63.2-1612 - Responsibilities of Department; domestic violence prevention and services. - Virginia Statutes

§ 63.2-1612. Responsibilities of Department; domestic violence prevention andservices.

It shall be the responsibility of the Department, to the extent funds areappropriated by the General Assembly or otherwise made available:

1. To support, strengthen, evaluate, and monitor community-based domesticviolence programs funded by the Department and to act as the administratorfor state grant funds and the disbursal of federal funds pursuant to §§63.2-1614 and 63.2-1615;

2. To collaborate with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition indeveloping and implementing community-based programs to respond to andprevent domestic violence;

3. To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials ondomestic violence to the local departments, community provider agencies, andthe general public;

4. To support, strengthen, and act as a resource to local departments onissues of domestic violence, particularly as they relate to both adult andchild protective services and self-sufficiency;

5. To establish minimum standards of training and provide educationalprograms to train workers in the fields of child and adult protectiveservices in local departments and community-based domestic violence programsfunded by the Department to identify domestic violence and provide effectivereferrals for appropriate services;

6. To provide training and educational opportunities on effectivecollaboration for all staff of local departments and community-based domesticviolence programs;

7. To work with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition to (a) developpolicies and procedures that guide the work of persons providing services tovictims of domestic violence and their children; (b) implement methods topreserve the confidentiality of all domestic violence services recordspursuant to §§ 63.2-104 and 63.2-104.1 in order to protect the rights andsafety of victims of domestic violence; (c) develop policies and implementmethods to assure the confidentiality of records pertaining to the address orlocation of any shelter or facility assisted under the Family ViolencePrevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. § 10401 et seq.; (d) collect, prepare,and disseminate statistical data on the occurrence of domestic violence andthe services provided throughout the Commonwealth; (e) operate the VirginiaFamily Violence and Sexual Assault 24-hour toll-free hotline and theStatewide Domestic Violence Database (Vadata); and (f) provide aclearinghouse of information and technical assistance on intervention andprevention of domestic violence;

8. To encourage the use of existing information and referral agencies toprovide specialized information on domestic violence;

9. To develop and maintain a statewide list of available community and stateresources for the victims of domestic violence;

10. To provide technical assistance on establishing shelters, self-helpgroups and other necessary service delivery programs;

11. To provide leadership and coordination within the Department on domesticviolence as it relates to child and adult abuse and neglect, benefitsprograms, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, foster care prevention,child support enforcement, child care, and the promotion of healthy familyrelationships; and

12. To promote collaboration and cooperation with other state agencies,including the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department ofHealth, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office ofthe Attorney General, and the Virginia Employment Commission, for technicalassistance, data collection and service delivery to facilitate theappropriate response to victims of domestic violence.

(1980, c. 597, § 63.1-317; 2002, c. 747; 2005, cc. 638, 685; 2006, c. 135.)