(1) The division shall establish and operate, as funding allows, a child protection unit pilot program in up to three areas of the state where a local government has established a child protection unit.

(2) The child protection unit pilot program is established to improve communications between a child protection unit and the division in the division's management of child welfare matters and to strengthen the state's child welfare system.

(3) The pilot program may include: (a) involving a child protection unit in the child protection team during the division's investigation when a child is taken into protective custody, as described in Section 62A-4a-202.3; (b) involving a child protection unit in the child protection team meetings, as described in Section 62A-4a-202.8; (c) involving a child protection unit in the division's protective, diagnostic, assessment, treatment, and coordination services, as described in Section 62A-4a-409; or (d) receiving referrals, reports, or other information from a child protection unit about a child protection unit's investigations of cases that may involve abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child.

(a) involving a child protection unit in the child protection team during the division's investigation when a child is taken into protective custody, as described in Section 62A-4a-202.3;

(b) involving a child protection unit in the child protection team meetings, as described in Section 62A-4a-202.8;

(c) involving a child protection unit in the division's protective, diagnostic, assessment, treatment, and coordination services, as described in Section 62A-4a-409; or

(d) receiving referrals, reports, or other information from a child protection unit about a child protection unit's investigations of cases that may involve abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child.

(4) The division shall consult with a child protection unit before the division closes a mutual case.

(5) The child protection unit shall notify the division if the child protection unit closes an investigation related to a mutual case.

(6) The division and the child protection unit shall coordinate on mutual cases at least once every month.

(7) Subject to Section 62A-4a-412, while in meetings or while coordinating with the child protection unit about a mutual case, the division shall grant the child protection unit access to the division's information or records on the mutual case.

(8) A child protection unit may share case-specific information obtained from the division with members of a multidisciplinary team that is: (a) assembled by the child protection unit for a particular case; (b) assembled when a case demonstrates: (i) the likelihood of severe child abuse or neglect; or (ii) a high risk of repetition as evidenced by previous involvements with law enforcement; (c) assembled for the purpose of information sharing and identification of resources, services, or actions that are in the best interest of the child or the child's family; and (d) composed of: (i) a victim advocate; (ii) a therapist; (iii) a representative of the child's school district; or (iv) another individual that the child protection unit designates as valuable to provide necessary services to the child or the family of the child.

(a) assembled by the child protection unit for a particular case;

(b) assembled when a case demonstrates: (i) the likelihood of severe child abuse or neglect; or (ii) a high risk of repetition as evidenced by previous involvements with law enforcement;

(i) the likelihood of severe child abuse or neglect; or

(ii) a high risk of repetition as evidenced by previous involvements with law enforcement;

(c) assembled for the purpose of information sharing and identification of resources, services, or actions that are in the best interest of the child or the child's family; and

(d) composed of: (i) a victim advocate; (ii) a therapist; (iii) a representative of the child's school district; or (iv) another individual that the child protection unit designates as valuable to provide necessary services to the child or the family of the child.

(i) a victim advocate;

(ii) a therapist;

(iii) a representative of the child's school district; or

(iv) another individual that the child protection unit designates as valuable to provide necessary services to the child or the family of the child.

(9) The division and the child protection unit shall collect data on the effectiveness of the pilot program in strengthening the state's child welfare system and shall report the data to the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Committee on or before November 30 of each year that the pilot program is in effect.