Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0250 - Children's Services
Subtitle 0250-04 - Standards for Regulated Institutions
Chapter 0250-04-10 - Standards for Runaway House Agencies
Section 0250-04-10-.03 - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

(1) When an agency is incorporated, the scope of the agency's operation should be stated in the charter of incorporation, and any changes in the purpose or scope should be authorized by amendments to the charter or by withdrawal or revocation of the original charter and the issuance of a new one.

(2) Every runaway house agency must have a governing board which is broadly representative or the community and operate under a constitution and by-laws.

(3) The membership of the board must be composed of a representative cross section of the community including representatives or other social service agencies and representatives of appropriate minorities so represented within the client population of the agency.

(4) The Board of Directors must be composed of no less than ten (10) members and must not be so large as to present an unwieldy board.

(5) There must be a provision for the rotation of the Board of Directors. Board members must be elected in three classes so that each year one-third (1 /3) of the group shall be elected for a term of three years. Board members can serve two consecutive terms before rotating off the board for at least one year.

(6) Runaway house agencies may be governed by committees of the board. However, the operating committee should have authority on matters pertaining to child welfare and such governing board or committee should meet at least four times a year.

(7) The board must keep a record of policy and administrative decisions.

(8) The board must operate as an oversight body regarding the overall operation of the program. It shall participate in the formulation of program guidelines.

(9) The board must assume joint responsibility with the executive for determining the general policies for the agency. Boards and Executives must cooperate in all matters, each realizing their own functions and duties. The board must not be involved in any individual cases except for determining general policy.

(10) The board must secure adequate financial support. (Fund raising must not be the specific duty of the professional child care staff.)

(11) The Board of Directors must be sufficiently free to provide for rapid decision making to meet the needs of an emerging form of alternative program in providing services to youth.

(12) The board must evaluate the functioning of the agency at least every three years. Their evaluation must be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors' meeting.