Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
To be eligible for certification, a domestic violence center
shall provide the minimum services as set forth below and in Section
39.905, F.S. Providers may
provide additional services beyond the minimum requirements. For services
provided, the center must make specific efforts to address the needs of
underserved populations within the center's service area, including populations
that are underserved because of disabilities, ethnicity, gender, race,
language, or geographic isolation.
(1)
Information and Referral. Education and recommendations on services to those
persons seeking assistance. The provider shall maintain a comprehensive and
current database of information and referral resources, which shall be made
available for use by all direct service staff.
(2) Counseling. Supportive activities with
victims of domestic violence.
(a) Counseling
services shall incorporate supportive advocacy services such as crisis
intervention, safety planning, assessment of risk, and intervening with the
various social and legal agencies on behalf of the center participant,
including legal advocacy, medical advocacy, housing advocacy, interpretation
services, and additional services as needed.
(b) Counseling services may be based on the
peer-counseling model. Individuals who need mental health counseling services
may be served through referral to an outside provider.
(3) Case Management. A collaborative process
of assessment, planning, facilitation, and advocacy for options and services to
meet a center participant's needs.
(a) The
provider shall provide one-on-one case management to participants who reside in
shelter for 72 hours or more, and to non-resident participants upon two
sessions with an advocate. This provision does not preclude providers from
providing case management to residents housed less than 72 hours or to
non-resident participants who have received less than two sessions with an
advocate.
(b) Individual case
records shall be maintained, shall be current, and shall include at a minimum:
1. Identification data including name, age,
ethnicity, and other relevant information for the participant and any
dependents; and
2. A case
management plan that includes safety planning and service
referrals.
(c) The
provider shall develop procedures and maintain documentation for case
management staffings. Case management staffings shall be held bi-weekly for the
purposes of ensuring effective communication among staff about the progress of
participants toward meeting their goals and objectives, as well as addressing
individual participant issues.
(d)
In order to ensure the safety of participants and their dependents the provider
shall protect the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving services.
Center staff shall not disclose any personally identifiable information
collected in connection with services or reveal individual participant
information without the informed, written, time-limited consent of the
participant, except in limited circumstances described in the Section
39.908, F.S.
(4) Emergency Shelter. Safe housing provided
for adult victims of domestic violence and their dependents. The provider shall
provide temporary emergency shelter to victims and their dependants for more
than 24 hours. Shelters shall be staffed by domestic violence advocates 24
hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
(5) Hotline Services. A telephone operated 24
hours a day, seven days a week to provide crisis intervention, safety planning,
information, and referral to victims of domestic violence or on behalf of a
victim.
(a) The provider shall provide hotline
services, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week staffed by domestic
violence advocates who have successfully completed the 30 hours of domestic
violence competency-based core training and are registered for privileged
communications. The hotline telephone shall have a TTY/telephone relay
service.
(b) The use of commercial
telephone answering services or automated voice mail to cover the hotline are
not permitted, except for the purpose of directing calls to a domestic violence
advocate.
(6) Child
Assessment: Evaluation of the basic needs of children served by the center and
the referral of children to services if needed.
(a) Each child in emergency shelter for 72
hours or more shall be assessed for basic needs and given service
recommendations by a domestic violence advocate with experience working with
children. This provision does not preclude providers from providing an
assessment of children housed less than 72 hours.
(b) Any person who knows, or has reasonable
cause to suspect, that a child is abused or neglected shall report such
knowledge or suspicion to the Department's central abuse hotline as provided
for in Section 39.201, F.S.
(7) Professional Training. Education on the
dynamics of domestic violence provided to law enforcement personnel, other
professionals, and paraprofessionals who have contact, as part of their work,
with victims of domestic violence.
(8) Community Education. The efforts,
activities, and presentations performed to increase public awareness about
domestic violence and the availability of services for victims of domestic
violence.
(a) The provider shall provide
community education to promote awareness of the incidence, causes, and
prevention strategies of domestic violence. Community education shall be
presented both face-to-face and through the utilization of various
media.
(b) Center employees shall
participate in community task forces, interagency councils, and other
organizational groups whose efforts are intended to improve services for
victims of domestic violence.
(9) Exempted Services. The Department may
exempt the 24-hour hotline, professional training, and community education
requirement for centers where this requirement is already being met by another
certified center in the same service area, pursuant to Section
39.905(1)(c),
F.S.
Rulemaking Authority
39.903 FS. Law Implemented
39.905,
39.908
FS.
New 11-30-09, Formerly
65H-1.001,
65H-1.003, Amended 2-5-15,
5-4-20.
