§ 11-928

(a) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall establish and sustain child advocacy centers in the State and ensure that every child in the State has access to a child advocacy center.

(b) The child advocacy centers:

(1) may be based in private nonprofit organizations, local departments of social services, local law enforcement agencies, or a partnership among any of these entities;

(2) shall be developed and located to facilitate their use by alleged victims residing in the surrounding areas;

(3) shall assist in the response to or investigation of allegations of sexual crimes against children under Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Criminal Law Article and sexual abuse of minors under Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the Criminal Law Article and Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Family Law Article;

(4) may assist in the response to or investigation of allegations of child abuse and neglect under Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the Criminal Law Article and Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Family Law Article and allegations of a crime of violence in the presence of a minor under § 3–601.1 of the Criminal Law Article;

(5) shall provide a level of care that meets or exceeds the national accreditation standards for child advocacy centers established by the Maryland Statewide Organization for Child Advocacy Centers under subsection (d) of this section; and

(6) shall be included in all joint investigation procedures developed in accordance with § 5–706 of the Family Law Article.

(c) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may contract with public or private nonprofit organizations to operate child advocacy centers.

(d) (1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall contract with a nonprofit organization that is qualified under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and represents urban, rural, and suburban child advocacy centers in the State to establish a Maryland Statewide Organization for Child Advocacy Centers.

(2) The purpose of the Maryland Statewide Organization for Child Advocacy Centers is to provide training, technical assistance, data collection, and capacity building to meet local, State, and national requirements for child advocacy centers.

(3) The Maryland Statewide Organization for Child Advocacy Centers shall establish standards for child advocacy centers in the State that meet national accreditation standards for child advocacy centers and shall include:

(i) multidisciplinary teams that include representation from law enforcement, prosecutors, child protective services, the medical and mental health fields, and victim advocacy;

(ii) cultural competency and diversity;

(iii) forensic interviews that are neutral, fact–finding, and avoid duplicative interviewing;

(iv) victim support and advocacy for children and caregivers, including appropriate counseling, legal, and medical services or referrals;

(v) medical evaluations;

(vi) mental health services;

(vii) a formal case review process;

(viii) a case tracking, monitoring, and outcomes process;

(ix) organizational capacity;

(x) creating a child–focused setting that is comfortable, safe, and private; and

(xi) any additional necessary standards.

(e) Money for child advocacy centers:

(1) shall be distributed to child advocacy centers in accordance with a formula agreed on by the Maryland Statewide Organization for Child Advocacy Centers and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy;

(2) shall be used to supplement, not supplant, money that the program receives from other sources; and

(3) may be used to assist child advocacy centers in meeting the standards under subsection (d) of this section.

(f) On or before June 1 each year, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall submit an annual report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on child advocacy centers to the General Assembly.