Training of direct care workers in adverse childhood experiences

§ 20-d. Training of direct care workers in adverse childhood experiences. 1. As used in this section:

(a) "Direct-care employees" means the employees of domestic violence shelters, safe dwellings, and domestic violence programs identified by the certifying organization to receive training, which shall include, but not be limited to, the directors and coordinators of such shelters, dwellings, and programs, and any individual or employee performing or required to perform similar responsibilities.

(b) "Certifying organization" means an organization designated by the federal department of health and human services to coordinate statewide improvements within local communities, social services systems, and programming regarding the prevention and intervention of domestic violence in New York state.

(c) "Adverse childhood experiences" or "ACEs" means stressful or traumatic experiences experienced during childhood, which are strongly related to the development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems throughout a person's lifetime, including, but not limited to physical or sexual abuse; domestic violence; parental mental illness; substance abuse; and incarceration.

2. The office of temporary and disability assistance and the office of children and family services shall, within amounts appropriated for such purpose, contract exclusively with an entity, or with entities in partnership, to develop a training program for direct-care employees to identify individuals who have experienced ACEs, develop effective strategies for assisting and interacting with such individuals, and locate programs and services to which such individuals with ACEs may be referred to help build the individual's resilience. Such entity, or entities in partnership, shall be experienced in providing trauma-informed, victim-centered training on domestic violence, child abuse, and ACEs. Such entity, or entities in partnership, shall be responsible for providing such training to direct-care employees.

3. All direct-care employees shall be required to participate in such training program. Such training shall be provided at no cost to such employees.

4. The office of temporary and disability assistance and the office of children and family services shall, within amounts appropriated for such purpose, contract with a certifying organization to provide a certification of completion to each direct-care employee who satisfies the requirements of such training program.