On September 25, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved, by voice vote, legislation (S. 2998) that would reauthorize for five years several child abuse prevention programs, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, the Adoption Reform Act, and the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act.
Sponsored by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), the bill would authorize $210 million in FY2003 for child abuse programs, $175 million in FY2003 for family violence prevention programs, and such sums as may be necessary for both programs from FY2004 through FY2007. The bill also would authorize $5 million in FY2003 for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, up from the $2 million appropriated in FY2002, and would establish a highly secure electronic network to link domestic violence shelters, service providers, and the hotline on a confidential website. The website would provide an updated list of available shelters nationwide and would provide information about the medical, social, and bilingual services offered by each shelter.
Additionally, the legislation incorporates provisions included in the Children Who Witness Violence Act (S. 1483) sponsored by Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN). Under those provisions, $20 million would be authorized for the development of intervention programs to help children who have witnessed domestic violence. Specifically, funds would be provided to shelters and other domestic violence service providers to administer programs that address the physical, emotional, and logistical needs of children with mothers who have been abused. Funds also would be provided for training and collaboration among nonprofit agencies to design and carry out intervention programs for children.
