Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 4 - ADMINISTRATION › Part VII - Governor's Office › Chapter 17 - Women's Services › Subchapter B - Family Violence Program Minimum Standards › Section VII-1720 - Policy and Governance

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Basic
				  Considerations. These standards emphasize the role of the governing body in
				  setting policy, identifying need, developing a strategy to address needs and
				  evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. The role of
				  the governing body and the executive director are clearly differentiated; staff
				  do not govern and the governing body does not administer the day-to-day
				  activities. The governing body establishes policies and the staff, at the
				  direction of the executive director, implements programs reflecting those
				  policies. A clear governance structure is in place.
B. Standards
1. The purpose of the program is clearly
				  stated and compatible with the philosophy of the OWS/LCADV.
2. The program functions in accordance with
				  its stated purpose.
3. The program
				  has a designated governing authority.
4. The governing authority is accountable for
				  the program. It ensures the program's compliance with the charter and with
				  relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations.
5. Members of the governing authority and any
				  advisory body to the governing authority are chosen in a manner that assures a
				  broad base of knowledge and participation in the governance of the program.
				  There is a rotation mechanism to ensure a balance of new members and seasoned
				  members.
6. The governing authority
				  and any advisory body operate in accordance with acceptable practice.
a. The governing authority designates a
				  person to act as executive director and delegates sufficient authority to this
				  person to manage the program. An annual performance evaluation is conducted by
				  the governing authority.
7. The governing authority establishes
				  policies for the efficient and effective operation of the program.
8. The program takes a leadership role in
				  identifying and addressing needs of family violence survivors and their
				  children.
9. The program sets goals
				  and objectives for its management; service delivery; and systems change
				  functions, developing plans to achieve them.
10. The program evaluates the effectiveness
				  and efficiency of its management, service delivery and systems change
				  functions.
11. The program has
				  documentation of its authority to operate under state law. There will be either
				  a charter, partnership agreement, constitution, articles of association, or
				  by-laws.
12. The program has
				  documents identifying the governing body's addresses; their terms of
				  membership; officers; and officers' terms.
13. The program has written minutes of formal
				  meetings of the governing body and by-laws specifying frequency of meetings and
				  quorum requirements.
14. The
				  program informs designated representatives of the Office of Women's Services
				  prior to initiating any substantial changes in the program, services or
				  physical plant.