SECTIONS 18975-18975.9 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 18975-18975.9

18975. This chapter is known and may be cited as the Maxine Waters
Child Abuse Prevention Training Act of 1984.

18975.1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Child abuse and neglect is a severe and increasing problem in
California.
(b) School districts and center based preschools are able to
provide an environment for training of children, parents, and
appropriate school district staff.
(c) Primary prevention programs in the school districts are an
effective and cost-efficient method of reducing the incidence of
child abuse and neglect and for promoting healthy family
environments.
(d) To ensure comprehensive and effective primary prevention
education to California's center based preschools and public school
children, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide adequate
funding to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

18975.2. It is the intention of the Legislature that primary
prevention training for all children in state-funded center based
preschools and public schools, kindergarten through grade 12 be
encouraged by the funding of appropriate agencies to provide the
training.

18975.3. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions
contained in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

18975.4. "Department" means the State Department of Social
Services.

18975.5. "Office" means the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the
State Department of Social Services.

18975.6. "Child abuse" means those acts defined in Section 11165 of
the Penal Code.

18975.7. A "primary prevention program" means a training and
educational program for children, which is directed toward all of the
following:
(a) Preventing the occurrence of child abuse, including physical
abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect, and child abduction.
(b) Reducing the general vulnerability of children, including
coordination with and training for parents and school staff.

18975.8. "Prevention training center" means a center defined in
Article 3 (commencing with Section 18977).

18975.9. "Center based preschools" means state subsidized centers
in which children of preschool age are provided services under the
child development programs identified in paragraphs (1) to (4),
inclusive, of subdivision (h) of Section 8208 of the Education Code
and the State Preschool Program identified in subdivision (dd) of
Section 8208 of the Education Code.