236.16 - DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES.
236.16 DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES.
1. The department shall:
a. Designate and award grants for existing and pilot programs
pursuant to this chapter to provide emergency shelter services and
support services to victims of domestic abuse.
b. Design and implement a uniform method of collecting data
from domestic abuse organizations funded under this chapter.
c. Designate and award moneys for publicizing and staffing a
statewide, toll-free telephone hotline for use by victims of domestic
abuse. The department may award a grant to a public agency or a
private, nonprofit organization for the purpose of operating the
hotline. The operation of the hotline shall include informing
victims of their rights and of various community services that are
available, referring victims to service providers, receiving
complaints concerning misconduct by peace officers and encouraging
victims to refer such complaints to the office of citizens' aide,
providing counseling services to victims over the telephone, and
providing domestic abuse victim advocacy.
d. Advertise the toll-free telephone hotline through the use
of public service announcements, billboards, print and broadcast
media services, and other appropriate means, and contact media
organizations to encourage the provision of free or inexpensive
advertising concerning the hotline and its services.
e. Develop, with the assistance of the entity operating the
telephone hotline and other domestic abuse victim services providers,
brochures explaining the rights of victims set forth under section
236.12 and the services of the telephone hotline, and distribute the
brochures to law enforcement agencies, victim service providers,
health practitioners, charitable and religious organizations, and
other entities that may have contact with victims of domestic abuse.
2. The department shall consult and cooperate with all public and
private agencies which may provide services to victims of domestic
abuse, including but not limited to, legal services, social services,
prospective employment opportunities, and unemployment benefits.
3. The department may accept, use, and dispose of contributions
of money, services, and property made available by an agency or
department of the state or federal government, or a private agency or
individual. Section History: Recent Form
85 Acts, ch 175, §7; 89 Acts, ch 279, §6; 91 Acts, ch 218, §15