Florida Administrative Code › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › 65H - Domestic Violence › Chapter 65H-1 - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE › Section 65H-1.013 - Administration and Operations

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
The provider shall develop and implement written policies and
				  procedures that ensure compliance with all provisions of this rule chapter and
				  Sections  39.905 and
				   39.908, F.S. The provider shall
				  make the written policies and procedures available to all employees and
				  volunteers upon their beginning date of employment or service and, thereafter,
				  as revised. Employees and volunteers must indicate in writing that they have
				  read and understand the policies and procedures, relevant to their position or
				  volunteer duties, which must be documented in their personnel file. At a
				  minimum, the operating policies or procedures shall address the
				  following:
(1) Admission. The provider
				shall establish and implement written policies and procedures that identify who
				is eligible for services and how those services are accessed. Services shall
				not be denied to any person because of age, race, religion, color, disability,
				national origin, marital status, or gender. Prospective participants must be
				informed of the admission criteria and, if ineligible, the provider must
				provide referrals to other organizations that can provide assistance.
(2) Board of Directors. The provider shall
				establish and maintain a board of directors, which shall be composed of at
				least three citizens who reside within the center's service area, one of whom
				must be an employee of a local, municipal, or county law enforcement agency
				whose jurisdiction includes some or all of the center's service area. The board
				of directors should racially and ethnically reflect, to the extent possible,
				the participants served by the domestic violence center. The board of directors
				shall serve as the governing body responsible for fiscal oversight and
				strategic leadership specific to the operation of the center. The provider
				shall create an advisory board to make recommendations to the board of
				directors regarding operational functions specific to the domestic violence
				center if the board of directors does not directly provide fiscal oversight and
				strategic leadership to the domestic violence center. The provider shall
				develop by-laws, which must include membership selection process, term limits,
				code of conduct, conflict of interest, duties and responsibilities, and
				orientation and training requirements for the board of directors and any
				advisory boards.
(3)
				Confidentiality. The provider shall establish and implement written policies
				and procedures for maintaining safety, confidentiality, and privacy of persons
				receiving services. The provider shall also ensure that employees and
				volunteers receive written information on the restrictions relating to the
				disclosure of information about center participants and the location of shelter
				as provided in Section
				 39.908, F.S.
(4) Endorsement. The provider must obtain
				annual written cooperative agreements with the primary law enforcement agency
				within each county of the center's service area.
(5) Emergency Management. The provider shall
				develop an emergency management plan that is coordinated with the applicable
				local emergency management agency.
(a) The
				plan must outline a comprehensive and effective program to ensure the safety
				and well-being of employees, volunteers, and center participants in the event
				of an emergency. The plan should address emergencies that the provider may
				reasonably expect in the center facilities. Examples are: natural or manmade
				disasters such as hurricanes or tornados; contamination of the air, ground,
				water, or food; fire; public health hazards such as outbreak of communicable,
				reportable diseases such as avian influenza, arboviral encephalitis,
				salmonella, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus, etc.;
				significant incidents such as participant death or injury; security incidents
				such as intruders, hostage situations, kidnapping, and workplace violence; or
				human acts that may jeopardize the health, safety, or welfare of center
				employees, volunteers, or participants.
(b) The emergency management plan must
				include, at a minimum, the following elements: procedures for reporting
				emergencies or incidents as identified in paragraph (5)(a), above;
				identification of essential functions, programs, and personnel; procedures to
				implement the plan and personnel notification; delegations of authority and
				lines of succession; identification of alternative facilities; procedures for
				evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments; procedures
				to account for all staff members and participants; and identification and
				protection of records and databases.
(c) The provider must annually review and
				update the plan. A current plan shall be maintained in the center records and
				made available for inspection upon request.