The Nevada Children’s Justice Act (CJA)Task Force was established in February 1994 by the Administrator of the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services. The purpose of the CJA Task Force is to make policy and training recommendations for systems improvements in:
- The assessment and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect cases, including cases of suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child and the child’s family;
- The assessment and investigation of cases of suspected child abuse-related fatalities and suspected child neglect-related fatalities;
- The investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation; and
- The assessment and investigation of cases involving children with disabilities or serious health related problems who are suspected victims of child abuse or neglect.
Additionally, the CJA Task Force makes recommendations for projects to be funded by the CJA annual grant award. CJA funding must support front-end efforts or intake and investigation phases of child welfare cases and must be made in each of the following funding categories:
- Investigative, administrative, and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect.
- Experimental, model, and demonstration programs for testing innovative approaches.
- Reform of state laws, ordinances, regulations, protocols, and procedures.