Sec. 42.0531. SECURE AGENCY FOSTER HOMES AND SECURE AGENCY FOSTER GROUP HOMES. (a) The commissioners court of a county or governing body of a municipality may contract with a child-placing agency to verify a secure agency foster home or secure agency foster group home to provide a safe and therapeutic environment tailored to the needs of children who are victims of trafficking.
(b) A child-placing agency may not verify a secure agency foster home or secure agency foster group home to provide services under this section unless the child-placing agency holds a license issued under this chapter that authorizes the agency to provide services to victims of trafficking in accordance with department standards adopted under this chapter for child-placing agencies.
(c) A secure agency foster home or secure agency foster group home verified under this section must provide:
(1) mental health and other services specifically designed to assist children who are victims of trafficking under Section 20A.02 or 20A.03, Penal Code, including:
(A) victim and family counseling;
(B) behavioral health care;
(C) treatment and intervention for sexual assault;
(D) education tailored to the child's needs;
(E) life skills training;
(F) mentoring; and
(G) substance abuse screening and treatment as needed;
(2) individualized services based on the trauma endured by a child, as determined through comprehensive assessments of the service needs of the child;
(3) 24-hour services; and
(4) appropriate security through facility design, hardware, technology, and staffing.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 338 (H.B. 418), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.
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