§280g–4c Expanding access to forensics for victims of interpersonal violence

Summary

Creates a program at the Department of Health and Human Services to pay colleges for five-year projects that train health workers to give medical-forensic exams and trauma-aware care to people of all ages who survive violence. Grants go to colleges (including minority-serving schools) that apply. Each grant can be up to $400,000 per year and money can be carried over. Congress set aside $5,000,000 each year for 2023–2027 to run the program. Ten percent of each year’s money must be kept for work that meets the special needs of Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Urban Indian organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations; that reserved money can fund training, referrals, emergency first aid, culturally appropriate support, and evidence-collection training. Sets up a State and Tribal technical resource center to help health workers and community health aides improve forensic services, with up to $2,000,000 a year authorized for 2023–2027. Within one year after March 15, 2022, and every year after, six agencies (Office for Victims of Crime, CDC, HRSA, Indian Health Service, Office on Women’s Health, and Office on Violence Against Women) must send a joint report to the HHS Secretary about access to medical forensic exams and evidence collection across states, Tribes, and territories, and about the data needed for research, better clinical responses, and Tribal needs. Defined terms (one line each): community health aide/practitioner — local community health workers; health care provider — clinicians like nurses, physician assistants, and doctors; Indian Tribe/Tribal organization — Tribal governments or groups; institution of higher education — colleges; interpersonal violence — any traumatic form of violence; Native Hawaiian organization — organizations serving Native Hawaiians; Secretary — the HHS Secretary; trauma-informed care — culturally sensitive care that avoids re‑traumatizing patients; Urban Indian organization — Indian-serving groups in cities.