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Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
as Amended by the
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003
SECTION I: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT
Sec. 201. PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY. [42 U.S.C. 5116]
[This section was amended by sec. 121 of P.L. 108-36.]
- PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this title—
- to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand,
enhance, and, where appropriate to network, initiatives aimed at the
prevention of child abuse and neglect, and to support networks of
coordinated resources and activities to better strengthen and support
families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and
- to foster an understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse
populations in order to be effective in preventing and treating child abuse
and neglect.
- AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall make grants under this title on a
formula basis to the entity designated by the State as the lead entity (hereafter
referred to in this title as the “lead entity”) under section 202(1) for the purpose
of—
- developing, operating, expanding and enhancing community-based
and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and
support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks
where appropriate) that are accessible, effective, culturally appropriate, and
build on existing strengths that—
- offer assistance to families;
- provide early, comprehensive support for parents;
- promote the development of parenting skills, especially in
young parents and parents with very young children;
- increase family stability;
- improve family access to other formal and informal resources
and opportunities for assistance available within communities;
- support the additional needs of families with children with
disabilities through respite care and other services;
- demonstrate a commitment to meaningful parent leadership,
including among parents of children with disabilities, parents with
disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of other
underrepresented or underserved groups; and;
- provide referrals to early health and developmental services;
- fostering the development of a continuum of preventive services for
children and families through State and community-based collaborations
and partnerships both public and private;
- financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or redesign of
specific family resource and support program services (such as respite care
services, child abuse and neglect prevention activities, disability services,
mental health services, housing services, transportation, adult education,
home visiting and other similar services) identified by the inventory and
description of current services required under section 205(a)(3) as an unmet
need, and integrated with the network of community-based family resource
and support program to the extent practicable given funding levels and
community priorities;
- maximizing funding through leveraging of funds for the financing,
planning, community mobilization, collaboration, assessment, information
and referral, startup, training and technical assistance, information
management, reporting and evaluation costs for establishing, operating, or
expanding community-based and prevention-focused programs and
activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse
and neglect (through networks where appropriate); and
- financing public information activities that focus on the healthy and
positive development of parents and children and the promotion of child
abuse and neglect prevention activities.
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