§ 7B-1301. Program on Prevention of Abuse and Neglect. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 7B‑1301.  Program onPrevention of Abuse and Neglect.

(a)        The Department ofHealth and Human Services, through the Division of Social Services, shallimplement the Program on Prevention of Abuse and Neglect. The Division ofSocial Services shall provide the staff and support services for implementingthis program.

(b)        In order to carryout the purposes of this Article:

(1)        Repealed by SessionLaws 2009‑451, s. 10.43(b), effective July 1, 2009.

(2)        The Division ofSocial Services shall review applications and contract with public or privatenonprofit organizations, agencies, schools, or with qualified individuals tooperate community‑based educational and service programs designed toprevent the occurrence of abuse and neglect. Every contract entered into by theDivision of Social Services shall contain provisions that at least twenty‑fivepercent (25%) of the total funding required for a program be provided by theadministering organization in the form of in‑kind or other services andthat a mechanism for evaluation of services provided under the contract beincluded in the services to be performed. In addition, every proposal to theDivision of Social Services for funding under this Article shall includeassurances that the proposal has been forwarded to the local department ofsocial services for comment so that the Division of Social Services mayconsider coordination and duplication of effort on the local level.

(3)        The  Division ofSocial Services shall develop appropriate guidelines and criteria for awardingcontracts under this Article. These criteria shall include, but are not limitedto: documentation of need within the proposed geographical impact area;diversity of geographical areas of programs funded under this Article;demonstrated effectiveness of the proposed strategy or program for preventingabuse and neglect; reasonableness of implementation plan for achieving statedobjectives; utilization of community resources including volunteers; provisionfor an evaluation component that will provide outcome data; plan fordissemination of the program for implementation in other communities; andpotential for future funding from private sources.

(4)        The  Division ofSocial Services shall develop guidelines for regular monitoring of contractsawarded under this Article in order to maximize the investments in preventionprograms by the Children's Trust Fund and to establish appropriateaccountability measures for administration of contracts.

(5)        The Division ofSocial Services shall develop a State plan for the prevention of abuse andneglect for submission to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and theSpeaker of the House of Representatives.

(c)        To assist inimplementing this Article, the Division of Social Services may acceptcontributions, grants, or gifts in cash or otherwise from persons,associations, or corporations. All monies received by the Division of SocialServices from contributions, grants, or gifts and not through appropriation bythe General Assembly shall be deposited in the Children's Trust Fund.Disbursements of the funds shall be on the authorization of the Department ofHealth and Human Services. In order to maintain an effective expenditure andrevenue control, the funds are subject in all respects to State law andregulations, but no appropriation is required to permit expenditure of thefunds.

(d)        Programs contractedfor under this Article are intended to prevent abuse and neglect of juveniles.Abuse and neglect prevention programs are defined to be those programs andservices which impact on juveniles and families before any substantiatedincident of abuse or neglect has occurred. These programs may include, but arenot limited to:

(1)        Community‑basededucational programs on prenatal care, perinatal bonding, child development, basicchild care, care of children with special needs, and coping with family stress;and

(2)        Community‑basedprograms relating to crisis care, aid to parents, and support groups forparents and their children experiencing stress within the family unit.

(e)        No more than twentypercent (20%) of each year's total awards may be utilized for funding State‑levelprograms to coordinate community‑based programs.  (1983, c. 894, s. 1; 1993(Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 677, s. 1; 1998‑202, s. 6; 2009‑451, s.10.43(b).)