§280g–4c Expanding Access to Forensics for Victims of Interpersonal Violence

Summary

Creates a program to fund college-based training so health workers can offer general forensic services and trauma‑informed care to survivors of interpersonal violence. Key terms: community health aide/practitioner — tribal community health roles; health care provider — as the Secretary defines, including nurses, physician assistants, and doctors; Indian Tribe/Tribal organization, Native Hawaiian organization, Urban Indian organization, and institution of higher education — as defined in other federal laws; interpersonal violence — any violence that causes emotional trauma; Secretary — the Secretary of Health and Human Services; trauma‑informed care — culturally competent care that avoids re‑traumatizing patients. Colleges, including minority‑serving institutions, may apply for 5‑year grants to build training and curriculum so providers can do forensic assessments, trauma‑informed care, and work on teams with other professionals. Grants may be up to $400,000 per year and recipients can carry money to the next year. Congress authorized $5,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2023 through 2027, and 10 percent each year is set aside for training and services that meet the needs of Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Urban Indian organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. The law also creates a State and Tribal forensic provider technical resource center to give help and share best practices; the Secretary may hire national experts and $2,000,000 is authorized each year for fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to run it. Finally, several federal agencies must jointly send the Secretary a report no later than 1 year after March 15, 2022 and each year after on access to general medical forensic services, evidence collection and documentation, and data needs to help prevent and respond to interpersonal violence and support Tribal communities.