U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) has co-sponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill to update federal law supporting America’s child abuse victims.
The Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018, S. 2961 and H.R. 5955, would reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, which funds the nation’s more than 1,000 Children’s Advocacy Centers in local communities across the country.
The centers utilize the model of a multidisciplinary team approach developed by the National Children’s Advocacy Center located in Huntsville, Ala., which has revolutionized the United States’ response to child sexual abuse since its creation in 1985, by pulling law enforcement, criminal justice, child protective services, and medical and mental health workers on to one coordinated team.
“Fighting the cycle of child abuse begins with creating safer communities for children and families,” said Sen. Capito, adding that such security is created and maintained by local Children’s Advocacy Centers that offer “support, protection, and guidance to children affected by abuse.”
In addition to Sen. Capito, S. 2961, which was introduced on May 24 by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), has nine other original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Deb Fischer (R-NE). U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) is among the Democratic cosponsors. S. 2961 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
H.R. 5955, introduced the same day by U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), has 13 original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jim Costa (D-CA). The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee for consideration.
According to a statement from Sen. Capito’s office, Children’s Advocacy Centers are staffed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who conduct forensic interviews with child abuse victims. Such interviews, which are designed to be admissible in court, help lead to faster criminal charges in sexual abuse cases, increased felony prosecutions of child sexual abuse, and lower average per-case costs, according to the statement.
Among other provisions, the proposed bill calls for the inclusion of state chapters of children’s advocacy center networks, which are needed to “(A) assist local communities in coordinating their multidisciplinary child abuse investigation, prosecution, and intervention services; and “(B) provide oversight of, and training and technical assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed programming,” according to the draft text of S. 2961 in the congressional record.
A state chapter, according to the text, would provide support to local children’s advocacy centers and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary response to child abuse, including mental health counseling and victim advocacy, among other initiatives.
“I was proud to support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same so we can continue providing the resources necessary for these centers to be successful and make a real difference in the lives of so many West Virginians and Americans,” Sen. Capito said.
Also supporting the bill are national advocacy groups, including the National Children’s Alliance, the National Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National District Attorneys Association.
Likewise, the proposal is backed by the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the North East Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association, according to Sen. Capito’s staff.