Section 26-16-70

Membership; eligibility.

In order to become eligible for a full membership in the Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Incorporated, child advocacy centers in this state shall:

(1) Be a private, non-profit incorporated agency.

(2) Have a neutral, child-focused facility where joint Department of Human Resources and law enforcement interviews take place with children in appropriate cases of suspected child sexual and physical 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.

(4) Having a Multidisciplinary Case Review Team that meets on a regularly scheduled basis or as the case load of the community requires. The team shall consist of representatives from the District Attorney, the Department of Human Resources, mental health, law enforcement, and the Child Advocacy Center staff. Medical personnel and a victim's advocate may be part of the team.

(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 mental health therapy.

(6) Provide referrals for medical exams and mental health therapy. The center shall provide follow-up on cases referred for mental health therapy.

(7) Provide training for various disciplines in the community that deal with child abuse.

(8) Have an interagency commitment covering those aspects of agency participation in a multidisciplinary approach to the handling of child sexual and serious physical abuse cases.

(9) Provide assurance that volunteers at the center are trained and screened by appropriate resources.

(Acts 1992, No. 92-558, §1.)