I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6629 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 4, 2012 Mr. Walz of Minnesota (for himself, Ms. McCollum, and Mr. Womack) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To improve the training of child protection professionals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Child Protection Training Act.

2.

Establishment of regional training centers

(a)

Regional training centers

The Attorney General through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shall establish a program to sustain at least 4 university, college, or community college affiliated regional training centers in coordination with the National Child Protection Training Center. (b)

Responsibilities

The regional training centers shall— (1)develop model undergraduate curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child maltreatment that is inter-disciplinary and that, at a minimum, consists of a 3-course certificate program or minor degree; (2)develop model graduate curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child maltreatment for medical schools, law schools, seminaries, and other institutions of higher education that instruct students likely to become child protection professionals or other professionals required by law to report cases of child maltreatment; (3)after approval by the Attorney General, disseminate model undergraduate and graduate child maltreatment curricula to community colleges, colleges, universities, law schools, medical schools, and other institutions of higher education; (4)develop laboratory training facilities that include mock houses, medical facilities, courtrooms, and forensic interview rooms that allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training of undergraduate or graduate students preparing for child protection careers as well as for training child protection professionals currently in the field (including child protection workers, child protection attorneys, medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, forensic interviewers, and other professionals who work directly with maltreated children); (5)assist communities in developing evidence-based prevention programs; and (6)assist States in developing and maintaining forensic interview training programs.