hb4449 intr

H. B. 4449

(By Delegate Amores, Compton, Spencer,
Rowe, Hatfield, Capito and Calvert)

[Introduced February 9, 2000; referred to the

Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]

A BILL to amend article twenty-six, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto three new sections, designated sections nine, ten and eleven, all relating to family resource centers; requiring the state of West Virginia to implement a plan establishing a system of starting points family resource centers; providing for grants to local centers; and requiring oversight and monitoring.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That article twenty-six, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto three new sections, designated sections nine, ten and eleven, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 26. GOVERNOR'S CABINET ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

§5-26-9. Formulation of program for implementing family resource centers.

(a) The cabinet or designee shall formulate and implement a plan to encourage the establishment of a system of local starting points family resource centers designed to meet the needs of children and their families. The plan shall provide:

(1) For centers that provide core services to support families, that are developmental in nature, respond to local crises, enhance students' abilities to succeed in school and families in life;

(2) That students and families who are the most economically and societally disadvantaged receive priority status for receiving services when resources are limited;

(3) That the centers are to be operated in collaboration with local schools, community based organizations and local service providers;

(4) That the existing resources be identified and coordinated to avoid the duplication of services;

(5) That each center's program follows standard guidelines set forth in this article;

(6) That centers shall provide core services that communities need, as indicated by the communities through forums, focus groups and surveys, which may include that:

(A) Core programs must include developmental programs for children from birth through five years of age, such as, but not be limited to, starting points curricula, childcare, head start and public school preschool;

(B) After school programs and educational activities for children and youth, such as, but not limited to, third base, play group and family times;

(C) Programs that educate parents' involvement as the child's first teacher, such as, but not limited to, parents as teachers, MIHOW and health families America;

(D) Information, referral and directional services;

(E) Referrals and access to health and social services;

(F) Family crisis and mental health counseling and referral;

(G) Access to adult basic education programs, including computer training and coordination with the West Virginia works programs; and

(H) Coordination of welfare to work efforts.

(7) Centers may also engage optional services in the areas of:

(A) Health and nutrition;

(B) Child care;

(D) Personal development.

(b) The plan should in no way diminish the opportunities for continuing the development of family resource networks, which should be in place and functioning, and may provide planning, coordinating, and research to enhance the development at family resource centers.
§5-26-10. Grants to support starting points family resource centers.

(a) A grant is established to provide financial assistance to entities in establishing family resource centers. The cabinet or designee shall award the grants pursuant to this section and reasonable criteria it develops. The cabinet or designee may use any funds made available from state, federal or other source in making grants to a center.

(b) The cabinet or designee shall prepare and make grant applications available through family resource networks to local nonprofit organizations, schools and other qualified community based nonprofit organizations. The application shall contain detailed instructions. The cabinet or designee shall provide technical assistance in preparing grant applications to entities requiring assistance. The grant application shall require, at a minimum, the applicant submit:

(1) A statement establishing need for the grant;

(2) Proposed goals and outcomes;

(3) A description of the core and optional services and programs to be provided by the center;

(4) A description of how the services and programs will be provided;

(5) A description of how the families and children will be served;

(6) A description of how a director and staff or volunteers will manage the day-to-day operation of the center;

(7) Written endorsement of other service providers that the center will use in providing services;

(8) A description of the center's local advisory board;

(9) A description of procedures to be followed to obtain parental permission for services and for sharing confidential information with other service providers. Procedures shall be developed pursuant, but not limited to, federal and state laws;

(10) A plan to minimize a perceived stigma attached to children and other persons using the services provided by the center;

(11) A work plan for how it will recruit, transfer and utilize volunteers;

(12) Job descriptions for staff or volunteers;

(13) A description of the center location and accessibility;

(14) A description of the hours of operation;

(15) A description of self-evaluation procedures the center will use to determine whether it is meeting its goals and the universal guidelines;

(16) Letters of endorsement and commitment to the center from community leaders; and

(17) Certification of grant applicant, organization and tax status.

(c) The cabinet or designee shall establish grant application review procedures and guidelines to ensure that applications for grants are fairly reviewed and scored. At a minimum the cabinet or designee shall provide for grant proposal review teams of diverse individuals. The cabinet or designee shall appoint the reviews. The reviewers shall review and score grant applications submitted and recommend action. The cabinet or designee shall make the final decision on grant applications. The cabinet or designee shall notify each applicant of the decision on its grant application. Grant scoring procedures shall be made available to all applicants.
§5-26-11. Oversight and monitoring of family resource centers.

(a) The cabinet or designee shall provide, or provide through contract, technical assistance and training for the centers receiving financial assistance. The cabinet or designee shall assist the centers with staff/volunteer development. The cabinet or designee shall provide centrally located workshops to provide training or other educational assistance for the staff of the centers. Technical assistance and training provided shall be documented and reported to the cabinet or designee. All grant recipients shall submit quarterly written reports to the cabinet or designee on the status of the centers.

(b) The cabinet or designee shall monitor the effectiveness of the programs provided by and the administration of the family resource centers receiving assistance based on grant approval documents and predetermined quality indicators;

(1) Ongoing mentoring or tutoring relationships with adults;

(2) Safe places to learn and grow;

(3) Marketable skills through effective education;

(4) A healthy start to life; and

(5) An opportunity to help others.

(d) The cabinet or designee shall monitor those entities receiving grants to ensure that all grant funds are expended in accordance with the provisions of the grant application and any grant approval document.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the state of West Virginia to implement a plan establishing a system of starting points family resource centers, with grants to local centers and oversight and monitoring.

These sections are new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.