RCW 70.123.070 Duties and responsibilities of community-based domestic violence programs and emergency shelter programs.

(1) Community-based domestic violence programs receiving state funds under this chapter shall:

(a) Provide a location to assist victims of domestic violence who have a need for community advocacy or support services;

(b) Make available confidential services, advocacy, and prevention programs to victims of domestic violence and to their children within available resources;

(c) Require that persons employed by or volunteering services for a community-based domestic violence program protect the confidentiality and privacy of domestic violence victims and their families in accordance with this chapter and RCW 5.60.060(8);

(d) Recruit, to the extent feasible, persons who are former victims of domestic violence to work as volunteers or staff personnel. An effort shall also be made to recruit staff and volunteers from relevant communities to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services;

(e) Ensure that all employees or volunteers providing intervention or prevention programming to domestic violence victims or their children have completed or will complete sufficient training in connection with domestic violence; and

(f) Refrain from engaging in activities that compromise the safety of victims or their children.

(2) Emergency shelter programs receiving state funds under this chapter shall:

(a) Provide intake for and access to safe shelter services to any person who is a victim of domestic violence and to that person's children, within available resources. Priority for emergency shelter shall be made for victims who are in immediate risk of harm or imminent danger from domestic violence;

(b) Require that persons employed by or volunteering services for an emergency shelter protect the confidentiality and privacy of domestic violence victims and their families in accordance with this chapter and RCW 5.60.060(8);

(c) Recruit, to the extent feasible, persons who are former victims of domestic violence to work as volunteers or staff personnel. An effort shall also be made to recruit staff and volunteers from relevant communities to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services;

(d) Ensure that all employees or volunteers providing intervention or prevention programming to domestic violence victims or their children have completed or will complete sufficient training in connection with domestic violence; and

(e) Refrain from engaging in activities that compromise the safety of victims or their children.

[ 2015 c 275 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 245 § 7.]