Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Healthier Community Alliance
to plan, coordinate and mobilize resources to build a healthy community.
Article I
Name and Purpose
Section 1
The name of
this alliance will be the Healthier Community Alliance.
Section 2
The purpose of
this alliance is to identify and to effectively and efficiently address the
needs for children and families. It is the intention of the alliance
to:
*promote a philosophy of prevention rather than crisis intervention
*coordinate public and private funding sources to support prevention and community interventions
*make decisions that are data driven
Article II
Membership
Section 1
Membership of
the alliance may include but not be limited to representatives from local
government, local business & industry, local school districts,
special education cooperatives, higher education, local hospitals, public
health agencies, primary health care providers, mental health services, law
enforcement and judicial, those government agencies overseeing services to
families, funding agencies, agencies providing direct services to families,
consumers and concerned members of the community.
Section 2
Alliance
members should have the authority to speak on behalf of the
organization they represent.
Section 3
Members will
sign a memorandum of understanding which will constitute the current
membership list. Failure to adhere to the memorandum of understanding may
constitute removal from the alliance.
Section 4
When necessary,
an alternate may be designated by an agency member. This alternate
shall have the same rights of participation, discussion and voting as the
designated member of the alliance.
Section 5
The term of
membership in the alliance shall be indefinite due to the need for
continuity and authoritative decision making capabilities.
Section 6
The membership
will meet quarterly for the purpose of conducting alliance business.
Section 7
A quorum will
exist before any business of the alliance is conducted. A quorum shall
consist of 25% of the current membership.
Section 8
No member of
the alliance shall receive compensation for services performed for the
alliance.
Article III
Responsibilities of Members
Section 1
Members of the
Healthier Community Alliance are responsible for:
*providing guidance to the Steering Committee
*reviewing actions taken by the Steering Committee
*serving as a liaison to public and private agencies
*making recommendations to the Steering Committee concerning the revision of
goals, objectives, and policy
*participating in the assessment of community needs and setting of goals
*serving as an active member of at least one goal committee or work group
Section 2
Goal committees
will be established based on the results of periodic strategic planning.
Each goal committee shall have a chairperson. The Chairperson shall be a
member of the Steering Committee. Goal committees may further sub-divide
into work groups. Each work group will have a facilitator. Work groups
will report to the Chairperson of their specific goal committee.
Section 3
Ad hoc
committees may be established as needed.
Article IV
Steering Committee
Section 1
The Healthier
Community Alliance will be guided by a Steering Committee. The Committee
will be comprised of at least 12 members. The Steering Committee will be
responsible for facilitating alliance objectives.
Section 2
The Steering
Committee’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
*identification of community needs
*development of goals and outcomes
*establishing policy
*encouraging the development or modification of programs
*serving as a link to other local and state initiatives
Section 3
The Steering
Committee, while not limited to the following, will include representatives
from: city/county government, the county hospital, public health department,
mental health, special education, business and industry, and direct service
providers.
Section 4
Members of the
Steering Committee will be elected annually, in the fourth quarter, by the
alliance for a term of three years. Terms shall be staggered so that one
third of the Steering Committee is elected each year.
Section 5
Officers for the Steering Committee shall include a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and a recorder. Officers will be elected annually by the Steering Committee. Terms shall be one year and no officer may serve more than two consecutive years in that office. This limit may be waived at the discretion of the Steering Committee with a majority vote of a quorum present required. Vacancies of officers that occur will be filled from within the Steering Committee.
Section 6
The duty of the
chairperson is to preside at all Steering Committee and regular meetings and
facilitate all communications addressed to the alliance. The
chairperson may appoint special committees and determine the time and
location of the meetings.
Section 7
The duty of the
vice-chairperson is to preside in the absence of the chairperson and to
chair the organizational structure committee. An organizational structure
committee shall be responsible for reviewing membership, nominations and
elections, operating structure, and bylaws. Recommendations for membership
to the alliance will be made by the organizational structure committee and
must be approved by the alliance.
Section 8
The recorder
will take minutes at all Steering Committee and regular meetings and ensure
that copies of the minutes are distributed. Maintenance of proceedings from
all alliance meetings are the responsibility of the recorder.
Section 9
Five or more members of the Steering Committee will constitute a quorum and Steering Committee members may attend and vote via a conference call.
Article V
Amendments
Any amendment,
alteration or revision of the bylaws of this alliance shall occur only when
approved by three-fourths of the members present for voting. Members or
their designated alternate must be present for voting whether on amendments
and related matters, or any business before the alliance. There shall be no
proxy voting.
Article VI
Rules of Order
All questions of order are to be
decided by the presiding officer. The general guide for meetings of the
alliance is Robert’s Rules of Order.
The membership of
the alliance shall observe the strictest standards of professional conduct in
regards to the confidentiality of the clients they serve. Any discussions
among the members of the alliance regarding clients, customers, patients, or
others associated with and/or using the services of any member organizations
of the alliance shall not be divulged to anyone outside the meetings of this
alliance without express written consent.