§ 63-1-227. Short title - Intent of Legislature - Office of Child Abuse Prevention created.

A.  Sections 1-227 through 1-227.9 of this title shall be known and may be cited as the “Child Abuse Prevention Act”.

B.  The Legislature hereby declares that the increasing incidence of child abuse and its attendant human and financial cost to the citizens of Oklahoma requires that the prevention of child abuse and neglect be identified as a priority within the children, youth and family service system of this state.  It is the intent of the Legislature that:

1.  A comprehensive approach for the prevention of child abuse and neglect be developed for the state, and that this planned, comprehensive approach be used as a basis for funding of programs and services for the prevention of child abuse and neglect statewide; and

2.  Multidisciplinary and discipline-specific training on child abuse and neglect and domestic violence be made available to professionals in Oklahoma with responsibilities affecting children, youth, and families, including but not limited to:  district attorneys, judges, lawyers, public defenders, medical personnel, law enforcement officers, school personnel, child welfare workers, youth service agencies, mental health workers, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).  Said training shall be ongoing and shall accommodate professionals who require extensive knowledge and those who require only general knowledge.

C.  For the purpose of establishing a comprehensive statewide approach towards the prevention of child abuse and neglect there is hereby created the Office of Child Abuse Prevention within the State Department of Health.

Added by Laws 1984, c. 216, § 1, operative July 1, 1984.  Amended by Laws 1990, c. 154, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 2007, c. 147, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007.