CHAPTER 94
CHILD PROTECTION CENTER GRANT PROGRAM
641—94.1(135) Scope and purpose. A child protection center grant program is established to provide grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of establishing new child protection centers and to support existing child protection centers. Grants may be available to eligible organizations that meet, or that are in the process of implementing, child protection center standards established by the National Children’s Alliance. If sufficient funding is available, the program shall, at a minimum, award a grant to a child protection center in or available to each department of human services region in Iowa. Implementation of the grant program is subject to the availability of funding.
641—94.2(135) Definitions. For the purposes of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Child abuse” means abuse as defined by Iowa Code section 232.68(2).
“Child protection center” or “child advocacy center” means a comprehensive, child-focused program, designed by communities to meet their needs, based in a facility that allows law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, and the mental health and medical communities to work together to handle child abuse cases. Child advocacy center is synonymous with child protection center.
“Child protection worker” means a worker as defined by Iowa Code section 232.68(2A).
“Culturally competent” means the capacity to function in more than one culture, requiring the ability to appreciate, understand and interact with members of diverse populations within the community.
“Department” means the Iowa department of public health.
“Developmentally appropriate” means that services are based on human development and learning, individual characteristics and experiences, social and cultural contexts.
“Director” means the director of the Iowa department of public health.
“Family advocate” means an individual who supports a child provided service through a child protection center and ensures access to formal or informal community services as needed by the child or the child’s family.
“Forensic interview” means a face-to-face meeting between individuals to elicit information and that follows a process suitable for a law court or public debate.
“Multidisciplinary team” means individuals with many education levels that encompass the individuals’ beliefs and training in fields of health, education, human service, justice, faith, and others.
641—94.3(135) Goals. A child protection center’s goals for victims of child abuse allegations shall be:
	1.	To provide consistent and expedient response and follow-up to abuse reports.
	2.	Coordination of activities to investigate, prosecute, and treat child abuse.
	3.	To advocate for medical and mental health resources to effectively help the child and the child’s family.
	4.	To reduce the number of interviews and interactions with a victim.
	5.	To provide consistent and compassionate support for the child and the child’s family.
	6.	To ensure that the child is not further victimized by the system designed to protect the child.
	7.	To increase successful prosecutions.
641—94.4(135) Review process.
	94.4(1) The department shall establish a request for proposal and application process for organizations eligible to receive funding. The department shall establish a process to review applications, which includes receiving input from a review committee. The review process and review criteria shall be described in the request for proposals.
	94.4(2) The director shall create a committee to review proposals and make recommendations to the director. At a minimum, committee membership shall include representation from:
	a. 	State departments of human services, justice and public health;
	b. 	Iowa Medical Society;
	c. 	Iowa Hospital Association;
	d. 	Iowa Nurses Association; and
	e. 	Iowa chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
641—94.5(135) Eligibility and criteria. To be eligible for a child protection center grant, an organization shall:
	94.5(1) Have acquired partial membership rank as a child advocacy center from the National Children’s Alliance and shall identify a plan to acquire full membership rank within one year of receiving a state grant.
	94.5(2) Have in place an interagency memorandum of understanding which meets the requirements of Iowa Code section 135.118. The applicant shall provide in the application written information in the following areas:
	a. 	Data, statistics and facts from an assessment of need and assets in the community to support a child protection center for children.
	b. 	Identification of barriers to the child protection center to reach the purpose and goals for children as may exist in federal, state or local rules, regulations, codes, policies or procedures.
	c. 	A plan to request and advocate waivers of federal, state, or local rules, regulations, codes, policies, or procedures to remove or reduce barriers.
	d. 	The child protection center’s access to information regarding all suspected or confirmed child abuse/neglect victims in the identified service area.
	e. 	The child protection center’s provision of 24-hour access to center staff for support, questions and referrals regarding child abuse.
	f. 	Identification of matching local funds to support and sustain the child protection center in the community.
	g. 	A plan for community education on prevention of child abuse and neglect.
	h. 	Collaboration agreements with providers of human services, child health services, early education services, and all other potential community partners to support the purpose and goals of the child protection center.
	i. 	The child protection center’s ability to access and utilize alternate funds for activities provided.
641—94.6(135) Appeals. An applicant may appeal the denial of a properly submitted grant application. Appeals shall be governed by rule 641—176.8(135,17A).
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 135.118.
[Filed 3/14/03, Notice 2/5/03—published 4/2/03, effective 5/7/03]