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2005 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1500 (Conference Report)

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Expand Activities of Information & Referral System (language only)

Item 362 #2c

Item 362 #2c

Health And Human Resources
Social Services, Department of

Language
Page 351, line 50, after "F.", insert "1."
Page 351, line 56, after "on", insert:
"many of the specialized health and human resource services available in the Commonwealth, including".
Page 351, line 59, after "providers", insert "."
Page 352, strike line 1 and insert:
"2.  The Department of Social Services shall request that all state and local child-serving agencies within the Commonwealth be included in the Virginia Statewide Information and Referral System as well as any agency or entity that receives state general funds and provides services to families and youth.  The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Public Safety shall assist in this effort by requesting all affected agencies within their Secretariats to submit information to the statewide Information and Referral System and ensure that such information is accurate and updated annually.  Agencies shall also notify the Virginia Information and Referral System of any changes in services that may occur throughout the year.
3.  The Department of Social Services shall communicate with child-serving agencies within the Commonwealth about the availability of the statewide Information and Referral System.  This information shall also be communicated via the Department of Social Services’ broadcast system on their agency-wide Intranet so that all local and regional offices can be better informed about the Statewide Information and Referral System.  Information on the Statewide Information and Referral System shall also be included within the Department’s electronic mailings to all local and regional offices at least biannually."


Explanation
(This amendment adds language directing the Department of Social Services, as well as the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources, Education, and Public Safety to assist in ensuring that Virginia's Information and Referral (I&R) System operates as a single source of information clearinghouse on services available for families or those working with children and families. With more extensive information on services, this clearinghouse would be a timesaving and vital link to information on services for youth and families, community members, professionals, and policymakers. The I&R System has existed for almost a quarter of a century. Section 63.2-222 of the Code of Virginia established a statewide I&R system which is designed to collect and maintain accurate and complete resource data on a statewide basis. The I&R System (1) collects and maintains accurate and complete resource data on a statewide basis; (2) links citizens needing human services with appropriate community resources to satisfy those needs; (3) assists in planning for human services delivery at the local, regional and state levels; and (4) provides information to assist decision-makers in allocating financial and other resources to respond to state and local human service priorities. Language is also added to existing budget language on Virginia’s I&R System so that it accurately references many of the specialized health and human resource information and referral services available in the Commonwealth.)