Read first time 02/10/2003.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

     TO THE HONORABLE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITIES OF THE COUNTIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The effect of child sexual abuse on victims is devastating and the subsequent investigation, prosecution, and advocacy involving child victims should be implemented in a manner so as to not further traumatize victims; and
     WHEREAS, State guidelines and protocols have been established pursuant to chapter 389, Laws of 1999 (Senate Bill No. 5127); and
     WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers are a multidisciplinary private-public partnership designed to improve outcomes for child victims of sexual abuse; and
     WHEREAS, The purposes of Children's Advocacy Centers are to:
     (1) Develop, achieve, and maintain interagency and interprofessional cooperation and coordination in the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse cases;
     (2) Obtain evidence useful for both criminal prosecution as well as protection action in civil proceedings;
     (3) Reduce to the absolute minimum the number of interviews of child sexual abuse victims so as to minimize revictimization of the child;
     (4) Coordinate the medical and therapeutic treatment program for child sexual abuse victims and their nonoffending family members;
     (5) Provide for a multidisciplinary team and case management approach which is focused first on the alleged or suspected child sexual abuse victim's needs and conditions, second on the family members who are supportive of the child and whose interests are consistent with the best interests of the child, and third on law enforcement and prosecutorial needs;
     (6) Provide for training and continued education of skilled professional interviewers and investigators of child sexual abuse victims; and
     (7) Serve as a focus of information and referral for child sexual abuse; and
     WHEREAS, In recognition that child abuse is a complex problem, Children's Advocacy Centers may also investigate cases involving other forms of child abuse and neglect;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully encourage counties, local governments, and the Department of Social and Health Services to help facilitate the creation and operation of Children's Advocacy Centers which are members of the National Children's Alliance, and to help ensure the participation of their relevant employees in these Centers, to improve outcomes for child victims of sexual abuse;
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the legislative authorities of the counties and local governments of Washington State and to the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services.