New Jersey § 9:6-8

§ 9:6-8.

a. The board shall establish a certification program for the State's child advocacy

centers and multidisciplinary teams. The goal of the program shall be to ensure that: (1) every child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team in the State applying for

certification pursuant to subsection b. of this section is in compliance with guidelines

of practice that are consistent with the accreditation standards developed by the

National Children's Alliance, or its successor; and (2) the State's child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams incorporate best

practices and standards in providing child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment

services to survivors of child abuse and neglect. b. Every child advocacy center and multidisciplinary team in the State may apply to

the board for certification in a manner and on a form prescribed by the board. In order to qualify for certification with the board, a child advocacy center or

multidisciplinary team shall adopt and implement guidelines of practice that are consistent

with the accreditation standards developed by the National Children's Alliance, or

its successor. The guidelines shall, at a minimum, provide for: (1) a multidisciplinary team response in an investigation of child abuse and neglect

by representatives of the following core disciplines: law enforcement, child protective

services, mental health, prosecution, victim advocacy, and medicine; (2) the designation of a private, child-friendly interview and family meeting room

which provides an environment that is physically and psychologically safe for, and

provides comfort to, a survivor of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family

during the course of an investigation of child abuse and neglect; (3) protocols governing the forensic interview of a survivor of child abuse and neglect

that comply with the 2010 Guidelines of Practice for Child Abuse Multidisciplinary

Teams in New Jersey and current best practice standards and nationally recognized

methods for forensic interviews, New Jersey Court Rules, relevant case law, and internal

or external peer review; (4) an interdisciplinary case review process that describes the responsibilities of

each team member in an investigation of child abuse and neglect and the provisions

of the services to a survivor of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family; (5) a uniform system to identify, track, collect, and coordinate information obtained

during an investigation of child abuse and neglect, and to monitor the progress and

outcomes of the investigation; (6) procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, information

sharing, problem solving, and decision making between team members during an investigation

of child abuse and neglect; (7) a dispute resolution process to resolve interdisciplinary conflicts that may arise

between team members during the course of an investigation of child abuse and neglect; (8) the provision of services, supports, and other assistance in a culturally competent

manner to a survivor of child abuse and neglect and the survivor's family during an

investigation of child abuse and neglect; (9) on-going, specialized interdisciplinary training for team members to enhance their

basic skills and expertise in the investigation and prevention of child abuse and

neglect; (10) mechanisms and processes to allow the center to self-evaluate the effectiveness

of its operations and its success in investigating child abuse and neglect; (11) the establishment of county based child advocacy center-multidisciplinary team

advisory boards to oversee the operations and administration of the child advocacy

center or multidisciplinary team; (12) the creation of an education and outreach program to train professionals from

State and local governmental and community-based social services agencies in providing

multidisciplinary services to survivors of child abuse and neglect and their families,

and to educate the community on child maltreatment and child abuse prevention techniques; (13) procedures to apply for and accept any grant of money from the State or federal

government or other sources, which may be available to child advocacy centers and

multidisciplinary teams; and (14) reporting requirements on the use of grant funds received by a child advocacy

center or multidisciplinary team pursuant to section 7 of this act. 1 c. If a child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team adopts and implements the

guidelines of practice specified in subsection b. of this section, the board shall

certify that a child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team is in compliance with

the provisions of this act. d. The board shall conduct an annual compliance review of each child advocacy center

and multidisciplinary team the board certifies pursuant to subsection c. of this section,

and shall evaluate the center or team to determine whether it continues to comply

with the provisions of this act. 1

N.J.S.A. § 9:6-8.113.