(2)(a) A public or private agency may apply to the administrator for a grant to:

(A) Establish and maintain a children’s advocacy center or regional children’s advocacy center;

(B) Provide training and technical assistance to children’s advocacy centers or county child abuse multidisciplinary teams; or

(C) Provide coordination and support to regional children’s advocacy centers.

(b) The administrator may consolidate applications from more than one public or private agency or may return the application with the recommendation that the application be consolidated.

(3) The administrator shall by rule establish criteria for awarding grants to establish and maintain children’s advocacy centers or regional children’s advocacy centers, including but not limited to:

(a) Expenses eligible for reimbursement from funds under ORS 418.796;

(b) The extent to which the applicant’s proposal will best accomplish the purposes of ORS 418.746 to 418.796;

(c) The extent to which an applicant meets criteria for receiving a grant to:

(A) Establish and maintain a children’s advocacy center or regional children’s advocacy center;

(B) Provide training and technical assistance to children’s advocacy centers and county child abuse multidisciplinary teams; or

(C) Provide coordination and support to regional children’s advocacy centers;

(d) Minimum facility standards for children’s advocacy centers and regional children’s advocacy centers consistent with national accreditation standards to ensure that children receive consistent, evidence-based intervention services statewide;

(e) Minimum forensic interview training standards that are consistent with national forensic interview training standards, evidence-based and supported by current forensic interview research; and

(f) For a regional children’s advocacy center, the extent to which the applicant’s proposal meets the documented needs of the communities, children’s advocacy centers and county child abuse multidisciplinary teams in the region or regions to be served by the center.

(4) The administrator is not required to fund any grant in the total amount requested in the application. [1991 c.898 §5; 1993 c.33 §334; 1997 c.872 §36; 2001 c.624 §9; 2003 c.354 §4; 2005 c.562 §12; 2019 c.141 §4]

Note: See note under 418.746.