and conflict resolution.

(b)

(1) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission may waive the requirements specified in subsection (a) of this section if the commission determines that the waiver will not adversely affect the child safety center’s ability to carry out its duties under this chapter.

(2) Any waiver that is granted under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be identified in the written contract with the child safety center.

(c) Funds shall be withheld from an established child safety center that no longer meets the standards for funding.

Ark. Code § 9-5-109

Acts 2007, No. 703, § 5

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