N.Y. Social Services Law § 20-d: Training of direct care workers in adverse childhood experiences

§ 20-d. Training of direct care workers in adverse childhood

experiences. 1. As used in this section:

(a) "Direct-care employees" means the employees of domestic violence

shelters, safe dwellings, and domestic violence programs identified by

the certifying organization to receive training, which shall include,

but not be limited to, the directors and coordinators of such shelters,

dwellings, and programs, and any individual or employee performing or

required to perform similar responsibilities.

(b) "Certifying organization" means an organization designated by the

federal department of health and human services to coordinate statewide

improvements within local communities, social services systems, and

programming regarding the prevention and intervention of domestic

violence in New York state.

(c) "Adverse childhood experiences" or "ACEs" means stressful or

traumatic experiences experienced during childhood, which are strongly

related to the development and prevalence of a wide range of health

problems throughout a person's lifetime, including, but not limited to

physical or sexual abuse; domestic violence; parental mental illness;

substance abuse; and incarceration.

2. The office of temporary and disability assistance and the office of

children and family services shall, within amounts appropriated for such

purpose, contract exclusively with an entity, or with entities in

partnership, to develop a training program for direct-care employees to

identify individuals who have experienced ACEs, develop effective

strategies for assisting and interacting with such individuals, and

locate programs and services to which such individuals with ACEs may be

referred to help build the individual's resilience. Such entity, or

entities in partnership, shall be experienced in providing

trauma-informed, victim-centered training on domestic violence, child

abuse, and ACEs. Such entity, or entities in partnership, shall be

responsible for providing such training to direct-care employees.

3. All direct-care employees shall be required to participate in such

training program. Such training shall be provided at no cost to such

employees.

4. The office of temporary and disability assistance and the office of

children and family services shall, within amounts appropriated for such

purpose, contract with a certifying organization to provide a

certification of completion to each direct-care employee who satisfies

the requirements of such training program.