Healthier Community Alliance Bylaws

Mission Statement
The mission of the Healthier Community Alliance is 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 businesses, 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, faith-based organizations, direct 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 at least four (4) times annually 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, education, business, 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.

Article VII
Confidentiality
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.

Adopted 6/97
Revised 12/00
Revised 12/01
Revised 3/06
Revised 1/09

Healthier Community Alliance Long Range Strategic Plan

Healthier Community Alliance By Laws    Member Listing

Meeting Schedule    Meeting Minutes