                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES (§
63.2-1612)

It shall be the responsibility of the Department, to the extent funds are
appropriated by the General Assembly or otherwise made available:

1. To support, strengthen, evaluate, and monitor community-based domestic
violence programs funded by the Department and to act as the administrator for
state grant funds and the disbursal of federal funds pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7;
63.2-1614 and 63.2-1615;

2. To collaborate with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition in developing
and implementing community-based programs to respond to and prevent domestic
violence;

3. To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials on
domestic violence to the local departments, community provider agencies, and the
general public;

4. To support, strengthen, and act as a resource to local departments on issues
of domestic violence, particularly as they relate to both adult and child
protective services and self-sufficiency;

5. To establish minimum standards of training and provide educational programs
to train workers in the fields of child and adult protective services in local
departments and community-based domestic violence programs funded by the
Department to identify domestic violence and provide effective referrals for
appropriate services;

6. To provide training and educational opportunities on effective collaboration
for all staff of local departments and community-based domestic violence
programs;

7. To work with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition to (a) develop
policies and procedures that guide the work of persons providing services to
victims of domestic violence and their children; (b) implement methods to
preserve the confidentiality of all domestic violence services records pursuant
to &#xA7;&#xA7; 63.2-104 and 63.2-104.1 in order to protect the rights and
safety of victims of domestic violence; (c) develop policies and implement
methods to assure the confidentiality of records pertaining to the address or
location of any shelter or facility assisted under the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 10401 et seq.; (d) collect,
prepare, and disseminate statistical data on the occurrence of domestic violence
and the services provided throughout the Commonwealth; (e) operate the Virginia
Family Violence and Sexual Assault 24-hour toll-free hotline and the Statewide
Domestic Violence Database (Vadata); and (f) provide a clearinghouse of
information and technical assistance on intervention and prevention of domestic
violence;

8. To encourage the use of existing information and referral agencies to provide
specialized information on domestic violence;

9. To develop and maintain a statewide list of available community and state
resources for the victims of domestic violence;

10. To provide technical assistance on establishing shelters, self-help groups
and other necessary service delivery programs;

11. To provide leadership and coordination within the Department on domestic
violence as it relates to child and adult abuse and neglect, benefits programs,
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, foster care prevention, child support
enforcement, child care, and the promotion of healthy family relationships; and

12. To promote collaboration and cooperation with other state agencies,
including the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Health,
the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of the Attorney
General, and the Virginia Employment Commission, for technical assistance, data
collection and service delivery to facilitate the appropriate response to
victims of domestic violence.

HISTORY: 1980, c. 597, § 63.1-317; 2002, c. 747; 2005, cc. 638, 685; 2006, c.
135.