Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 65H-1.012 - Application and Certification Process
(1) Certification Eligibility.
(a) To be eligible for certification an
applicant shall be a not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of
operating a domestic violence center. The not-for-profit corporation may be
affiliated with a local government entity or a larger private organization but
must be a distinct entity with its own corporate structure and budget. Existing
domestic violence centers initially certified prior to November 30, 2009, shall
be exempt from the foregoing requirement. All funding and budget issues
pertaining to the operation of the domestic violence program must be reported
independently from other activities. The domestic violence center's primary
mission shall be the provision of services to victims of domestic violence, as
defined in Section 741.28, F.S.
(b) When an applicant is seeking
certification within the service area of an existing certified center, the
applicant shall demonstrate the unmet need in that service area.
(c) Only applicants that have been in
operation and providing domestic violence services for 18 consecutive months,
including 12 months operation of an emergency shelter, as detailed in this rule
chapter and Section 39.905, F.S., may apply to the
Department for certification.
(d)
Applicants for initial certification must demonstrate an ability to operate,
garner community support, and maintain solvency by providing proof of the
following:
1. Satisfactory environmental
health inspection report completed within the last 365 days by the local health
department.
2. Satisfactory fire
safety inspection report completed within the last 365 days by the local fire
authority.
3. Financial ability to
provide services and shelter.
4.
Maintenance of all records pertaining to the operation of the domestic violence
program and provision of services in a manner such that the records are readily
accessible.
(2)
Application. Application for initial certificaton shall be made on Form CF 613,
Domestic Violence Center Certification Application,
https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11895,
April 2020, which is incorporated by reference. The full-time administrator,
board president, or the designated representative of a corporation shall
complete the application. The application shall include the following
attachments:
(a) Business Plan. The business
plan shall provide a comprehensive description of all administrative and
programmatic activities for current and future operations. The plan must
include the following:
1. Executive Summary.
The executive summary shall include, at a minimum, the mission, goals,
objectives, and history of organization.
2. Community Support. The applicant must
demonstrate that the organization is publicly supported, both programmatically
and financially. The financial documentation shall demonstrate a 25 percent
local match in the form of cash, in-kind services, or a combination thereof.
Written endorsement by local law enforcement agencies, and three letters of
support from community partners shall also be included.
3. Financial Plan. The financial plan shall
include the organization's income statement, which identifies revenues by
source and expenditures by category; 25 percent local match in the form of
cash, in-kind services, or a combination thereof; an independent financial
audit covering the previous 18 months operation as a domestic violence program,
conducted by a certified public accountant licensed under Chapter 473, F.S.;
and a plan for sustainability with projected revenues and expenditures for the
24 months of operation following date of certification.
4. Management Plan. The management plan shall
include a detailed description of the organization's legal and organizational
structure, including names, contact information and resumes for the management
team, board of directors, and, if applicable, any advisory boards. The plan
must include documentation of the selection process, code of conduct, duties
and responsibilities, training requirements, and minutes from the past six
meetings of the board of directors, and, if applicable, any advisory boards.
Copies of by-laws, IRS tax exemption determination letter, Federal Employment
Identification (FEID) number, city business license, county business license,
and certificate of status or acknowledgement letter of registration from the
Florida Department of State shall also be included.
5. Market Analysis and Plan. The market
analysis shall include a description of the local need for domestic violence
services and how those needs are met or unmet. The applicant must demonstrate
that services address a need identified in the most current statewide needs
assessment approved by the Department. The current needs assessment may be
obtained from the Domestic Violence Program Office or on the Department's
website at
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/domestic-violence/reports-publications.
Descriptions of the service area and demographics, efforts to avoid duplication
of services, and strategies for public awareness and fundraising shall also be
included.
6. Personnel Plan. The
personnel plan shall include an organizational chart identifying all center
employees. The plan must clearly describe each employee's responsibilities, and
include clear lines of authority, accountability, and lines of communication;
processes for evaluations and disciplinary action; position descriptions; and
the shift schedule for the emergency shelter. The personnel plan must also
include the provider's staff training and development plan and meet the
requirements provided in Rule
65H-1.013, F.A.C., and an
explanation of measures utilized to maintain the safety of persons receiving
services, including, at a minimum, any background screening, reference checks,
verification of previous employment, and certifications of center
employees.
7. Operations Plan. The
operations plan shall include a description of the facilities with city of
location, equipment, and assets. Approval of the shelter facilities signed by
local authorized zoning, building, and other applicable permitting agencies,
based upon inspections not more than 60 days prior to the date of filing the
certification application is also required. Those buildings that have
pre-established schedules with local regulatory agencies for annual
re-inspection may submit written documentation of the results of such
inspection held within the past calendar year. The operations plan must also
include the provider's emergency management plan and meet the requirements
provided in Rule 65H-1.013, F.A.C.
8. Service Plan. The service plan shall
include an identification and comprehensive description of each service
required by Section 39.905, F.S., and any additional
services and programs provided by the provider. The description must illustrate
the manner in which services will be integrated with existing resources for
domestic violence victims, for example, inter-agency agreements. For each of
the services required in Section
39.905, F.S., the applicant must
address the needs of underserved populations, including populations that are
underserved because of disabilities, ethnicity, race, language, or geographic
isolation, and specific efforts to reach each of these populations within the
organization's service area. Documentation of services shall include services
provided during the previous 18 months of operation as a domestic violence
program and include the number of persons served for each required service, and
the gender, age, and ethnicity of the people served.
(b) Operating Policies and Procedures Manual.
The applicant's operating policies and procedures manual must meet the
requirements provided in Rule
65H-1.013,
F.A.C.
(3) Certification.
(a) Certification is for one year and
automatically expires on June 30 of each year unless extended to allow
implementation of a corrective action plan as set forth in Rule
65H-1.017, F.A.C.
(b) The Department will annually renew a
center's certification upon the June 30 expiration date provided the center has
received a favorable monitoring report from the Department or contracted
entity.
(c) Failure to comply with
any of the requirements in Section
39.905, F.S. or this rule
chapter constitutes grounds to deny, suspend, revoke the certification as
provided in Rule 65H-1.017, F.A.C. However, if
the corrective action period extends beyond the June 30 expiration date, the
Department will extend the certification for a period not to exceed 90 days to
allow the center to complete a corrective action plan as provided in Rule
65H-1.017, F.A.C.
(d) Certification is non-transferable and
valid only for the center and designated service area listed on the certificate
issued by the Department.
(e) The
provider may operate satellite service centers at different locations. If the
provider wishes to change the location of service, close a service center, or
open additional service centers during an existing certification period, the
provider must notify the Department, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the
change or addition, and request approval from the Department. The Department
will grant approval for additional service centers if the provider is
financially and programmatically capable of supporting additional service
locations, the new or additional location is within the center's designated
service area, and there is no pending corrective action pertaining to the
provider. If the Department does not grant approval for additional sites, the
provider may not utilize funds distributed through the formula as set forth in
Rule 65H-1.018, F.A.C. to operate
those locations.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 39.903 FS. Law Implemented 39.903 FS.
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