CMC Resource Directory

Rationale:

To provide criteria and guidance in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive human services resource database to meet our community needs; to insure the most complete, accurate and up-to-date information available in an open and fair manner for the community resources specialists and for the callers they serve; and, to provide a written process for resolving local dispute regarding directory content.

Policy:

CMC uses the ‘Alliance of Information & Referral Systems” definition of Human Services adopted for the field of l&R (October 14, 2000), which is as follows:

“Activities that help people to become more self-sufficient, sustain independence, strengthen family relationships, support personal and social development and ensure the well-being of individuals, families, groups and communities. Specific human services include ensuring that people have access to adequate food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; financial resources to met their needs; consumer educations and decision support; criminal justice or legal services; education and employment; health and mental health care including substance abuse services; and environmental protection; both routinely and in times of disaster or other emergencies. Human services also facilitate the capabilities of people to care for children or other dependents; ensure that protective services are available to those who are vulnerable; provide for the support of older adults and people with disabilities; offer social, faith-based, and leisure time activities; provide for the cultural enrichment of the community; and ensure that people have the information they need to fully participate in community life.”

Information that will be included in the directory:

In general, priority for inclusion shall be given to organizations, programs and services that are available to persons within our service area and meet one or more of the following guidelines:

a. Nonprofit and governmental agencies, local, state and federal, providing a health or human service
b. Self-help support groups that are sponsored by or affiliated with an agency or church and which don’t charge a fee.
c. Community and civic advocacy organizations addressing health or human service issues.
d. Professional organization in the health or human services field.
e. Hospitals, health clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and childcare facilities, which have appropriate certification
f. Organizations located out of the service area, which offer services not available through local providers.
g. For-profit, proprietary human service agencies, which are offering services not adequately provided by the nonprofit sector, or which offer free services, sliding fee scale or special discounts.
h. For-profit organizations offering services parallel to a nonprofit service, to which clients are referred and fees paid by a government agency through Medicaid or Medicare.
i. Other specialized information and referral services, crisis lines, etc.
j. Public or private housing providers that offer subsidized or below market rent
apartments.
k. Organizations, such as churches, fraternal organizations and civic groups, that offer a service for the community-at-large.
I. Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, medical groups and dentists that offer their services pro-bono, on payment plans, sliding fee bases, or accept Medicaid, Medicare, or insurance payment

Information that will not to be included in the directory:

a. Private, for-profit service providers unless they meet one or more of the specific inclusion criteria listed above.
b. Any organization that promotes or delivers illegal services.
c. Organizations that deny service on the basis or color, race, religion, sexual orientation, ancestry or nationality.
d. Agencies that misrepresent their services.
e. Agencies or organizations who have been in existence less than six months unless they meet one of the following criteria:
(1) Affiliation with a large, well-known national organization.
(2) Provides a unique, much needed service not otherwise provided and is willing to submit to a site visit
Where special circumstances exist which are not effectively addressed by the preceding guidelines, the organization in question will be reviewed, on an individual basis, by appropriate CMC staff and a determination made will be made for inclusion or exclusion CMC reserves the right to refuse listing an agency or program if, in its sole opinion, such a listing is deemed inappropriate.

CMC reserves the right to cancel a listing when an agency no longer meets the required criteria or when the agency does not provide updated information as requested.

Disclaimer:

There is no guarantee of client referrals to anyone in the directory. Screening of clients for eligibility for services or programs is at the discretion of the respective organization. No endorsement or lack of endorsement of any agency/program shall be construed from its inclusion in or omission from the CMC Directory of Community Resources.

Appeal Process:

Organizations that want to appeal a decision regarding their inclusion or exclusion of information in the community resources directory or consumers who wish to make a similar appeal regarding a potential resource will follow these guidelines:
a. Meet with the designated Directory coordinator to clarify program services in relation to this policy.
b. If a resolution is not accomplished by step (a), then a written request providing rationale for appeal or concerns must be sent to the CMC Office for Services for Persons With Disabilities