To become eligible for membership in the Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers, a family resource center located within the state shall provide evidence of achieving all of the following standards:

(1) Being in operation and delivering services to families for at least 15 consecutive calendar months.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 30-8-1

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • year: means a calendar year; but, whenever the word "year" is used in reference to any appropriations for the payment of money out of the treasury, it shall mean fiscal year. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(2) Having services consistent with the charter and values statement of the network, consisting of a variety of community-based, nonsectarian, and nondiscriminatory services that are available to all sectors of the community and have very limited eligibility requirements for participation. The services shall target prevention-based comprehensive services that strengthen and encourage greater self-sufficiency of family units. Services shall include, but are not limited to, case management at the intake and assessment stages, parenting education, emergency services, and early intervention services.
(3) Having formal written family files for each family involved in case management. Each comprehensive file shall contain written releases of information and signed case notes and shall identify family strengths and goals with an evaluation of those goals by the family.
(4) Being located at a site that is accessible, safe, welcoming, family-friendly, and adequate to accomplish the mission of the network.
(5) Having adequate staff and other resources to accomplish the mission of the network.
(6) Having qualified staff on site who possess the minimum necessary credentials for their respective positions. Job descriptions for each staff position shall be in writing and shall state the minimum requirements for each position. Personnel files shall contain documentation regarding the ability of the person to perform his or her job, annual performance reviews, and written clearance from the State Department of Human Resources pertaining to the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry, Criminal History, and County Records Check.
(7) Having professional liability insurance coverage for all staff.
(8) Having written evidence of appropriate automobile insurance if the center offers transportation to consumers.
(9) Having opportunities for the professional development of staff members.
(10) Having opportunities for staff to provide input regarding center practices.
(11) Having a clearly defined mission statement consistent with the mission of the network.
(12) Following acceptable accounting practices and having a complete, written, independent accounting audit for each year of operation, including the most recent past fiscal year. When required, the site shall have a single audit performed. The audit shall not indicate any significant discrepancies or questions regarding fiscal capacity.
(13) Showing fiscal capacity by attaining at least twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) during the previous 12 months, over and above federal family preservation and support services grant dollars, dedicated to the operation of the services of the center.
(14) Having a written annual budget for each fiscal year of operation, including the current fiscal year.
(15) Being a tax exempt organization pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)3, or being a legitimate program division of such a tax exempt organization.
(16) Having an on-site peer review process which has been utilized within the previous 24 months. The results of the most recent peer review shall not indicate any significant concerns in regard to confidentiality, record keeping, or service delivery that suggest failure by the site to conform to the standards of the mission of the network.
(17) Having written evidence of the collection and assessment of service data including, but not limited to, the number of families served by service category, the demographics of each family served in case management, and goal rating completed by each family.
(18) Having written year-end program evaluation reports for each year of operation that summarize services in relation to the mission statement and objective of the site.
(19) Having consumer satisfaction surveys conducted twice per year and maintaining written evidence of consumer responses to those surveys.
(20) Having a decision making and project planning process pertaining to services offered at the site that permits consumer access and input. The process may include evaluation forms, a consumer advisory council, planning committees, suggestion boxes, consumer attendance at training sessions, and consumer membership on boards.
(21) Having an official board of directors or advisory council, or both, that have convened at least twice during the previous 12 months.
(22) Having demonstrated networking capacity by involving at least five community agencies in the ongoing operations of the site during the previous 12 months.
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