Requires the New York state office for the prevention of domestic violence to establish trauma-informed standards for domestic violence abuse intervention programs; establishes requirements for such standards.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9358
IN SENATE
May 13, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the New York
state office for the prevention of domestic violence to establish
trauma-informed standards for domestic violence abuse intervention
programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "trauma-in-
2 formed standards for domestic violence abuse intervention programs act".
3 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 577 to read
4 as follows:
5 § 577. Trauma-informed standards for domestic violence abuse inter-
6 vention programs. 1. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to estab-
7 lish a statewide framework for domestic violence abuse intervention
8 programs that is rooted in trauma-informed care principles, enhancing
9 the safety, support, and recovery of survivors while promoting account-
10 ability and therapeutic engagement for people who cause harm.
11 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
12 (a) "Trauma-informed care" means a framework that involves understand-
13 ing, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma,
14 emphasizing physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both
15 providers and survivors, and helping rebuild a sense of control and
16 empowerment.
17 (b) "Domestic violence abuse intervention program" means any program
18 or service designed to address and mitigate domestic violence through
19 education, therapy, and community support for the person who causes
20 harm, with a primary focus on survivor safety and well-being.
21 3. Trauma-informed standards. All domestic violence abuse intervention
22 programs operating within the state shall adhere to the following trau-
23 ma-informed standards:
24 (a) Comprehensive training which shall require that all staff and
25 administrators are trained in trauma-informed care practices;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15258-01-4
S. 9358 2
1 (b) Participant assessment which shall require conducting thorough
2 assessments of participants to identify trauma-related issues and
3 tailoring intervention strategies accordingly;
4 (c) Survivor safety and empowerment which shall prioritize the safety,
5 confidentiality, and autonomy of survivors in all program activities and
6 decisions;
7 (d) Accountability and engagement which shall encourage people who
8 cause harm's accountability for their actions and engagement in the
9 healing process, recognizing the impact of their behavior on survivors
10 and the community;
11 (e) Collaboration and community linkages which shall foster collab-
12 oration with local agencies, community organizations, and support
13 services to provide comprehensive support for participants and survi-
14 vors; and
15 (f) Evaluation and feedback which shall implement ongoing evaluation
16 mechanisms to assess program effectiveness, incorporating feedback from
17 participants, survivors, and staff to make continuous improvements.
18 4. Implementation. (a) The office shall oversee the implementation of
19 these trauma-informed standards and shall provide guidance, resources,
20 and monitoring to ensure compliance.
21 (b) The office shall establish a certification process for domestic
22 violence abuse intervention programs, based on adherence to the trauma-
23 informed standards outlined in this section.
24 5. Funding. The state shall appropriate funds to support the training,
25 implementation, and evaluation of the trauma-informed domestic violence
26 abuse intervention programs established pursuant to this section in
27 order to ensure that adequate resources are available to meet the stand-
28 ards set forth in this section.
29 § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
30 law.
