wa-law.org > bill > 2023-24 > HB 1439 > Original Bill

HB 1439 - Child exposure to violence

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Section 1

  1. The legislature finds that the multidisciplinary team approach coordinated by children's advocacy centers improves interagency communication, increases the effectiveness of the investigation and prosecution of child abuse, and results in fewer interviews with and less trauma for the child.

  2. The legislature finds that current language defining children's advocacy centers was written more than 20 years ago, when such centers were just beginning to develop in our state. Additionally, current language defining child forensic interviews was also written at a time when there were few, if any, designated specialized child forensic interviewers in Washington.

  3. Children's exposure to violence in Washington state is occurring at an alarming rate and is a traumatic, adverse experience that can have severe and long-lasting consequences. This traumatic disruption of healthy development is a significant public health crisis.

  4. Children exposed to violence can heal if given access to specialized resources, evidence-based treatment, and proper support that promotes the well‐being of them and their families.

  5. Because research shows positive outcomes when trauma or adverse experiences are addressed early, the legislature finds that a task force to examine and recommend best practices for effective trauma-informed programs for children who are witnesses or exposed to violence would yield positive results.

  6. Therefore, because the legislature finds children's advocacy centers employ trauma-informed, research-based, best practices that help child victims of abuse and children exposed to violence heal and reduce the risk of future abuse and other negative consequences, the legislature finds it necessary to update definitions and guidance to ensure support for children's advocacy centers by more accurately defining the work they do, and the tools necessary to support their work.

Section 2

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

Section 3

  1. Statewide and regional peer review of child forensic interviews serve as quality assurance mechanisms that reinforce the methodologies utilized in child forensic interviewing and provide support and problem solving for participants.

  2. Child forensic interview recordings of closed cases may be used as part of a structured and confidential peer review, if hosted by an accredited or developing children's advocacy center or the children's advocacy centers of Washington. Such peer review shall not be subject to disclosure. The hosting organization's policies regarding interview selection criteria and parent, guardian, or caregiver consent must be followed. All participants in a peer review must sign a confidentiality agreement that:

    1. Prohibits verbal or written disclosure of any information received in any peer review process; and

    2. Requires disclosure of any personal, professional, or social acquaintance with anyone associated with the case before attending a peer review session.

Section 4

  1. The legislature finds that a child exposed to violence can heal if the exposure to violence is identified early and if the child exposed to violence is given access to specialized resources, evidence-based treatment, and proper support that promotes their well-being and the well-being of their families.

  2. A Washington state children exposed to violence task force is established. The task force shall research, review, guide, and make recommendations on the following:

    1. Continuation of or modification of the pilot project established in section 5 of this act;

    2. Expanding data collection infrastructure for the monitoring of trends in children exposed to violence;

    3. Developing best practices for serving children exposed to violence or psychological trauma;

    4. Compiling national best practices from handle with care sites across the country and Washington state currently utilizing the handle with care program to develop guidelines for broader implementation across the state;

    5. Public policy initiatives in state, tribal, and local governments to reduce and address the impact of childhood exposure to violence including, but not limited to:

      1. Increased financial support for children's advocacy centers to facilitate systemwide collaboration and coordinated community responses for children exposed to violence;

      2. Increased financial investment for implementation of strategies and resources to support children exposed to violence including, but not limited to, the handle with care model;

      3. Development and dissemination of standards for training and practice in the specialized assessment of children exposed to violence;

      4. Development of training for all professionals who serve children and families to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and address the impact of violence and psychological trauma on children;

    6. Dedicated funding to identify, test and distribute effective early and mid-level interventions for children exposed to violence;

    1. Funding to engage community members with lived experience to inform a response they believe is effective;

    2. Development, testing, and distribution of evidence-based, trauma-specific treatments adapted to reflect varied cultural beliefs and practices; and

    3. Authorization of cost reimbursements for trauma-focused services and treatments for children exposed to violence through the crime victim's compensation program under chapter 7.68 RCW.

  3. [Empty]

    1. The task force must include a representative from each of the following organizations:

      1. The department of social and health services;

      2. The department of children, youth, and families;

      3. The office of the superintendent of public instruction;

      4. The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;

    2. The association of Washington cities;

    1. The Washington association of county officials;

    2. The statewide superior court judges association;

    3. The Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;

     ix. The University of Washington school of medicine CoLab for community and behavioral health policy;
    1. The Washington state coalition against domestic violence;

    1. The University of Washington harborview abuse and trauma center;

    2. The Washington chapter of the national association of social workers; and

    3. The urban Indian health institute.

    1. The task force must also include two representatives from each of the following groups:

      1. A national research organization on children exposed to violence;

      2. Children's advocacy centers, with one representative from a children's advocacy center serving an urban community, and one representative from a children's advocacy center serving a rural community;

      3. Individuals with lived experience as victims or witnesses of violence, including one who has been a defendant in the criminal justice system.

  4. The task force shall solicit participation and feedback from nonmember groups and individuals who reflect diversity of culture, experience of acculturation, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation, as these factors contribute to a person's lived experiences and perspectives.

  5. By December 1, 2023, the task force shall prepare and submit preliminary recommendations based on the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. By December 1, 2024, the task force shall prepare and submit final recommendations based on the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.

  6. The attorney general's office in collaboration with the children's advocacy centers of Washington shall coordinate the task force and provide staff support.

  7. Compensation for task force members or participants may be provided as allowed under RCW 43.03.220.

  8. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

    1. "Child exposed to violence" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

    2. "Children's advocacy center" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

    3. "Children's advocacy centers of Washington" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

    4. "Task force" means the Washington state children exposed to violence task force established under this section.

  9. This section expires August 1, 2025.

Section 5

  1. Beginning August 1, 2023, the department of children, youth, and families shall establish, in coordination with the children's advocacy centers of Washington, a pilot project that increases utilization of children's advocacy centers to connect children exposed to violence or psychological trauma with needed services, with at least one pilot site east of the crest of the Cascade mountain range and one pilot site west of the crest of the Cascade mountain range.

  2. The department may contract with external entities, including children's advocacy centers, or the children's advocacy centers of Washington to increase the utilization of children's advocacy centers to connect children exposed to violence or psychological trauma with needed services.

  3. By November 1, 2024, the department shall report outcomes and other recommendations related to increasing utilization of children's advocacy centers to connect children exposed to violence or psychological trauma with needed services to the Washington state children exposed to violence task force established in section 4 of this act.

  4. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

    1. "Child exposed to violence" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

    2. "Children's advocacy center" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

    3. "Children's advocacy centers of Washington" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.

  5. This section expires August 1, 2025.

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