Sec. 202. Establishment of law enforcement child and youth trauma coordinating center
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/bill/115/hr/1757/ih/section-202A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Attorney General shall establish a National Law Enforcement Child and Youth Trauma Coordinating Center (referred to in this section as the Center ) to provide assistance to State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in interacting with children and youth who have been exposed to violence or other trauma, and their families as appropriate. The Center shall determine the age range of children and youth to be covered by the activities of the Center. The Center shall provide assistance to State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies by— disseminating information on the best practices for law enforcement officers developed under section 101, which may include best practices based on evidence-based and evidence-informed models from programs of the Department of Justice and the Office of Justice Services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, such as— models developed in partnership with national law enforcement organizations, Indian tribes, or clinical researchers; and models that include— trauma-informed approaches to conflict resolution, de-escalation, and crisis intervention training; early interventions that link child and youth witnesses and victims, and their families as appropriate, to appropriate trauma-informed services; and supporting officers who experience secondary trauma; providing professional training and technical assistance; and awarding grants under subsection (c).
The Attorney General, acting through the Center, may award grants to State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies or to multi-disciplinary consortia to— enhance the awareness of best practices developed under section 101 for trauma-informed responses to children and youth who have been exposed to violence or other trauma, and their families as appropriate; and provide professional training and technical assistance in implementing the best practices described in subparagraph (A).
Any State, local, or tribal law enforcement agency seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require. A grant awarded under this subsection may be used to— provide training to law enforcement officers on the best practices developed under section 101, including how to identify early signs of trauma and violence exposure when interacting with children and youth; and establish, operate, and evaluate a referral and partnership program with trauma-informed clinical mental health, substance use, health care, or social service professionals in the community in which the law enforcement agency serves.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General— $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to award grants under subsection (c); and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for other activities of the Center.