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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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FAMILY CODE |
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Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP |
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Subtitle E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD |
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Chapter 264. CHILD WELFARE SERVICES |
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Subchapter E. CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS |
Sec. 264.411. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTRACTS
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(a) A public entity that operated as a center under this subchapter before November 1, 1995, or a nonprofit entity is eligible for a contract under Section 264.410 if the entity:
(1) has a signed memorandum of understanding as provided by Section 264.403;
(2) operates under the authority of a governing board as provided by Section 264.404;
(3) has a multidisciplinary team of persons involved in the investigation or prosecution of child abuse cases or the delivery of services as provided by Section 264.406;
(4) holds regularly scheduled case reviews as provided by Section 264.406;
(5) operates in a neutral and physically separate space from the day-to-day operations of any public agency partner;
(6) has developed a method of statistical information gathering on children receiving services through the center and shares such statistical information with the statewide organization, the department, and the office of the attorney general when requested;
(7) has an in-house volunteer program;
(8) employs an executive director who is answerable to the board of directors of the entity and who is not the exclusive salaried employee of any public agency partner; and
(9) operates under a working protocol that includes a statement of:
(A) the center's mission;
(B) each agency's role and commitment to the center;
(C) the type of cases to be handled by the center;
(D) the center's procedures for conducting case reviews and forensic interviews and for ensuring access to specialized medical and mental health services; and
(E) the center's policies regarding confidentiality and conflict resolution.
(b) The statewide organization may waive the requirements specified in Subsection (a) if it determines that the waiver will not adversely affect the center's ability to carry out its duties under Section 264.405. Any waiver that is granted must be identified in the written contract with the center.